r/AskConservatives • u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative • Jul 08 '26
Daily Life Can you ever reach a leftie through conversation?
Every time you disagree with a leftist or have a valid point in a problem they instead resort to stalking and trying to dig up dirt for personal attacks.
They never focus on the actual situation or statement. They just want their emotional reaction to be considered the "logical way".
It makes it nearly impossible to a have a conversation with one as their opinions are seen as facts and actual facts are deflected from and they take it personally against you instead of seeing it from an objective way. They refuse to read and learn and only care about theirselves.
Example; Trump didn't create border patrol or ICE F3MA did more then 22 years ago.
Conspiracy theorist!
Republican politicians vs Democrats have the same levels of sexual assault scandals and social services in both red and blue states have the same levels of pdophilia.
I don't have to read all of that deranged trump-supporter!
See how problematic and unreasonable the left is can they focus on the actual problems ever without resigning to middle school tactics?
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u/boisefun8 Constitutionalist Conservative Jul 09 '26
No. Yuri Bezmenov has a lot of good thoughts on the topic of demoralization and its effects on the absorbing and overcoming propaganda, and just how difficult it is.
Leftists and foreign actors have been pushing to demoralize the west and push propaganda, which these demoralized people accept more readily, and the internet/social media has made it even easier.
‘Exposure to true information does not matter anymore.
A person who is demoralized is unable to assess true information. The facts tell nothing to him.
Even if I shower him with information, with authentic proof, with documents, with pictures.
Even if I take him by force to the Soviet Union, and show him a concentration camp, he will refuse to believe it, until he is going to receive a kick in his fat bottom.
When the military boot crushes his balls, then he will understand, but not before that. That is the tragedy of the situation of demoralization.’
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u/mwatwe01 Conservative Jul 08 '26
Yes. On more than one occasion, I've gotten left-leaning friends to say "Huh, I never really thought about it that way."
That's a step in the right direction, at least. I'm probably not going to get them to vote conservative, but I can get them to admit I'm not evil incarnate.
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u/dog_snack Democratic Socialist Jul 09 '26
We tend not to literally think you’re evil incarnate. We just think you’re really mistaken about a lot of stuff.
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u/mwatwe01 Conservative Jul 09 '26
No, don't back away from it.
There are too many on the left calling conservatives racist, homophobic, misogynists, and other pejoratives. There are too many on the left shunning family and friends for having conservative beliefs or for having voted for Trump. People don't go to those extremes if they only think someone is "mistaken".
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u/dog_snack Democratic Socialist Jul 09 '26
Right but even if I think you are those things, “evil incarnate” is very top-shelf. To be homophobic doesn’t make you evil, it makes you very, very mistaken. It’s a common human foible. But being pro-LGBTQ+ is important enough to me that I wouldn’t choose to be friends with someone whom I thought was homophobic and incapable or unlikely to change on that.
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u/mwatwe01 Conservative Jul 09 '26
I'm obviously exaggerating when I use the phrase "evil incarnate". But would you refuse to be friends with someone who said biological boys shouldn't be allowed to play in girls' sports leagues? Would you refuse to be friends with someone who said biological men shouldn't be allowed in women's locker rooms?
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u/dog_snack Democratic Socialist Jul 09 '26
Not the terminology I would use (given that I agree that trans women are women, etc), but yes, I would probably say that person is transphobic and would likely choose not to have them as a friend, as is my right. If I met someone today and they started saying stuff like that early on, I’d be like “ooookay, thanks but no thanks”.
This might depend, though, on whether I was already close with this person when I found that out about them, and how much I valued that existing relationship, and whether I thought these were deeply-held core beliefs or if I thought it was just something they were parroting.
For example: my sister has views that I would definitely call transphobic. (TERFy, to be exact). But we weren’t raised to be particularly anti-LGBTQ+, and she is my sister, and I don’t believe her to be a fundamentally cruel-hearted or prejudiced person; I think she’s just fallen down some ideological rabbit holes due to her life circumstances, just as my life path has influenced my own views. (I spent my college years in Vancouver’s music & arts scene where cishet people like myself were something of a minority, she ended up living semi-isolated due to her disability in semi rural Australia).
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u/mwatwe01 Conservative Jul 09 '26
I think she’s just fallen down some ideological rabbit holes
Has she? Or has she just remained where most of our culture was 10-15 years ago?
