De-programming Family Members and Friends Brainwashed by the MSM

Hello Hello Truth Seekers, it is I, a poster who lurks much and speaks very little, but I come to you seeking advice, or perhaps just to vent a little bit.

Let me first start off that I don't align with any political ideology particularly, and I am in fact a registered independent. I can't say the same for my family as they are diehard "liberals", and I used to think this wasn't a problem until I started to get a little older.

Now, I fully understand why someone wouldn't want to support Trump, but my mother is under the belief that the only reason Hillary is under so much pressure right now is because:

A. She's a woman, and women historically have had a harder time than men.

B. It's all some kind of vast right wing conspiracy.

She refuses to do her research into the suspicious trail of Hillary's many scandals, and she refuses to look to any other media other than the TV news at 6/6:30, and reading articles on CNN or Huffingtonpost, which I just checked out the former and by god that is some of the scariest social programming I have come across (with absolutely no mention of the damning evidence coming from wikileaks.)

The other day I was arguing with her, trying to shed some light on Hillary's warmongering attitude, because you know, it's really bothered me that Democrats were so openly against Bush for going to war, but when the democrats do the same they turn the other way. She said she doesn't agree with Hillary's foreign policy, but that a Trump presidency would be far worse (without explaining to me how it would be worse). I keep bringing up the importance of what's going on in the middle east, and eventually she told me I sounded like a "Ku Klux Klan Member," and "one of those crazy tea party fringe people."

Now this really upset me. My mother is a rational woman for the most part, but whenever I try to talk any sense into her, she treats me as if I'm crazy for just attempting to put forth a logical argument. I've decided it's not even worth it to try to convince her, that she is happier in her disillusionment and that I can't really afford to get upset over that.

What is really discouraging is that I know there are tons of other people who are programmed to believe whatever the media says, and it's the kind of thing that makes me want to stick a bullet in my brain. It's nice to know that people are starting to wake up, but it's extremely frustrating even having to listen to people complain "we just cant afford to have Trump in power" without so much as mentioning the many misdeeds of Hillary. And the same thing goes for Trump supporters! We need to be completely honest about BOTH candidates, and drop this whole team spirit BS. Whenever you try to bring up criticism on one candidate, it always jumps to "but so and so would be worse!," which I'm sure many of you are sick of hearing at this point.

Now, I ask you ATSers, what am I supposed to do in this situation? How do you deal with trying to "wake up" people that don't want to be open-minded to the fact that things may not be as they believe them to be? Mind you, I try to be as respectful and calm as possible, but people often seem to resort to elementary school tactics when you bring up a hard truth that they don't want to be bothered thinking about.

And for a closing quote, let's take a trip back in time to the Clinton scandal that is most memorable in the eyes of the public...
"Events surrounding the Lewinsky scandal eventually led to the impeachment of Bill Clinton by the House of Representatives and later acquittal by the Senate. When the allegations against her husband were first made public, Hillary Clinton stated that the allegations were part of a "vast right-wing conspiracy...""

Does that sound familiar?

a reply to: littlefinch

In order for that to happen, there would need to be camps set up to put them into
like they did with teenagers in the 70's 'Tough Love' the truth hurts. Now let us deprogram
you.

originally posted by: littlefinch
Hello Hello Truth Seekers, it is I, a poster who lurks much and speaks very little, but I come to you seeking advice, or perhaps just to vent a little bit.

Let me first start off that I don't align with any political ideology particularly, and I am in fact a registered independent. I can't say the same for my family as they are diehard "liberals", and I used to think this wasn't a problem until I started to get a little older.

Now, I fully understand why someone wouldn't want to support Trump, but my mother is under the belief that the only reason Hillary is under so much pressure right now is because:

A. She's a woman, and women historically have had a harder time than men.

B. It's all some kind of vast right wing conspiracy.

She refuses to do her research into the suspicious trail of Hillary's many scandals, and she refuses to look to any other media other than the TV news at 6/6:30, and reading articles on CNN or Huffingtonpost, which I just checked out the former and by god that is some of the scariest social programming I have come across (with absolutely no mention of the damning evidence coming from wikileaks.)

The other day I was arguing with her, trying to shed some light on Hillary's warmongering attitude, because you know, it's really bothered me that Democrats were so openly against Bush for going to war, but when the democrats do the same they turn the other way. She said she doesn't agree with Hillary's foreign policy, but that a Trump presidency would be far worse (without explaining to me how it would be worse). I keep bringing up the importance of what's going on in the middle east, and eventually she told me I sounded like a "Ku Klux Klan Member," and "one of those crazy tea party fringe people."

