Sorry, But Your Astute Election Posts Aren’t Changing Anybody’s Mind

I came across this article which references Facebook, but could just as easily be talking about ATS.

www.wired.com...

YOU’VE HAD IT with this election cycle. The name-calling. The baby-banishing. The multitudinous email scandals.

So you log onto Facebook and fire off a post pumping Hillary Clinton, defending Donald Trump, or, perhaps, reminding everyone that Jill Stein exists. With each accumulating Like, you feel like you’ve accomplished something, like you’ve awoken the masses from this great national nightmare, and like maybe, just maybe, you’ve even changed some minds.

Does this seem familiar?

Except you haven’t—at least, not according to new research from the social media marketing firm Rantic. It recently surveyed more than 10,000 people on Facebook, spread evenly across political affiliations. It found that 94 percent of Republicans, 92 percent of Democrats, and 85 percent of independents say they have never changed their view of an issue because of a Facebook post. The majority of people from all political affiliations also say social media is an inappropriate place to express political beliefs. That’s despite the fact that the survey showed 39 percent of Republicans, 34 percent of Democrats, and 26 percent of independents have posted political content on Facebook.

Has anybody's mind been changed because of a political post on ATS, or are we just preaching to the converted (or the echo chamber)?

Do we post in order to change the minds of other people, or to prove ourselves right?

a reply to: cuckooold

I found out I don't trust Gary Johnson or support him thanks to ATS.

Honestly this is full of #. People don't typically know when their mind switches exactly or what things contributed.

Over time as people interact with the world and gain more data, that data creates an image of the world, which over time turns into the person's world view.

So it's hard to say which data influenced what exactly.

What all these posts do is put more data and arguments out there to fill the collective data pool and play a role in influence the collective unconscious.

People change affiliation and beliefs all the time. They may not be able to pinpoint someone's post being what did it, but it doesn't mean it wasn't one of the many dominoes that fell to cause said change.

a reply to: cuckooold

No one has ever changed my mind about who to vote for from any form of social media, however there have been posts that explained the political system where I gained a better understanding of it which solidified my stance with a third party.

Nope, never changed my mind, don't really care if i change anyone else's either. I do however like using Zuckerberg's platform to make political posts against his politics, particularly immigration and H1Bs. I think ninety percent of my posts have been political in nature over the past year on Facebook. I really don't try to convince anyone to vote for Trump but i really like pointing out the dangers the entirety of Western Civilization faces right now from Islam and migration of peoples who have none of the traits necessary to maintain the civilization we have. If I'm wrong i just look like a fool. But when I'm right, like with the mass immigration in Europe leading to pics like the dead child with the doll in Nice I get to say "I told you so" and have a record of saying it semi publicly.

a reply to: cuckooold

If anything this election cycle has shown me how easily Americans are led, and has also shown the incredible mental gymnastics people have justifying their choices ....or should i say lack there of...

People can try to change other people's minds but in the USA we are now 100% electronic voting machines... The thousands of machines people will go to and cast there vote in a particular state all go to that states central tabulator. The tabulator collects all the individual votes from the machines in the state. The central tabulator even has a drop down menu where the votes counted can be biased both in a positive or negative way for any candidate. The central tabulators report there votes to another national tabulator..... So IMO you can try to change people's minds and feel good about your free and open elections.. because there is nothing free and open about national elections if a few tabulators are messed with ...to easy to corrupt the system. It is the central tabulators where the hanky panky can easily be instigated. r.search.yahoo.com...=AwrT6VzMubJXeHkAuT4nnIlQ;_ylu=X3o'___'Byb2lvbXVuBGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--/RV=2/RE=1471359565/RO=10/RU=ht tp%3a%2f%2fblackboxvoting.org%2f/RK=0/RS=g1.iUTcjE5F8pqP5BQ_0X3KYfd8-
blackboxvoting.org...
blackboxvoting.org...

You mean that all these posts about Hillary's health isn't handing Trump the election???


Shocking!!!

originally posted by: kruphix
You mean that all these posts about Hillary's health isn't handing Trump the election???


Shocking!!!

No, but they are working, especially on a person like you.

a reply to: 727Sky

Yes indeed, the old adage of "its not what you know its who you know" comes to mind

Oh and another thing that skews the results of such a poll is the arrogant need and desire for so many people to proudly and ironically proclaim that they are their own man and beat to their own drum. You know, the same thing pretty much everyone says.