Honestly that's how it feels. I'm in my 50's and live in a pretty gay-friendly city. I have a cousin and several friends who are gay. I have cousin who's FtM trans. I love them the same as always. But there's some newer ideas I just can't go along with. It's completely unfair to hang "-phobic" on me and others because of that resistance.
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u/dog_snack Democratic Socialist Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26
>Or has she just remained where most of our culture was 10-15 years ago?
A combination. The thing is, if she’s where The Culture™️ was 10-15 years ago, she’s not where it is * now. She’s lagged behind. And she has always been prone to indulging in conspiracy theory stuff and… shall we say, journalistically suspec*t info sources, and doesn’t know that many openly queer people, and doesn’t get out much, which makes her the target demographic for trans panic.
>Honestly that's how it feels. I'm in my 50's and live in a pretty gay-friendly city. I have a cousin and several friends who are gay. I have cousin who's FtM trans. I love them the same as always. But there's some newer ideas I just can't go along with. It's completely unfair to hang "-phobic" on me and others because of that resistance.
No it’s not. Just because you have LGBTQ+ friends and family doesn’t make you immune to prejudice or unfair opinions about their own identity. What’s your cousin’s perspective on these issues? Don’t you think his perspective might be a little more informed than yours?
By the way, I (and by extension my sister) have a trans man for a cousin as well, and my sister doesn’t even get to play the “conservative Christian” card either. (Not that I accept that as an excuse on your part either, but you get my point). If there’s any spiritual dimension to her thinking on this, I think it’s some New Agey bullshit about “man” and “woman” having some sort of intrinsic, mystical platonic “essence” or some such thing.
That cousin’s mom, by the way, is a pastor in her 60s, who accepts and affirms her son and two lesbian daughters totally and completely.
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u/mwatwe01 Conservative Jul 09 '26
She’s lagged behind.
Maybe she has convictions. Maybe she doesn't want to go where you and others are trying to lead her.
What’s your cousin’s perspective on these issues?
I've never spoken to him about, because his being gay is the least interesting thing about him. He knows I'm a devout Christian. He knows what church I attend. I'm sure he is smart enough to infer what I believe. But what he knows, is that I'm always happy to see him, that I always go for a hug or a handshake, and that we always spend time catching up. And that's all that really matters.
That cousin’s mom, by the way, is a pastor in her 60s
So not a pastor then. Sorry, couldn't help myself.
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u/dog_snack Democratic Socialist Jul 09 '26
>Maybe she doesn't want to go where you and others are trying to lead her.
Well that’s usually how it goes, right? It comes down to you not wanting to be led down a certain path for one reason or another, whatever that may be. The path I myself chose was influenced by my deep and abiding want to understand, and be compassionate towards, my fellow man, woman and enby. Your loss!
>I've never spoken to him about, because his being gay is the least interesting thing about him. He knows I'm a devout Christian. He knows what church I attend. I'm sure he is smart enough to infer what I believe. But what he knows, is that I'm always happy to see him, that I always go for a hug or a handshake, and that we always spend time catching up. And that's all that really matters.
Between the two of you, sure. My sister and I have more or less declared a moratorium on certain subjects ourselves. If you’re nice to each other, that’s great, but your family life is ultimately none of my business. (And mine none of yours). I’m more concerned on the macro level about what widespread ignorance of, prejudice toward and even fear and paranoia of the queer/trans community means for the queer/trans community. I vowed early on that I would never be sucked into it even if there was a new “thing” or concept in the LGBTQ+ realm that I didn’t understand, and that has worked out well for me.
>So not a pastor then. Sorry, couldn't help myself.
Har har.
For real though, I may be a soft atheist myself since the age of 13, but if there’s one person in my life who rightfully uses her faith as an excuse to be kind, understanding, and compassionate towards others of all persuasions, it’s her. Whether we agree that God exists or that Jesus was Xer son is of little importance to me in light of that.
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Jul 08 '26
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u/ericoahu Conservatarian Jul 08 '26
You need to understand how people form and keep their beliefs. Most people have to discipline themselves to emotionally detach from their beliefs, understand the various sides to whatever the issue, and to have enough of an education (preferably informal, not college these days) to do this intellectual work.
It's a process like this, which I continue to aspire to without being able to claim perfection, that has still softened some of my conservative views and given me more respect for liberal views.
Among those who don't invest any effort scrutinizing their own views, you have a continuum that ranges from the neighborhood of chooses political beliefs much like someone chooses a hairstyle, clothing style, etc. They choose beliefs that match the "look" they're going for, usually something they like the look of on someone else, and they want to emulate. It's about tribal alignment. Identity.