Now this really upset me. My mother is a rational woman for the most part, but whenever I try to talk any sense into her, she treats me as if I'm crazy for just attempting to put forth a logical argument. I've decided it's not even worth it to try to convince her, that she is happier in her disillusionment and that I can't really afford to get upset over that.

What is really discouraging is that I know there are tons of other people who are programmed to believe whatever the media says, and it's the kind of thing that makes me want to stick a bullet in my brain. It's nice to know that people are starting to wake up, but it's extremely frustrating even having to listen to people complain "we just cant afford to have Trump in power" without so much as mentioning the many misdeeds of Hillary. And the same thing goes for Trump supporters! We need to be completely honest about BOTH candidates, and drop this whole team spirit BS. Whenever you try to bring up criticism on one candidate, it always jumps to "but so and so would be worse!," which I'm sure many of you are sick of hearing at this point.

Now, I ask you ATSers, what am I supposed to do in this situation? How do you deal with trying to "wake up" people that don't want to be open-minded to the fact that things may not be as they believe them to be? Mind you, I try to be as respectful and calm as possible, but people often seem to resort to elementary school tactics when you bring up a hard truth that they don't want to be bothered thinking about.

I hear you. You have to choose wisely which people are ready for the "real" convo to these effects. Many are not this cycle. Some are.

a reply to: littlefinch

I feel your pain littlefinch, I myself tried to talk a bit of sense into my girlfriends parents when her and I were at their place today. They are strict democrats and always vote democrat. When I was pointing out facts to her mother in a conversation about the candidates I saw the exact moment her eyes glazed over and she checked out mentally to avoid hearing any of it. I did'nt even go into the conspiracy realm of things just facts that anyone can google about either candidate. My final thought to her was not to support either candidate and instead vote third party so that they can get enough support to qualify to be in the debates four years from now. The funniest part of all of it was that she openly admitted she knew Hillary is corrupt and Trump is just as worthless in his own ways and yet would still be voting for Hillary. She then went on to say "Why vote for a loser in one of the third parties, they have no chance of winning." I literally face palmed right there...

I've come to the conclusion that for a good majority of americans there is not much hope of pulling the blinders off. I'm just going to sit back and laugh as they get exactly what they deserve as the country falls apart. I'm done trying to get people to think for themselves and do a bit of critical thinking and research.

"We get the government we deserve."
-Alexis de Tocqueville

originally posted by: Thoren

I've come to the conclusion that for a good majority of americans there is not much hope of pulling the blinders off. I'm just going to sit back and laugh as they get exactly what they deserve as the country falls apart. I'm done trying to get people to think for themselves and do a bit of critical thinking and research.

Most people in this country are so far gone that nothing--nothing--will shake them out of their collective hypnosis. It's a futile waste of time and energy, which is better spent on getting yourself right with your God (if you're into that sorta thing) and those closest to you.

That's really the best we can do for ourselves at this point. Then sit back and watch the show.

a reply to: littlefinch

There are a few on ATS that need deprogramming as well. Let's hope we can figure out how to help them all.

a reply to: NthOther

Exactly what I intend to do. I'm completely fed up with it and plan to just be prepared when this giant festering cyst comes to a head. All I can say is i'm glad my father taught my brother and I how to think for ourselves and always question everything. I only wish other peoples parents would of taught them the same. I remember when he would watch T.V. with me and my brother when we were young and question us on things that someone on the msm would say or dissect what a candidate said in a debate, stimulating critical thinking and independent thought at a young age. At the time at that young age I thought it was the norm for all children to be taught by their parents to do such things but as I grew older and saw the views and mindsets of other people my age I quickly saw that was not the case.

In today's society where non-mainstream thought seems to be shunned and stupidity/ignorance socially acceptable and rewarded it's no wonder that a corrupt government has been able to flourish as it has.

a reply to: littlefinch

I've managed to fully convince one friend(ex-Bernie supporter) and another friend might vote Trump. A third is a complete lost cause and will vote Hillary and has admitted that he has no political beliefs and it is fully based on emotion(he supports illegal immigrants).

a reply to: Thoren

I remember when he would watch T.V. with me and my brother when we were young and question us on things that someone on the msm would say or dissect what a candidate said in a debate, stimulating critical thinking and independent thought at a young age. At the time at that young age I thought it was the norm for all children to be taught by their parents to do such things but as I grew older and saw the views and mindsets of other people my age I quickly saw that was not the case.

What a great father you had!

This is precisely what should be the norm when it comes to raising our children. We are the ones who can help guide them to being intelligent free thinkers. Too many have sat their young ones down in front of the grand hypnotist in the living room and simply let their subconscious minds be programmed.

a reply to: littlefinch

I feel you on this OP!

It is quite difficult, I have been speaking about these issues for about 16 years now and what I find funny about it is that many people have come back to me and been like wow, maybe you were not so crazy after all.

