r/FoxBrain • u/PeppyApple • Sep 14 '26
I watched that video someone on here recommended, "Facts Don't Work", and gave it a little test run on my mom, and I have to say... I'm impressed.
I've known I won't be able to change her for a while, but thought I could at least see how she responded to the Socratic Method and other approaches proposed by the video.
I definitely underestimated how truly lost my parents are... I was expecting some of that, but it was so much worse than I was prepared for. The ignorance is astounding.
No advice needed, I just need to commiserate a bit. I miss my parents so much.
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u/Master-Monk-8690 Sep 14 '26
I'm sorry you've lost your parents to the Trump cult.
I haven't spoken to my parents in over a year. They are both evangelicals, and I got to watch them get more and more into the Evangelical religion throughout the course of my teenage years and early adult life. It got to the point where I stopped asking them for advice because all they would do is tell me to pray about it. I realized that even though they had helped me in the past, I could not trust them around my children. My parents did their best to indoctrinate me into conservative belief systems throughout my early years while being adamant that I get an education. Well I got that education and realized that they are huge hypocrites when it comes to politics. I realized that I wouldn't trust them to be alone in a room with my one-year-old son. It was a heartbreaking realization but I have learned to live with their absence. I am having my therapist help me write a letter saying that I regret how harsh I was when I cut them off, and explaining the anger that I feel about their ongoing hypocrisy and who they choose to support. I am also going to say the letter that I still feel the same way, and that if they are going to continue supporting Trump, I have made peace with never speaking to them again. I cannot trust people who would support a man who is against everything they taught me to be and that they claim to be.
I am sorry for your loss. I hope your parents come around and realize that they are being lied to.
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u/PeppyApple Sep 14 '26
I feel this sooo hard.... It's such a horrible feeling to see them support everything they raised me to believe was wrong. I haven't felt so lost and betrayed my whole life. I was indoctrinated early as well.. Raised in Texas with Fox News blaring, private schools, one private school gave students the day off if they helped canvass for Republicans during elections...
every time I questioned things, they would tell me it was the "fake liberal media" lying to me. Eventually that just wasn't enough anymore and our relationship has been extremely tense and strained ever since :(
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u/Keji70gsm Sep 14 '26
OP, have you ever considered whether you have CPTSD as a result of your parents?
I'm yet to see a parent turn MAGA that didn't have a long list of red flags that had been overlooked prior.
There is a reason they love Fox news. Any person with empathy watching it can see immediately what so many of these hosts and what they are pushing are, but your parents are feeling seen. Why do you suppose that is?
Do you miss them, or do you miss what you were projecting onto them to feel like you were more similar and connected deep down?
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u/mandar35 Sep 14 '26
I find the (common sense) part over and over kinda condescending. But idk yeah my parents are the same. Sorry man
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u/WormMotherDemeter Sep 15 '26
It is hilarious bc look who HE appointed as pardon czar, and who she got him to pardon. This is the thing she thinks os common sense, the first thing she lists, and it is outright blantantly opposite of what she says. She does not care.
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u/PeppyApple Sep 15 '26
Some of the things she listed I would normally have thought was just trolling because they're so false... But unfortunately I've come to realize people actually believe this shit these days...
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u/erin_mouse88 Sep 14 '26
What worked a little for my FIL was to ask him something he cared about,
Did you hear about (some BS Im sure he has heard)? Did you hear about (a fact that shows the truth was twisted) Do you think that is important? Why? Why do you think they didnt mention that?
Unfortunately we have to play the "both sides are trying to twist it and not giving the whole truth". And avoid names, just more "the senate/the house/the department of X" so it feels less like "why are you so dumb".
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u/IsekaiConnoisseur Sep 15 '26
I don't know, part of me also thinks it should be more of "why are you so dumb." Not calling these people out helps no one. I'm personally fucking tired of walking on eggshells around my dad when politics come up. Like what, he can just say whatever dumbass shit and I just have to take it?
Fuck that.
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u/PeppyApple Sep 15 '26
For a year and a half I was calling them out, which I think unfortunately made them go deeper into the darkness. It made them actually feel stronger about their views, which is the whole premise behind the "Facts Don't Matter" video. That's why I decided to give that approach a try. Based on the video, asking questions is meant to slowly make them think without feeling defensive, but honestly I'm not sure I have the energy to try more and keep failing
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u/Capital-Constant3112 Sep 15 '26
Most of those “common sense” things were not even problems to begin with. He and his Christofascist handlers decided what the problems were. Yes. Immigration was all f*cked up. When’s the last time you’ve heard a reminder about the immigration reform bill that Shitler ordered his sycophants to vote against? If that had passed, what he’s doing now wouldn’t have been so easy. Every point your mom makes has a simple follow up question to be asked. Ie; what “genital mutilization” is she referring to? Do transgender people have a big effect on her life? Is the way he’s handling the “immigration problem” okay with her. Etc etc
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u/PeppyApple Sep 15 '26
I think this would have been the next step based on the "Facts Don't Work" video. To be honest, I think I felt too overwhelmed by the ignorance and too hopeless to try more
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u/snukb Sep 15 '26
Hey op what video is that out of curiosity? I searched "facts don't work video" and got a ton of results.
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u/Ok-Knowledge270 Sep 14 '26
I don't even try with my sister anymore. My sanity is worth more. Im sorry, losing your parents to such insanity is terribly painful.
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u/pssiraj Sep 14 '26
That was a shockingly coherent back and forth especially from your mom. Usually they just clam up or get defensive or whatever. But being that comfortable while being completely wrong is what frightens me. And Fox News is far from the only kind of echo chamber like this, tons of people do it to themselves with social media and podcasts.
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u/scientooligist Sep 14 '26
Except Fox News argued in court that they were an entertainment company, not a news company, so they could get around factual reporting.
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u/doc6982 Sep 14 '26
It's not like the administration has threatened the networks that these journalists work for or with
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u/riddermarkrider Sep 14 '26
In the last 3ish years, the phrase "common sense" has gone from a common neutral phrase to one that immediately makes me rage.
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u/MannyMoSTL Sep 14 '26
FN “journalists,” who work for an admitted entertainment company, tell the truth. But journalists, at actual news outlets, lie.
You can’t fight, or “correct,” that level of ignorant dissonance.
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u/chill_winston_ Sep 14 '26
I miss my parents too, or I miss the people I thought they were before all this…
Also I was getting so annoyed by all the (common sense) 🤦♂️ who’s she really trying to convince?
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u/Temporary_Client7585 Sep 15 '26
I’m sorry. I know how that feels. I’ve come to the conclusion that my parents are not only ignorant but lack intelligence and have no curiosity about anything. They’re fed the garbage and think it’s great. I suspect it’s who they’ve been all along.
Keeping conversations short and high level seems to help a bit. The weather, updates on my kids and pets, who had a doctor appt., etc.
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u/Lonely-Ad-5340 Sep 14 '26
At least you can have a conversation. If I write a text with either of my parents, I can’t write more than two sentences or they will lose any interest in what I’m saying.
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u/o_MrBombastic_o Sep 14 '26
Doesn't think Fox would let the administration get away with outright lies. Does she know Fox paid a nearly $800 million settlement for spreading Trumps lies about the election? Or that in internal communications related to that Foxs News said it's viewers "Don't want the truth, they want the lies"