Fighting Ignorance

[Brandal24]

Hello all, I still have a family who believes in the misconception and false reputation of psychedelics even though I have opened up to the truth. It is extremely sad and disappointing that they will shut down any conversation about cannabis, let alone any talk of its medicinal value. I'm currently battling to open up their minds in order to offer them truth, but it's difficult to do when they're so defensive and protective of their current beliefs.
Has anyone been or is currently in the same situation? What did you do, and how?

 

[ayalove]

The best thing you can do is display confidence in your decisions. If they display ignorance just calmly ask "why?" It's honestly the best thing you can do. Eventually they will want to know why you think it is right. When that time comes point them towards accurate sources of information and let them research it on their own. Fighting ignorance takes patience.

Goodluck

 

[Metanoia]

Fighting ignorance takes patience.

Very true, and something I've been trying to work on recently. Patience. I have the utmost patience for a lot of things...but ignorant people isn't one of them. It's difficult for me to even attempt to speak to them after a while. I tend to give up too easily with these types of people. I'm just so shocked and sickened by their lack of openness, it's like they don't want to learn anything or see anything differently. They're pretty cozy in their illusory world, and they like it that way. Anything that challenges that on a deep, fundamental basis makes them very defensive and even violent.

Patience is the key. I'm probably not the one to persuade them to see things differently. The way I see it, they'll come to that point on their own, if ever. Some people just don't want to change, and you can't force them.

 

[AlbertKLloyd]

Hello all, I still have a family who believes in the misconception and false reputation of psychedelics even though I have opened up to the truth. It is extremely sad and disappointing that they will shut down any conversation about cannabis, let alone any talk of its medicinal value. I'm currently battling to open up their minds in order to offer them truth, but it's difficult to do when they're so defensive and protective of their current beliefs.
Has anyone been or is currently in the same situation? What did you do, and how?

Picked my battles a bit more carefully...

what truth are you offering again?

 

[112233]

There is no need to "fight" ignorance. Live your wisdom, displayed through the actions of your life, and those with eyes to see will see, and those with ears to hear will hear. Everyone is on a different level in life, some in the kindergarten stages, others are in graduation school and all grades in between and beyond. Why try and force your upper class level on those without the developmental ability to absorb what you say? Why try and turn a Catholic into a Mormon? Or a Liberal into a Conservative? Or a dog into a cat? A spider into a bee? Or the value of hemp to a brainwashed and closed mind? It's not worth the wasted energy. Some people get all their news from network television and will believe nothing else. So be it.

 

[Jin]

There is no need to "fight" ignorance. Live your wisdom, displayed through the actions of your life, and those with eyes to see will see, and those with ears to hear will hear. Everyone is on a different level in life, some in the kindergarten stages, others are in graduation school and all grades in between and beyond. Why try and force your upper class level on those without the developmental ability to absorb what you say? Why try and turn a Catholic into a Mormon? Or a Liberal into a Conservative? Or a dog into a cat? A spider into a bee? Or the value of hemp to a brainwashed and closed mind? It's not worth the wasted energy. Some people get all their news from network television and will believe nothing else. So be it.

i agree with this totally its hard work , just quit with it and enjoy your time

 

[Pup Tentacle]

Some folks willingly choose to be ignorant. There's nothing you can do about that.

A life well lived is the best testament to truth.

 

[Psychelectric]

In order to fight ignorance you need the evidence to present the truth. When it comes to cannabis I look at the LaGuardia report, or the Schaffer Commission, as well as the medical stats and the usefulness of the hemp industry as far as psychedelics, that's a more difficult conversation. You can let then know safety of drug and how responsible set and setting plays a role. Either way it's a tough sale. Your best bet is to find out what specific issues they are having and address them specifically, you can also compare legal drugs for dangers such as alcohol, RX drugs or even caffeine. Either way good luck, but your best bet is figuring out what specifically upsets them and address that.

In the end all you can do is just plant the seeds and hope they come around.

 

[Guyomech]

They are probably genuinely concerned about your lifestyle choices. Even if that concern is based on ignorance, you have to respect where they are coming from.

As others have said already, a life well lived is the best thing you can do. Be a happy, responsible person who effectively pursues your own dreams in a way that makes you happy. That's probably the only evidence you can show them that they couldn't reject.

I've spoken with my folks about weed and psychedelics a few times. They just really don't know what to think, but try not to poo poo it too hard. I mean, I'm a middle aged guy with a family and a business, and the only one of their kids who hasn't ever asked them for a handout. This all runs counter to what you would expect of a "person on drugs". It's a very long slow way of demonstrating something but eventually the strong opposition does melt away. Hopefully.

 

[hostilis]

There is no need to "fight" ignorance. Live your wisdom, displayed through the actions of your life, and those with eyes to see will see, and those with ears to hear will hear. Everyone is on a different level in life, some in the kindergarten stages, others are in graduation school and all grades in between and beyond. Why try and force your upper class level on those without the developmental ability to absorb what you say? Why try and turn a Catholic into a Mormon? Or a Liberal into a Conservative? Or a dog into a cat? A spider into a bee? Or the value of hemp to a brainwashed and closed mind? It's not worth the wasted energy. Some people get all their news from network television and will believe nothing else. So be it.

I agree with this. There is no need to "fight" it.

You can try to show them, but don't fight too hard or else it will just cause you stress that you don't need. Try not to worry about it.

 

[Uno]

I get the impression that a lot of people are afraid of truth, and intentionally look the other way. A state of denial.

 

[hug46]

To the OP- Perhaps your parents are on another forum discussing how to get through to you. The question is, which one of you is right? The answer to that is probably that all of you are a bit right and a bit wrong. Go easy on your folks they more than likely love you beyond life and are worried about you.

 

[Suburban Tea]

I would just like to say good to you for "coming out" about it. Even if people don't agree, it is better to tell the truth than pretend to live your life in the image they have molded for you.

When I cast off the Christian upbringing forced on me by my parents, I was not very considerate at all (though I was a teenager, is that an excuse?:lol: ) and my entire family and I would have heated theological debates pretty regularly. Eventually we agreed to disagree, and I wish I had done this right from the start, rather than trying to "back-up" my agnosticism.

There is no need for you to prove yourself, or rather your opinions/habits in this case, to others. Just agree to disagree. If they love you, they will deal with it. If they don't deal with it, shame on them.

On the other hand though, there is nothing wrong with the occasional argument, because otherwise you appear just as ignorant ("I just do it because...because.")