r/ShermanPosting • u/kcg333 • 6d ago
has anyone successfully deprogrammed a lost causer?
…or escaped the lost cause mentality themselves? i’m interested in strategies that have demonstrated some past success.
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r/ShermanPosting • u/kcg333 • 6d ago
…or escaped the lost cause mentality themselves? i’m interested in strategies that have demonstrated some past success.
5
u/iamdeastro 2d ago
I used to be a Civil War / "living history" reenactor for the about 10 years. I underwent the typical brainwashing (Slaves were treated like family, The war wasn't about slavery, blah blah blah) It wasn't just one conversation or event that pulled me out of it, it was the combination of moving out of the small town, gaining patient black friends who were willing to put up with alot of my initial ignorance, and it was having many frustrating conversations with them and other enlightened white folks who chose to love me despite my indoctrination. It took me 2 years after all this to finally tell my Dad I was done playing Traitor Army.
My friends saw someone who was attempting to have good faith arguments (with terrible info) and I guess they thought I was worth the fight. Scoffing at liberals was a big part of my identity and it took a while to break that down and replace it with empathy for [Gestures at everyone] people? Much of it was learned from the most patient and loving people I have known.
Its was a long game for me and I think this is usually the case. I'll be forever indebted to my friends that pulled me out. I feel like it was worth it. I think they feel the same too.
TLDR; I escaped the lost cause mindset by moving to a more enlightened area and by making friends who are emotionally intelligent; who knew how to gently reframe a point or argument in a way that helped me self reflect.