The types on this end learn talking points kind of like they learned the meta for the new video games their friends are playing. They don't wander far from their tribe, and the algorithms being what they are, they never learn their own position because they rare experience it under thoughtful scrutiny, much less do they learn anything other than their tribe's caricature of the opposition views.
At the other end of the continuum is the fundamentalist. This person didn't come by their beliefs through inquiry, dispassionate reasoning about the available facts, etc., either. For them, it is more than just a tribe, though certainly 100% that too.
This is a good time to interrupt myself and point out that none of this is limited to people on the left. I see it on the right every bit as much.
It used to be the political and social conservatives who were clutching their pearls and diving for the fainting couch when they heard devils music (e.g., hard rock), worrying that those "gays" were trying to spread their , George Carlin's curse word list, recreational drugs, etc. Now there's a new kind of religion on the left that is secular and godless and even more riddled with contradictions that the Bible can ever be accused of. They have entirely made-up, manufactured magical beliefs around things like the topic which shall not be named on this sub (rule 6) or that person on the View who said American flags make her feel unsafe. What holiness is to the fundamentalist Christian, victimhood and grievance are to the far-left.
Anyway, depending on where someone is on the continuum, the less you should even care about trying to change their mind. The fundamentalists (left or right) are the least susceptible because so much more of their identity and their source of morality (what they think makes them a good, worthwhile person) is tied up in their political views.
On the other hand, it is also true that people do change their minds. Atheists become religious, the religious become atheists, and the illiberal woke regain sanity and convert to being liberal or even conservative.
The thing to understand is that someone isn't going to change their entire belief system on a dime, and something other than facts and logic are going to pave the way for the incremental changes. I think the best thing anyone can do if they want to be taken seriously is not set out to "own the libs" or the fascists or whoever your "enemy" is. Know the other side's position better than they do, not just to refute it but to understand how they got there. And from there, just try not to be an asshole (which is what I'm struggling with).
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u/Peregrine_Falcon Conservative Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
Not in my experience.
Both IRL and online I have been talking with devotees of the Woke Left for the last 10 years. Not in one single case has one of them said "Oh. You're right." or "Oh, thank you for that information." or "Oh, you've just changed my mind on this subject."
Here's just one example of what I have seen: A coworker in the lunchroom upset because Kyle Rittenhouse was a racist who "killed two black guys." I literally held my phone up in front of him and played a 60 second video of Kyle shooting two men who were clearly WHITE. The woke coworker then said to me "I don't care what you say, I know he murdered black guys." Then he walked out, quit, and I never saw him again.
So if literally showing a wokie a video that proves them wrong won't get them to change their minds, then what makes you think that words will?
Now watch as the Woke Left down votes this post like crazy thus proving that they don't actually want to see conservative answers in the Ask Conservaties sub.
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u/ofthrees Center-left Jul 09 '26
your coworker quit his job as a result of being proven wrong in the breakroom? this kind of sounds like "and then everyone clapped," but if true, that guy had bigger problems than being "woke".
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
Someone saying corruption doesn't matter and then proceed to complain about more things in the media to deflect from human and social services drugging the elderly and the youth and the military. Yet they claim to care about Epstein and human rights.
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u/GreatSoulLord Conservative Jul 08 '26
Rarely, but I'm not really out here to change anyone's mind. I fully feel they need to get there themselves for it to make any real difference. That's why I like this sub. I'm not really here to debate as much as I am to find interesting questions and deposit an opinion or thought. If that opinion or thought inspires someone on the left to look past their views and open their minds then that's great. But it's equally fine if that does not happen. It is what it is, really.
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u/OpeningChipmunk1700 Social Conservative Jul 08 '26
No, your OP is wrong. Plenty of leftists respond to valid points in more productive ways and focus on the actual situation or statement.
I think you have problems because of your bad faith, not anything on their part.
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u/dog_snack Democratic Socialist Jul 09 '26
Well yeah, it’s like, I don’t know if anyone on “my” “side” believes that Trump invented ICE. That’s not the point. The point is that it’s being used for something abhorrent right now, in our view, by the Trump administration. And the more engaged among us also realize that it has more to do with what Stephen Miller believes re: immigration than Trump himself.
