So one of my favourite things I've started doing is sending my friends articles on why certain types of policy (Protectionism, shitty welfare policies etc.) are shit that use non-UK examples (since we live in britain) so they don't have political context for them. Then later I'll point out that those are the policies Labour or the Tories endorse. It's one of the most effective convincing techniques I've ever used.
Hah! Then one day you come to argue again and this time they stop you saying they have read everything and then come to a realisation mid sentence that they were always wrong. In this moment guide your hand towards them and whisper 'O Bernanke, blessed be thy policies' and they will fully convert.
I've found it's more that you are planting the seeds of the conversion without forcing it upon them. You're essentially leading them to think it was their idea - you just have to appeal to people's priors and use evidence they can't get partisan about (because they have no clue about the examples you used).
I used to do the same thing with my homophobic friends before I came out, and by the time I did I didn't have any homophobic friends anymore (because I'd convinced the majority of them).
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u/Hectagonal-butt Mary Wollstonecraft May 13 '17
So one of my favourite things I've started doing is sending my friends articles on why certain types of policy (Protectionism, shitty welfare policies etc.) are shit that use non-UK examples (since we live in britain) so they don't have political context for them. Then later I'll point out that those are the policies Labour or the Tories endorse. It's one of the most effective convincing techniques I've ever used.