Why Many People Refuse to Listen Reasonable Political Arguments

[toddmiller]

There are a lot of shows on TV that have pseudo-debates where one side only offers weak arguments and the other side always wins. This is actually a form of deception because people are not only convinced by the side that offers stronger arguments, they will not listen to strong arguments later because they feel like they've already made up their mind on the issue.

This technique has even been attributed to brain washing US POWs in the Korean war.

TV Shows with formats like Morning Joe where those around Joe only weakly debate his wildly inaccurate assertions, can actually train naive viewers into not listening to the truth when they finally hear it. Of course, it's not just Morning Joe that uses this format Hannity and Colmes also did this. CNN frequently has round-table discussions where only one point of view is strongly discussed and the business channels and other FOX shows follow this format as well.

[vilify]

1. I find it so dishonest when networks do that.

[Smithfield]

2. Confirmation bias

People typically are going to keep believing what they want to believe. Most arguments don't sway people.

[toddmiller]

4. After the Ideology is in Place Confirmation Bias Takes Over

Inoculation Theory explains one route through which people develop an ideology. As Smithfield notes, once the ideology is in place it's very difficult to dislodge because people only seek out confirming information and ignore disconfirming information.

[Scuba]

3. Which explains Casper Colmes.