Even IF someone was influenced by a post of another, few would have the humility to admit that they changed because of what someone else told them. Somehow being willing to be swayed by the opinions and ideas of others has become weakness while stubbornly sticking to your guns no matter how wrong you are is considered strength.

It's like asking straight or bi men if they've ever had an attraction for a fully developed 14 year old girl and expecting them all to give an honest answer. Most will be so afraid they'll be viewed as some sexual deviant or sexual predator to realize that such is perfectly natural, and it's what they do not feel that matters.

This is a poll in which without mind reading, anything even close to a true result is literally impossible.

a reply to: Vector99
Do you mean the truth? shocking from media bias I haven't seen a true thing that could be substanciated,go ahead defend your criminals

a reply to: cuckooold

I've had more than one friend switch from being staunch Dems or Repubs this cycle and start reposting the things that I post about the Libertarian Party, and they are voting Johnson this year. Whether or not it was due to my posts is unknown, but I just find it highly interesting that they repost my information and often my comments concerning the issues.

Also, I got my wife to change from a (relatively) determined Republican to realize that she's much more libertarian-minded.

But, to be fair, I just think that I'm opening up people's eyes to a party that better reflects their stances on the issues more than necessarily changing their minds.

a reply to: cuckooold

I think people are mainly looking for an echo chamber.

What kills me are people who post on the election but refuse to allow any debate on the content. I have one guy on my FB friend list that does this and he will remove any comment that refutes or debates his slanted crap.

"Remove your comment or I will."

Jesus eff.

a reply to: cuckooold

Me. I've changed opinions about things when presented information on social media. Of course I'll fact check it and make sure its legit first. My political opinions on ATS have changed DRASTICALLY over the last 4 years.

originally posted by: cuckooold

Do we post in order to change the minds of other people, or to prove ourselves right?

Um, neither. ATS is a forum to post one's opinion(s) about a subject matter. No one comes here with the intention of changing people's minds because everyone has their own opinion and may agree or disagree with other's opinions. We may think our opinion is right, that is the human condition. But as far as proving? Good luck.

originally posted by: Krazysh0t
a reply to: cuckooold

Me. I've changed opinions about things when presented information on social media. Of course I'll fact check it and make sure its legit first. My political opinions on ATS have changed DRASTICALLY over the last 4 years.

See, I've had the opposite experience here, as far as politics go. For instance, as far as sources and the record show Hillary was never criminally indicted for anything, I still carry the opinion she is still a criminal/unethical. The same thing as OJ. Although he was found not guilty by a court of law, my opinion is he is still guilty of murder.

If not, why is the DNC spending millions to have "SJW warriors" overwhelm social media?

Answer: Because it's not their money so they don't have to worry about it.

a reply to: cuckooold

Many of my political posts are to improve the search engine rankings, and page views of that subject by visitors to ATS.

originally posted by: UnBreakable

originally posted by: Krazysh0t
a reply to: cuckooold

Me. I've changed opinions about things when presented information on social media. Of course I'll fact check it and make sure its legit first. My political opinions on ATS have changed DRASTICALLY over the last 4 years.

See, I've had the opposite experience here, as far as politics go. For instance, as far as sources and the record show Hillary was never criminally indicted for anything, I still carry the opinion she is still a criminal/unethical. The same thing as OJ. Although he was found not guilty by a court of law, my opinion is he is still guilty of murder.

Yea. I'm talking about the last 4 years. Not the last year or so. Political opinions don't change that quickly.

originally posted by: Krazysh0t

originally posted by: UnBreakable

originally posted by: Krazysh0t
a reply to: cuckooold

Me. I've changed opinions about things when presented information on social media. Of course I'll fact check it and make sure its legit first. My political opinions on ATS have changed DRASTICALLY over the last 4 years.

See, I've had the opposite experience here, as far as politics go. For instance, as far as sources and the record show Hillary was never criminally indicted for anything, I still carry the opinion she is still a criminal/unethical. The same thing as OJ. Although he was found not guilty by a court of law, my opinion is he is still guilty of murder.

Yea. I'm talking about the last 4 years. Not the last year or so. Political opinions don't change that quickly.

But I do have to admit my political view of Obama changed, not by ATS though. I was sucked in eight years ago by all the Hope and Change rhetoric and promises of being the most transparent admin. ever. Boy, was I gullible.