How do you confront people who are just plain stupid about politics?

If you have the energy, and it may not be worth it, you ask several questions. People respond very differently to queries than they do to statements.

“Are you sure about your facts?”

“Would you consider reading some accurate data?”

“Have you considered that what you are saying is not accurate?”

It’s hopeless.

I have family on FB that will post incorrect, inflammatory information, which I will rebut (complete with independent references). They ignore it.

They will post things like “My boss says Obama’s gonna drive him out of business with this health care crap” and when I respond (and show verified references) that companies with fewer than 50 employees are exempt, he ignores it.

You either have to learn to ignore it, or block their posts for your own mental health. Some people seem to revel in intentional ignorance.

To be honest, I don’t anymore. There was a time not long ago that I would get involved in arguments until my ears were bleeding and I wanted to take a life-long nap.

These days, I just avoid. “Nice weather we’re having, huh?” (Note: The tom_g of 5 years ago would have wanted to punch the “nice weather” tom_g of today in the throat.) I’m not sure if it’s just giving up because I honestly believe that people cannot change. It could be that I’m just tired and too busy.

You will never change the mind of someone like that. What value would there be in confronting them? Just say “I’m not worried” and leave it at that.

She sounds quie rabid. I would just unfriend her or block all of her posts. You could easily break your head on the rock of her beliefs. Don’t bother.

You want to confront people? You could bring a weapon. That seems pretty confrontational.

If a weapon is a bit over the top, then you could scream and yell at them from one inch in front of their faces.

Of course, if you only want virtual confrontation on Facebook, I’m sorry, but I have to laugh. I just can’t take Facebook seriously. I mean, you’ve got billions of people playing games with virtual farm animals, and you want to take them seriously enough to confront them?

Oy veh!

I have a lot of politically liberal (since that’s what we’re calling it) friends on Facebook who do essentially the same thing by posting every single foible committed by every single Republican since the beginning of time, as if the collection of ad hominem attacks somehow invalidates policy positions which, while I may not agree with them myself, are worth debating on their own merits. I generally ignore them.

Or wait, maybe that’s Fluther. I get them so confused sometimes.

I also have a lot of politically conservative (for want of a better term) friends on Facebook who post the same nonsense that you’ve alluded to and more. I’ve gotten just as good at ignoring their nonsense, too.

I’m with @CWOTUS , I see it from both sides. I ignore it all. It’s not worth my time.

If it’s your friend’s mom, I’d just let it go, too. Someone will eventually tell her she’s wrong or make her look like a total idiot, you just don’t have to be that person unless you really want to.

I just smile and nod. I have to hear all kinds of stuff from two conservatives in my class.

Today was a lesson about how Obama’s dad was a marxist. There was no point to it, they just wanted to insinuate that Obama was a Marxist, I guess…..I’m not even sure he knows the point he’s making.

Then, we have these guys complaining about Obama spending too much money, yet they literally said they want a republican in office to give more money to the military…....LOL!

There’s no point arguing with these guys.

Confrontation is pointless. One cannot reason with a barking dog. Hollering at a dog to stop barking generally just makes it bark more. Then soon all the other dogs start barking. What have you accomplished? A street full of barking dogs. Well done!

Well, it’s Facebook so just poke them. In the eye. : )

I’d tell her that you disagree with her political point of view, so you are going to block her posts until after the election. Then do it.

High-fives & a bag full of cashews?

If it’s someone (I have an aunt like this) and something I really care about, I respond very, very calmly with the facts (with reference links.) Sometimes, it’s not about changing her mind so much as it about countering untruths with truths, for the benefit of other people reading her posts.

“What…you’re voting for Romney!?!”

I actually responded to this post on Facebook that basically countered every point she had and referenced credible links (i.e. Factcheck.org, Politifact.com, etc) and the response was “Blah blah blah, you liberals make me yawn…”

When you have a person who believe’s in a Facebook re-post over a credible Government website and sites who’s primary job is to prove or disprove political attacks (i.e. Politifact, Factcheck) then you can’t change that person’s mind. They are going to believe what they want no matter how much factual knowledge you fight them with.

There are far too many people anymore who live in their own reality fueled by political hate no matter how untruthful it is. Haters gunna hate.