Cognitive Biases by Lisa Munoz

What do you typically do or say when you try to change someone's mind, either about a decision they may make or made or their views on an issue? Are you successful? Why or why not?

lisaemilymunoz — 2022-02-01 17:21:42 UTC

How common do you think the Backfire Effect is? Is our resistance to new ideas more likely explained by Pushback Effect? Something else?

lisaemilymunoz — 2022-02-01 17:30:58 UTC

Rauch argues that both the left and the right employ sophisticated forms of information warfare. He argues the right uses disinformation and conspiracy theories and the left uses silencing in order to falsify a consensus. He calls this a toxic information environment. How does this make you feel? How do you respond to this argument? What questions do you still have?

lisaemilymunoz — 2022-02-01 17:33:03 UTC

What are some stories you've heard spread, even though you may know they are either not true, unverified, or incomplete?

lisaemilymunoz — 2024-02-05 23:53:13 UTC

Ana Medina

2026-02-06 05:01:18 UTC

During the presidential campaigns, Donald Trump promised the country to lower the prices for food, products, and among many other things he promised. Instead of providing reasonable plans for the future, he just said that without anything backed up. When people heard about his goals, they immediately loved that idea. Even though he didn't have anything to back up his goal. To this day, prices have raised like crazy. Everything is so expensive.

Ana Caren Medina Velasques

2026-02-06 05:06:47 UTC

What I normally do is listen carefully and hear them out and reason why they may want to make their decision. Afterwards, I state my opinion and layout multiple pros when changing someone's mind and still ask for their genuine opinion. Most of the time, I am successful when convincing people about changing their minds. My girlfriend for example, when she wants to make a decision and I see a better way around it, I normally do the same thing as I mentioned before.

Ana Caren medina Velasques

2026-02-06 05:12:44 UTC

The Backfire Effect is very common because we have the natural instinct to react very defensively when something we feel is getting challenged or even disrespected? It's somewhat like a barrier that builds overtime when growing up. And as you get more knowledge regarding your position for core beliefs, it's confusing which is right or wrong.

Ana Caren Medina Velasques

2026-02-06 05:36:25 UTC

I think what I feel is controversial because although this has been researched more in-depth, I still believe that everyone thinks differently. However, I believe that the left and right analogy creates a toxic environment because it does limit what other people might think and reconsider what they should say out loud. My questions that I have about this; how can you stay calm when someone is saying something factual yet so hurtful about a core belief that you strongly feel connected to?

Jessi Byrne

2026-02-07 18:12:23 UTC

Yea on TikTok or even instagram they are portraying incorrect and now real images, mostly the form of AI of certain animals or pictures and much more which people would at first question if its real or not to then realizing its Ai. Especially for my feed I get them a lot. With also the calming picture videos on YouTube, with the certain picture and image that are on most videos and posts are AI.

Jessi Byrne

2026-02-07 18:14:34 UTC

What I do is a listen to them about their feelings and perspective with the issue and I hear them out and then I give them another option or idea to deal with the issue and if that doesn't work or if they don't wanna do what I say or budge then I don't budge them and I let them be, and let them handle the issue on their own. but if the issue is a big thing and I feel me helping would be beneficial then I would help. But I would listen and understand their perspective on the issue and where they are coming from.

Jessi Byrne

2026-02-07 18:18:43 UTC

I think the backfire effect is pretty common because old to young if its an adult or a young kid that Iv experienced its really hard at first for us or anyone to change our minds even maybe sometimes there's eividence to prove other wise. But I think it depends what we are thinking and how we are feeling about a certain thing. If it's an issue that needs a solution then that's just a situation that's need help which can shift the mindset to another possibility. but I feel if someones really convinces or set only one thing and doesn't wanna change their mindset then yea its a little challenging.

Jessi Byrne

2026-02-07 18:22:24 UTC

I think that makes sense in some ways but who knows I know everyone thinks things differently so anything could be that possibility. I honestly don't know I feel that it makes sense but also other people maybe me could think otherwise because also that's one persons thought process and agrees like with also evidence helps that belief. I feel like me or anyone for that face probably still have a lot of questions about a lot of things and still don't know a lot which I feel we are all currently trying o ask questions and figure and learn new things and theories.