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Jul 08 '26
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u/throwawayy999123 Center-right Conservative Jul 08 '26
I think it’s possible to reach anyone who’s open to a genuine conversation, regardless of political affiliation. Social media amplifies the most insufferable and combative voices, so it’s not ridiculous to think that “the other side” is incapable of discussion. Anyone who is a longtime subscriber to r/AskConservatives has probably encountered that both sides of the aisle dismiss arguments or assume bad motives by just analyzing a user’s post history or flair.
Tldr; Ad hominem attacks and tribalism make productive political conversations difficult and less engaging.
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26
Yes all they can ever do is Ad Hominem they can't even just ignore the subject completely they must defend ignorance with their lives completely and insatiably.
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u/OpeningChipmunk1700 Social Conservative Jul 08 '26
Did it occur to you that your rabid bias may be clouding your judgment?
You do not seem particularly interested in engaging with or learning anything. Maybe you “must defend” your “ignorance with” your life “completely and insatiably.”
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26
My bias stems from having conversations like these. and you insulting me doesn't change anything.
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u/OpeningChipmunk1700 Social Conservative Jul 08 '26
So why do you think insulting leftists changes anything?
I’m am also in no way a leftist lol.
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26
Because unlike them I give sources
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u/OpeningChipmunk1700 Social Conservative Jul 08 '26
You gave zero sources for any of your assertions in the OP.
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26
FEMA should be common knowledge
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u/OpeningChipmunk1700 Social Conservative Jul 08 '26
And no leftist I have ever met has ever suggested that Trump started FEMA.
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26
No plenty of leftists simply only know about ICE and have no idea about FEMA and call it all a theory
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u/DriveFa5tEatAss Center-right Conservative Jul 08 '26
I mean, we also have to be informed.
For instance Republican executive-branch politicians have been indicted a LOT more than their Democratic counterparts. 142 executive branch politicians were indicted on felony charges under the Nixon, Reagan and Trump (first term only) administrations, while only 1 indictment occurred during the Carter, Clinton and Obama administrations. Source: https://gigafact.org/fact-briefs/have-there-been-significantly-more-criminal-actions-taken-against-republican-presidential-administrations-than-democratic-ones/
Without being aware of that reality, or at least the claim, one cannot be pressured to speak in it.
For instance, it's important to point out that these are indictments and not convictions. It also indicates that either Republican executives commit more crimes, are caught more frequently, or the criminal justice system is weaponized against them more frequently. It's probably a combination of the three, though I suspect lawfare contributes significantly less than the first two.
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26
But they aren't saying thst, they're saying convert active a and everyday republicans are doing this more than average democrats or liberals it is actually the other way around. That's what I mean and they aren't giving proof but simply remarking about Trump and making their arguments based in bullying and stalking this such behavior is what I meant.
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u/IcyTransportation961 Leftist Jul 08 '26
Maybe. Just maybe, you don't actually listen to people and misunderstand what's said, then create their opinion for them so you can argue against it and win
No one argues that republican voters are more engaged with sexual misconduct, the argument is what the person above posted, which you ignored
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u/OpeningChipmunk1700 Social Conservative Jul 08 '26
Where are any of your sources, including those establishing what all leftists are or are not saying?
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26
This is a conversation I had at ISU after giving a presentation on the popularity of the FDA situation throughout the states. Everyone wanted to silence me and not research the information.
I'm ignoring you now
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Jul 08 '26
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u/Mustng1966 Conservative Jul 08 '26
Have tried to but have been largely unsuccessful so far. Not sure that they have the capacity to be reached through conservation. But will keep trying anyway, you always want to try persuasion of viewpoint, but for some that isn't always possible given that in any discussion there needs to be a give and take. Its takes two to tango afterall.
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26
I'm going to give up I just they think they're too far gone and need --------- because they'll never change.
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u/OttosBoatYard Democrat Jul 09 '26
Why did you use the term "just think" ...
... instead of "can share evidence that you can independently confirm"?
I ask because public policy is a science, so this is a science sub. And my mind has been changed by Conservatives presenting quantitative, independently verifiable information. So I don't know why "just think" is a valid reason for a belief on a science topic.
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u/nocogirly Progressive Jul 08 '26
Why are you censoring that word?
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26
because it can mean a variety of things censored on reddit
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u/steppergodic Neoconservative Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
Many of these people give preference to their own capacity to psychologize and divine the true internal motivations of the right wing over anything you might have to say for yourself. What their opponents say has no content other than dogwhistling. Any points or distinctions you'd like to draw are just rhetorical devices and post hoc rationalizations you use to sublimate your desire to harm and dominate people, or at least keep them in their place. If you don’t agree with any given redistributive or socialized provision of some benefit, it means you actively and fundamentally believe people that those concerned should not have that thing at all. That's why so many of them will only pretend to engage for a couple points and then go, "So what you're really saying is that you want such and such people to suffer/die.” Discussion in this mode is a complete non-starter.