The truth is that we do not have to do anything to wake anyone up. We are all at our own level of understanding and are put in the exact scenarios we need to be in for our continued growth.

I recommend researching this...freedom cells! A brilliant idea of coming together!

"The HuffPost presidential forecast gives Clinton a 98 percent chance of winning"

www.huffingtonpost.com...

www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/poll-donald-trump-ahead_us_58190572e4b07c97c1c50525

It was repeatedly watching a short youtube video called 'This is an orange' that cracked it for me. It was about the collapse of WTC 7 on 9/11. Acknowledging the scale of the deception does hurt and leaves one lost, how can the society and government that watches over us so blatantly destroy us at the same time?

I get it that some people do not want to face the distrust and rather leave there rose coloured glasses on.

a reply to: littlefinch

1. Find points of agreement with your mother.
2. Tell her that its her duty to question her beliefs with not just emotion but facts too.
3. Tell her that people who have spent the most time researching a topic tend to know the most about it.

One step is to shift someone to blind acceptance of authority to questioning authority.

Another step is to shift someone from emotions to facts.

a reply to: fractal5

I've tried those tactics with some friends and family, it usually ends with them getting angry. The programming is so ingrained that it seems to trigger an almost violent response if questioned too hard or presented with too much contradicting fact. It usually comes to that point at the moment they run out of talking points to repeat that the msm they subscribe to spoon fed them.

a reply to: fractal5

here's the thing fractal

1. I have found points of agreement with my mother, but those are "trumped" by the fact that she's completely brainwashed and refuses to have a thought for herself on the matter.
2. I've told her a lot of things, I've asked her what would it take to convince her that this woman is a criminal, what if she was man, how would she feel about her? She answers with things like "I'm old", "I just don't know" and she sounds tired, very tired. And i don't blame her, she's lived a long and difficult life.
3. She thinks that anybody speaking an opinion that goes against the status quo is nothing but a "conspiracy theorist" and that's exactly what the MSM is pushing on people. Basically, if the MSM isn't talking about it, it's not "valid" information, even if it has been proven as reality.

She questions authority, there's no doubt about it, but she cant see through the film of propaganda that infiltrates every bit of information that she absorbs from the same, tired propaganda outlets.

I repeat the facts to her, she just simply does not want to hear it. I think it's a lost case with her, but I appreciate the advice anyway.

As Thoren said in a recent reply, people get angry, so angry that they let their emotions get the best of them, and they don't realize that their anger is misdirected at the wrong reason.

I don't think you're talking about "deprogramming" ... more like "reprogramming" to have them think more like you.

a reply to: Gryphon66

Not to think like us but to think for themselves .

I have found it easier to do lately thanks to the media's behavior

a reply to: Gryphon66

Reprogramming would be to try to insert my own views into the heads of others which I have never done. I simply try to stimulate them into asking questions and seeking answers. I don't want my fellow people to think what I think I or what the media wants/tells them to think, I want them to think for themselves.

a reply to: littlefinch

Yeah, it's kind of arrogant of you to assume you're correct and they're incorrect. You do understand that Trump wants a conservative majority in the Supreme Court, right? Do you seriously think that'd be a good thing? If so, I'd suggest you're the one in need of "de-programming".

I'm going to suggest that your mother may be correct and maybe you do indeed sound like a KKK member.

I just hope you can spend some quality time deep in thought.

a reply to: littlefinch

She refuses to do her research into the suspicious trail of Hillary's many scandals, and she refuses to look to any other media other than the TV news at 6/6:30, and reading articles on CNN or Huffingtonpost, which I just checked out the former and by god that is some of the scariest social programming I have come across (with absolutely no mention of the damning evidence coming from wikileaks.)

The old saying here applies....
" It is harder to convince someone they have been fooled than it is to fool them "....

In my experience people whom are set in their thinking it is best to leave them to their path, trying to change a mind that is already made up is somewhat futile....good luck

a reply to: littlefinch

Littlefinch,

Although I am not in America, and therefore am not thinking about who to vote for in a few days time, I am often beset by programmed people, both right and left. Even my mother has a hard time accepting that immigration is not the problem, that it is a symptom, and one which must be addressed WELL after the actual cause has been addressed, and that the cause is warmongering on the part of western powers, the creation of proxy armies to fight shadow wars with our weapons, our equipment, and our money behind it.

She has found it difficult to accept that until these proxy wars end, immigration not only will continue, but MUST, since housing the unfortunate persons who are caught up in our own nations foreign policy decisions is the only thing we, the people can do to express our solidarity with those displaced persons. She does not find it easy to understand that we, the people of Britain and the immigrants who come here, are all victims of the same evil...the greed and megalomania of a small few in the world, who seek dominion, rather than to liberate.