• nednobbins
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    edit-2
    7 months ago

    What’s the argument that it does?

    Do you think that this disagreement is likely to change anyone’s mind?

    Take a fairly famous example. Bassem Youssef has very publicly embraced the sentiment I’m describing. How does your agreement or disagreement have any impact at all?

    I’d argue that it will only have an impact if you choose an action that’s likely to induce change. He very clearly says that he considers the threats that “If you don’t vote for Biden you’re voting for Trump,” messages to be a form of blackmail.

    He finds it unconvincing so it fails to work on him. As near as I can tell, his attitude is fairly representative of a significant number of voters.

    • Cryophilia@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      7 months ago

      How does your agreement or disagreement have any impact at all?

      This is a democracy. Potential voters are being influenced right now by the discussions we’re having.

      • nednobbins
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        7 months ago

        I should clarify then.

        There is currently some percentage of people who plan to vote for Biden, some that plan to vote for Trump and some who are undecided.

        Most polling shows that, if there was an election today, Biden would lose pretty badly.

        If you simply agree or disagree, is that likely to change anyone’s planned voting behavior? If you continue to insult the people who do not currently plan to vote for Biden, do you think that will change their minds?

        • Cryophilia@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          7 months ago

          If you continue to insult the people who do not currently plan to vote for Biden, do you think that will change their minds?

          Yes. People who plan to protest vote are stupid and should feel stupid. We should be peer pressuring the fuck out of them.

          • nednobbins
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            7 months ago

            So you think that telling someone that they’re stupid and should feel stupid is a good way to change their mind?

            Has that ever worked for you?

              • nednobbins
                link
                fedilink
                arrow-up
                1
                ·
                7 months ago

                Peer pressure is certainly effective but it’s not clear this is the same thing.

                Do you think they consider you their peer?
                Do you consider them your peers?

                In cases where you’ve actually seen peer pressure work, was it actually because you were able to bully your peers into some behavior?

                  • nednobbins
                    link
                    fedilink
                    arrow-up
                    1
                    ·
                    7 months ago

                    The obvious counterdemonstration would be for me to start calling you names and yelling at you to change your mind.

                    I won’t bother with that since it’s fairly clear to me that such tactics would be entirely wasted.

                    Am I wrong? Do you actually believe in this tactic enough to claim that it would also work on you? If not, why do you think it works in one case but not the other?