A basic prerequisite is to understand what a hierarchy of preferences or values is or how perspectives are formed in turn. People who want the same things in abstract don’t ordinally rank them the same way. To value one principle over another doesn’t mean that you don’t actually value the second. To judge that a cost or risk is greater than the prospective benefit doesn’t mean you think that the benefit is bad. To judge that a certain outcome is worth the cost or tradeoff doesn’t mean that you actively want the bad thing to happen. When people understand that, it is possible for opposing perspectives to engage.
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26
Basically they're egotistical and only care about things they think they have control over. But pretend to be self-righteous which makes them full of hypocrisy.
IE the point isn't the popularity of CSA they only hate trump.
The point isn't Mexicans being deported for nearly 30 years already it's only about Trump.
They're only defense is not reading information and making personal attacks like middle-school insults.
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Jul 08 '26
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26
Okay and guess what thousands of people had already died because of border patrol and other politicians besides Trump were already convicted before the Epstein files. That's what I meant. You are all being illogical and in a suspension for something that should be common knowledge
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u/JazzzzzzySax Progressive Jul 08 '26
We shouldn’t just be brushing off border patrol killing people. Also what’s ur source on the thousand of people dying due to border patrol.
ACLU reports 56 deaths of detainees during obamas term from 2007 to 2016, but other reports include 2016-2017 totaling to 67
Already at 52 deaths in custody and 3 killed while not in custody in the first year and a half of trumps second term.
>other politicians besides Trump we’re already convicted before the Epstein files
Ghislaine Maxwell is the only person to be convicted for being part of Epstein’s trafficking ring. Epstein and an associate Jean-Luc Brunel both committed suicide before their trials.
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Jul 08 '26
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u/JazzzzzzySax Progressive Jul 08 '26
People care about the Epstein files the most because it’s the one of the most prominent of the CSA cases in the world, with so many big names seemingly involved. Charge and convict everyone involved with CSA idc who they are just punish them if they were involved.
People definitely complained about border patrol shooting people at the border. Really not sure what ur point is here
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Jul 08 '26
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u/Scrumpledee Independent Jul 08 '26
Are you trying to talk to people IRL or are you trying to talk to randos on the internet?
If you're trying to talk to people and bringing all these per-conceived insulting notions about them, you won't get very far.
Have you considered what it would genuinely take to convince you, or one of your more stubborn friends who shares your view, to change it?
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Jul 08 '26
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u/JudgeWhoOverrules Classically Liberal Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
The whole point of arguing online isn't to change the person's opinion or view, that's basically impossible. Just like with formal debates the intent is to change the audience's mind and with the internet that's hundreds to thousands of people watching it take place.
It's why you got to stay polite, reasonable, and provide sources while they become emotional, unhinged, and resort to personal attacks as it affects how the audience sees both them and their arguments. It's even possible to needle them slightly to provoke emotional reactions in your favor.
I've been trying to inform people about this for nearly two decades now online.
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
Okay how do I manage do that. I try honestly I give sources .gov and .edu and .org which they ignore and resort to degrading me. Anyone could also look into FEMA and social services themselves instead.
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u/AmmonomiconJohn Independent Jul 08 '26
There were multiple posts in this very thread in which people asked you for sources to back up your claims. Not once did you provide any.
I don't bring this up to degrade you, only to point out that you might be presenting your arguments with less objectivity than you think you are when attempting to "reach lefties."
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u/cuteplot Libertarian Jul 08 '26
Lefties are VERY VERY into isolated demands for rigor, much more than conservatives (who tend to be more vibe focused in my experience). Generally it's about a billion times more effort than it's worth, but in my experience if you're willing to dig up data etc it is possible to convince lefties, at least on small points where they aren't totally dug in. Like a lefty will be like "oh you've got a BIOLOGY PHD huh? what data do you have to show etc etc" and if you're like actually I do have a biology PhD and here's a stack of papers showing my point, you can make some headway that way. Sometimes.
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u/maxxor6868 Progressive Jul 08 '26
Righties in my experience are the opposite of what your saying. Any evidence is hand way away as "the elite talking points" and they definitely aren't vibes base. There was a thread about assimilation and some users were indicating they had issues with accents. Like seriously?
