Do You Correct People Who Are Perpetuating Lies?

[ThomWV]

I've sort of noticed myself lately just stopping conversations dead in their tracks. Usually it happens when I say something like this, "wait a minute, that's simply not true!" and then I go on to tell them where they've been lied to and what the truth is.

I was in the local auto parts store the other day, the boys have FOX on a dam tv on the counter all day long. I just looked at it and told them "that shit will rot your @#$%ing brain". Then I proceeded to tell them about studies showing that the more of that shit you watched the stupider you got. Nobody likes to hear that ... but they had to be told. How the hell else they gonna find out?

So call me an asshole. I don't care. A couple of guys have asked me "where I heard that" about things I've told them. So I tell them where to get better information than they've been seeing.

Once you open their eyes they never go back to the dark side.

[Eric J in MN]

1. What reaction did you get at the auto parts store? NT

NT

[ThomWV]

16. Well, The Guy Who Owns The Store ....

Was waiting on me behind the counter when I said that (it was wednesday of last week). He said "guess I better not wear my "W" T-Shirt around you", to which I replied he could wear any @#$%#ed T-shirt he wanted but that @#$%$#$%&* Bush needs to be in prison and ......

I just get to ranting, and they know I'm dead serious. I think it shocks them to see someone who actually cares. I think to them most of what is going on is like a soap opera, as if it has no effect on their lives.

[BOSSHOG]

2. There is an interesting dialog

that the Sun-Herald of Gulfport publishes on occasion in the form of letters to the editor. About half a dozen dumbass bush supporters spouting their garbage and about a half a dozen liberals correcting their every lie interspersed in the papers issues. The paper has been pretty cool in letting this go on. Its not every day but it sure is interesting.

I've come close to physical violence with some constitution hating yahoos who are nothing but ignorant whores for the neocons. I get loud and profane and they have forced me to play the vet card (I'm a vet) and I hate them even more for that. And none of them wants to let me drive them to the Army Recruiting Station.

[acmejack]

5. Just keep a DD Form 4 Stroke 1 handy at all times, Boss.

They react to it like a Satanic spirit to holy water.

[BOSSHOG]

12. They piss me off to no end

And I love their response (3 times) when I asked where did you serve? I haven't served in the military (yet.)

I got contracts and Army and Marine Corps Business Cards in my glove compartment and yet I have been a total failure as a recruiter.

I do get pleasure knowing that the likes of limbaugh and hannity, in their quiet, secret moments would love to don a set of dress blues and display about 8 rows of ribbons and it just pisses the hell out of them (in their private moments) when the subject of their lack of service comes up. I guess we are to blame for limbaugh's drug abuse because of our constant teasing of the little sissy. He had no one who loves him to turn to (since that person does not exist) so he turned to drugs.

[Habibi]

13. Bosshog, excuse me for being forward, but

:loveya:

I know I shouldn't go there, but the phrase "constitution hating yahoos who are nothing but ignorant whores for the neocons" just makes me feel all gooey inside.

[BOSSHOG]

15. Hey its Friday, Full steam ahead

When I was a Young Sailor (a very long time ago), my Commanding Officer, told me in a loud and intimidating voice, after reviewing my entry test scores, "you'll never be a diesel mechanic." So he made a great decision by putting me on the podium where I learnt reel good how to talk and rite stuff that saylors could understand more better. And those talents continue to this day. Oh my, I'm so happy you went there.

[Cleita]

3. All the time if it's important.

If it's something stupid, I don't, but I always correct misinformation even if they don't appreciate it at the time. I have had people come back to me later though asking where they could get the facts on something they heard on TV or the radio.

[FlavaKreemSnak]

4. It depends on if I think the person would want to know the truth

And you can tell I think most of the time. Maybe it is a person who just hasn't ever thought about reading papers from other countries or something, for example. But you can kind of tell that there are some things making the person go hmm, even though they seem like they believe things that are a lie.

But then there are other people that you can just kind of tell need to believe whatever they believe, or maybe just the way they are with their intellectual power, you know, not everybody is going to be as smart as you are in the same way. For example, I am not smart enough to explain what I mean exactly about this question, but the answer is, sometimes I might try to just sort of say something that could help a person learn more about a subject, if they were interested but also I know that because of a lot of factors stuff like what is true or not is very mixed up with beliefs right now in our culture, so I will try to respect that.

Also you have to think about your own motives. Do you just want that person to know things you know and feel as bad as you? Do you think that that person knowing more will change things? Do you want to show off that you read more or maybe are smarter in a particular way?

So I guess there are a lot of factors and it is a more complicated question than I thought it was when I started to answer it!

[Sherman A1]

6. I do try to correct the obnoxious emails

not all the time and it depends on the sender, some folks are nice and are just passing on what they think to be helpful or the truth. Just depends on the situation.

[Individualist]

7. Yes

Anyone who remains silent in the presence of lies is letting cowardice supercede integrity.

[proud patriot]

8. I do , yes

:patriot:

[magellan]

9. I did this with another independent like myself not long ago

Met her in a store; she was behind the counter and commented on my Kerry t-shirt, and from there we started commiserating on how appallingly bad Bush** has been for the country. Then out of nowhere she says, "But I do believe Saddam had WMD and we'll find them."

This was only months ago. I was gobsmacked.

"Look, think logically about it," I said. "Do you remember those satellite photos the administration showed the world of Iraq's so-called bio labs?"

She said she did.

"Stunningly clear, weren't they? Impressed you?"

She agreed.

"And yet they turned out to be wrong, not bio labs at all, right?"

She was aware of that much, thank goodness.

"Now, in the three years since the invasion, have you seen the WH offer any similar photos of WMD being moved or hidden?"

"No..."

"So," I said, "if we can get sat photos of a couple of alleged bio labs, don't you think we'd be able to get at least one satellite photo of Saddam moving all his supposed WMD? Hundreds of missiles and centrifuges and containers of bio weapons and all the other equipment that goes with these things would take truckloads. Hard to hide convoys like that."

She hadn't considered this. I hope I left her with a more robust desire to use her critical thinking skills.

[Rosco T.]

10. With a 2x4 if necessary.... I give them three chances...

1. er.. sorry, you're incorrect there... here's the right information

2. I said, that was not true and I pointed you to the truth.

3. STOP LYING YOU FRIGGIN MORAN!

[MoseyWalker]

11. I correct people who don't know

they are perpetuating lies.

The ones who know, I don't give a damn about.

[orpupilofnature57]

14. Yes I work among Repukers and am constantly tweaking the Kkkarl

version, they almost always reword ,qualify , then trivialize and become ambiguous after that.

[Skidmore]

17. My husband has taken to saying "I didn't vote for him"

every time his coworkers (who voted for him) start whining about *'s policies and how they are affecting them. Shuts them right up.

[lonestarnot]

18. ThomWV got balls! People need to grow some!

Your're no asshole and you are doing the meally mouths a service. They should applaud you! :applause:

[John Q. Citizen]

19. I canvassed on health care reform for 3 years,

five days a week, 50 weeks a year, in a total of seven states, knocking on 30-40 doors a night, and raising funds and consciousness.

So yeah, I've had the opportunity to correct a few misconceptions.

Cutting the issue to your audience's personal experience and world view is crucial if you expect them to get anything out of the exercise.

That said, I'm all in favor of speaking out and up.