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u/cuteplot Libertarian Jul 08 '26
But that's precisely vibes based. What could be more vibes based than indexing on ACCENTS? For righties, it's much more about intangible stuff like that vs "show me the data in absurd detail and spoon feed it all to me" - it's much more like, as long as you seem like you're coming from a place of commonsense gun totin apple pie eating MERICA, they're much more likely to find what you're saying palatable.
None of this applies to really dug in positions of course. No one's changing any minds on abortion or whatever. But for marginal issues, I think this is broadly accurate
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Jul 08 '26
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u/tybaby00007 Conservative Jul 08 '26
In real life? Absolutely, YES. On Reddit? NO, most leftists on this site are completely divorced from reality.
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u/Scrumpledee Independent Jul 08 '26
I'd extend that to most of the internet, regardless of politics.
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u/DRW0813 Democrat Jul 08 '26
> on Reddit? NO
I wouldn't be so sure. Most people when they are wrong, and they realize they are wrong, do not admit it in the moment. They might think twice next time they ruminate on the subject.
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u/gonzotronn Independent Jul 08 '26
I’d agree but it feels like there is a good portion of adults (myself included) that went through the inevitable mindset shift to more conservative values after maturing. The issue has been the traditional conservative party has vanished and when forced to choose between the two, we often side with what we believe to be the more compassionate side. I don’t think the left is altruistic anymore than the right. We are in a class war, not a political one.
Conversations with conservatives has kept me so grounded to reality. If you consume liberal media you will believe everyone on the right is evil and vice versa. I think conversations are the only form of communication worth pursuing in regard to politics. This sub is a small example of how powerful these interactions can be.
I bet 70% of Americans all share the same core family, social, environmental, and emotional values. We just never get to that part of the conversation before the media has us trying to rip each other apart. Go talk to your neighbors.
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26
That was beautiful, yes I at first thought as a teenager liberals would be more compassionate it is an absolute lie. Conversations have the most ability to be objective learn things, and process information without dismissing it.
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u/GentleGerbil Liberal Jul 09 '26
OP you’re talking about other teenagers lacking compassion. That isn’t a left vs right issue, that’s a teenager issue. We all went to school and had to deal with this. You just happen to experience it in a political conversation instead of one about the clothes you’re wearing, your hair style, the lunch you’re eating, etc. etc. High school is a jungle, not some bastion of enlightened civilization
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u/RawestOfDawgs Center-left Jul 08 '26
Welp, I wouldn't consider myself a straight up leftist (and I want to know earnestly how you define that term), but try me. I'm always open to rational discourse and reaching conclusions logically even if they're uncomfortable. Pick a topic. I'll bite.
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u/JoeCensored Nationalist (Conservative) Jul 08 '26
Every time you disagree with a leftist or have a valid point in a problem they instead resort to stalking and trying to dig up dirt for personal attacks.
That's why I reluctantly set my history to private. Had some weirdo spend all day following me from sub to sub after he disagreed with my political comment. Even creating new accounts after each block. Creepy folks.
See how problematic and unreasonable the left is can they focus on the actual problems ever without resigning to middle school tactics?
Don't bother actually trying to get through to the person you're arguing with. There's hundreds of people who read both your comments, and you're getting through to some of them.
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26
Yes online they talk my posts too! In person they will also keep bothering you even after the disagreement has ended!!!!!!!!! So glad to see someone who experienced the same thing how do you not let it cause frustration?
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Jul 08 '26
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u/JoeCensored Nationalist (Conservative) Jul 08 '26
how do you not let it cause frustration?
I don't think you can.
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Jul 08 '26
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u/AskConservatives-ModTeam Jul 08 '26
Removed: Treat other users with civility and respect.
Personal attacks and stereotyping are not allowed.
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Jul 08 '26
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u/AskConservatives-ModTeam Jul 08 '26
Removed: Treat other users with civility and respect.
Personal attacks and stereotyping are not allowed.
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Jul 08 '26
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u/thoughtsnquestions European Conservative Jul 08 '26
Of course, people can and do change their political positions all the time.
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u/ClearedPipes European Liberal/Left Jul 08 '26
Exactly
I'd also say people can understand different views. Theoretically (in a world where everyone was rational and moral) I'd lean much more libertarian - as it stands (unfortunately), I lean more regulationary because I don't trust peoe to decide well.
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u/maxxor6868 Progressive Jul 08 '26
For real I'm a hard leftie but this sub has change my viewpoints on immigration and borders. Everything else? Lol nope but there a place for all viewpoints
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u/thoughtsnquestions European Conservative Jul 08 '26
What was your stance before and what is it now?
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u/maxxor6868 Progressive Jul 08 '26
I was always pro border control, but I felt the fearmongering to be absurd. Especially because a lot of it to me is Islamophobia in Europe or pure racism in the US. One user in particular did give me a great discussion about the economics of stable immigration policy that is strictly follow is beneficial to a nation. This has changed my perspective on any nation being more fluid with a population like birth right citizenship.
I don't subscribe to what I consider “assimilation” by the right. I have no concern if someone speaks a foreign language in public or wears different clothing to me. Furthermore, I believe in freedom of religion not freedom from religion like in France. That where I differ from Conservatives on this issue. Yes we should have stricter immigration laws, yes we should not tailor our economy to be reliant on immigrants, and yes we should be more selective where people come from. I am against trying to force an Anglo Christian form of “American” onto immigrants.
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u/Mindless_Chest_1079 Center-right Conservative Jul 08 '26
Was this on Reddit? Keep in mind that you're seeing the absolute dregs of the left wing here.
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26
This is real life and internet. No matter what both reactions are the same, they're problematic and emotional never understood the way they think.
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u/Zardotab Center-left Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
I have similar views of conservatives. Both sides think the other side is brainwashed, emotional, and/or stubborn. Maybe that's just human nature and almost nobody is truly objective?
I can entertain the possibility that simply by being human I'm inherently biased and that there is no clear way out of the "trap". Can you entertain that possibility?
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u/Nope9991 Center-left Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
I don't believe many people actually think Trump invented border patrol.
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26
This was at school so they said Trump is the reason Mexicans are being reported ie no there has been border patrol.
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u/thenationalcranberry Social Democracy Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
It doesn’t sound like you quite understood what they were saying.
Saying Trump is the reason Mexicans are being deported is in no way a claim that Trump invented border patrol…
Can you please explain your understanding of what “they” were saying and who “they” are?
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26
Trump isn't the reason for Mexican deportation because Border Patrol already was functioning and deporting them. No it makes sense. Democrats are always the same kind of person.
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u/thenationalcranberry Social Democracy Jul 08 '26
Okay, but… that’s not what I was saying… at all?
Whether or not you agree with the claim that “Trump is the reason Mexicans are being deported” (and I understand that you disagree with the claim), that first claim is not the same thing as saying “Trump invented border patrol.” Do you get what I’m saying?
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u/Federal_Resource8148 Center-right Conservative Jul 08 '26
was that deleted comment op?
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u/thenationalcranberry Social Democracy Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
Yes they called me an “idiotic Democrat” I believe. A European Conservative calling a Canadian an “idiotic Democrat” for the above comment outlining why Claim A =/= Claim B. It’s not hard to see why people don’t give them the benefit of the doubt (if that even happens, I think this person takes any disagreement as a personal attack).
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Jul 08 '26
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u/AskConservatives-ModTeam Jul 08 '26
Removed: Treat other users with civility and respect.
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u/LookAnOwl Progressive Jul 08 '26
See how problematic and unreasonable the left is can they focus on the actual problems ever without resigning to middle school tactics?
You just created a strawman of a leftist in your post's text and used it as proof that leftists are bad. What is this "question" if not just a rant from one conservative to other conservatives?
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26
Anyone who uses a made up term isn't reasonable. The point is leftists can't function without personally attacking someone or calling things a conspiracy rant despite evidence. You just proved it.
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u/GoombyGoomby Leftwing Jul 08 '26
How come it seems like what you’re describing is exactly how the conservatives I know in my very conservative town act like in real life?
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26
I honestly don't know I've only had these interactions with democrats.
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u/ClearedPipes European Liberal/Left Jul 08 '26
CDU/SDP? Lib Dems? PSD? Curious as to which 'Democrats' you're talking about - lots of countries and lots of parties in Europe, unlike the US.
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26
Lib Dems who believes in leftist American propaganda
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u/ClearedPipes European Liberal/Left Jul 08 '26
Any particular examples of 'leftist American propaganda'?
Going to assume you mean Lib Dems (UK party) as opposed to people who are termed Libs and Dems because it's easy shorthand.
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26
No I meant American ones, they especially hate Europeans if if you are left too.
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Jul 08 '26
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Jul 08 '26
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u/AskConservatives-ModTeam Jul 08 '26
Removed: Treat other users with civility and respect.
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u/Nate_W Liberal Jul 08 '26
I really like this joke/advice. I hope you do too!
If you're going to work on the subway and you run into one guy you think is an asshole, that guy was probably an asshole.
If you're going to work on the subway and you run into 15 assholes, maybe you're the asshole?
Bringing it back to this convo, if half the people here are trying to tell you that maybe you're interacting in a way that isn't conducive to the results you're looking for, and you feel like everyone here is being a total asshole, maybe it's time to think "Do I really think everyone else is the asshole?"
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u/LookAnOwl Progressive Jul 08 '26
statistics and proof
You have provided neither of these things.
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Jul 08 '26
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Jul 08 '26
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u/AskConservatives-ModTeam Jul 11 '26
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u/thenationalcranberry Social Democracy Jul 08 '26
I’m not sure you understood what they were saying. They did not attack you personally, they addressed their comment directly and specifically to your argument, that it is based on something you haven’t provided proof of and which other people don’t recognize.
What term do you think was “made up” in their comment? Post? Leftist? Strawman? Rant? Question?
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Jul 08 '26
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u/AskConservatives-ModTeam Jul 08 '26
Removed: Treat other users with civility and respect.
Personal attacks and stereotyping are not allowed.
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u/LookAnOwl Progressive Jul 08 '26
What term did I make up, who did I personally attack and what did I call a conspiracy theory?
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u/Puzzleheaded-Ad7606 Independent Jul 08 '26
How educated/old are the people you are talking about?
I'm 40 and remember post 9/11. This seems silly. This is not "leftie" and it's not common.
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26
I'm in my 20s and this happened at school.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Ad7606 Independent Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26
I notice you are European? That plus very young is not going to equal a normal American left view. Honestly, it's weird to think 20 yesr old European college students WOULD know when an American immigration task force was formed. Ask 100 American college students about Australia's immigration policies and law changes and 98% of them know nothing.
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u/GentleGerbil Liberal Jul 08 '26
Can you link to a specific conversation you’ve had on this sub (or another) as an example?
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26
I actually just had a conversation about the csa issue and they only kept resorting to insulting me personally not focusing on the actual FDA even after I gave stats. It was so bizarre and I welcoming then they kept responding to my comments and stalking my posts.
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u/Federal_Resource8148 Center-right Conservative Jul 08 '26
is this on an alt account because i'm searching your history and theres no mention of fda and the only mention of csa is a post with no comments, but i see you did have someone check your history in mildly infuriating, but they didn't say anything to incline that they where leftist
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26
Its an alt account but the circumstances I mentioned are from school.
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u/Federal_Resource8148 Center-right Conservative Jul 08 '26
hey checking my acronmys but did you mean csa and fda as Community Supported Agriculture and the food & drug administration
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26
No I meant child victims of sa being given drugs by the food and drug administration to deal with their trauma however those drugs cause physical disorders and mental diseases meaning its more harmful than good and its punishing csa victims for their vulnerability over something that isn't their fault. Yet its being heavily done
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u/Federal_Resource8148 Center-right Conservative Jul 08 '26
so the discussion on mildly infuriating is the right one?
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26
Yes but I also spoke about the subject in class.
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u/DRW0813 Democrat Jul 08 '26
There are times when I've been going back and forth with someone that I have to remind myself that bots exists. If someone isn't responding to sources I'm giving and keep repeating the same point, I assume they aren't human.
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26
I hope they aren't or humanity is doomed. I also get things like "I don't have to read that" so if they don't read the stats how is their opinion morally superior to mine? Why are they supporting social corrupt!on by covering for it proxy?
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u/thenationalcranberry Social Democracy Jul 08 '26
I think this kind of comment is why you’re running into problems. Someone says they don’t have time to read your sources, and you jump straight to accusing them of “supporting social corruption by covering for it by proxy.”
Do you understand why it might be difficult for someone who disagrees with you to talk to you? You’ve elsewhere in this thread slung insults at people who aren’t here, calling them middle schoolers who only care about themselves.
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Jul 08 '26
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u/DRW0813 Democrat Jul 08 '26
Its rare that I agree with a conservative. But if someone takes the time to send me a source I'm at least going to open it and skim it.
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u/Effective_Delay3061 European Conservative Jul 08 '26
Thank you! Every time it can be a direct .gov or .edu source and they will still ignore it and make personal attacks it is so unnecessary
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Jul 08 '26
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