Elliot Walters

2026-02-08 08:21:38 UTC

I do often believe that the usage of AI and all of these social media platforms, there are so many possibilities to spread misinformation, and many do so in countless ways. Whether it is AI that has formulated videos that are using existing videos and images that we have on the internet, to create a video that is somewhat unrealistic, but you often question them because of how real they look at first glance. Even sports, and pro wrestling news can be spread on social media as well. I have recently seen posts of unverified/predicted cards and fight match ups for the UFC, and I always have to take a second look at them, because they look very similar to official posts. The technology and the advanced and sophisticated resources we have to create false information is interesting to think about, and there are endless examples that are prevalent in our day to day lives.

Elliot Walters

2026-02-08 08:30:18 UTC

I usually hear the person out before giving any feedback or a counter opinion / viewpoint, and respectfully listen to what they have to say. After that if I have a differing viewpoint I usually give examples regarding what they have to say compared to my specific ideas and opinion for the matter. I tend to be respectful to as many people's opinions as possible, and possibly even ask them why they believe what they believe, I obviously do it in a positive way, in order to hear their side, or their thoughts. I think it is important to listen to your peers' ideas even though they might be differing opinions from yours, because they might have a reason for that belief that is just as important as the thoughts that you bring up or believe to be true.

Elliot Walters

2026-02-08 08:53:25 UTC

I think for the Backfire Effect that, the initial beliefs that we have in our minds tend to be hard to let go, when they are challenged by others and or when someone is disagreeing or not believing you. I think a lot of times that one can be so fixated on their own argument that they do not look at the possibilities of being wrong or even think about the other viewpoint that is in their mind or presented to them. One belief leads to another and, the fact that a person does not like the varying opinions that are thrown at them, they are unable to change their given opinion. For the pushback information, I think it is very similar, because people often resist a changed mindset once we create a new personal idea, that they do not want to be untrue or seen as wrong in any way.

Elliot Walters

2026-02-09 00:53:57 UTC

I think that when you are considering the bias or so called different viewpoints that the left and right have, you have to take into account that distorted information, can sometimes come from information that is spread around with out any evidence or reasoning behind it. When you think of political, you think of information that could be hindered in a way that makes it not mention the other side of the argument. It is like a court case, the defendant and then the plaintive, they are determined to their beliefs of what happened, and they do not support the other differing opinion at all. This makes me question what we should believe whether we support it or not, because of the distortion that can be present in that specific belief. This makes me feel as if we are always questioning the right side to believe and what to label as true or untrue.

Justine Bieber ate a burrito starting in the middle and it went viral before

2026-02-09 17:46:55 UTC

It wasn't actually him; it was some YouTubers who impersonated him and made the photo go viral. It even reached the news and talk shows before they revealed that it was fake. - Robert Ranola

Autumn Kelly

2026-02-09 17:47:46 UTC

I automatically think about how, when Stranger Things season 5 came out, there was misinformation online that there was going to be one more episode that they hadn't released yet (even though the last few episodes of the series had already been released).

Kalyn Le

2026-02-09 17:47:56 UTC

I feel like misinformation and fake news is being spread all over nowadays. AI makes it really easy for fake news to be spread, and as it gets more realistic and as AI advances, I start to fall for some of the videos and images I saw. I saw a video of this girl abusing her dog, and as a result she got jail time. Then I saw a video that stated she made an apology video and the post had the video on the screen. While this girl did actually abuse her dog and did jail time for it, the video of her apology was fake, but it looked so real, I believed it until I looked into it more.

Coco Kennedy

2026-02-09 17:48:05 UTC

One big thing I've seen is the whole idea that the Earth is flat- and I mean this has been around for a while now, but recently I've seen a big spike in the amount of people who are big believers in that idea, even though we have a surplus of evidence that proves otherwise. It's even crazier that despite this evidence, some people still try to fight against it.

Matty Danish

2026-02-09 17:48:06 UTC

One of the most common stories that I've heard that are false are mainly conspiracy theories. these can be either from flat earth-ers and people who claim that the moon landing is fake. They go off little or even evidence that is made up in order to fit their believe that what they think is right.

Alyssa Ferrer-Perez

2026-02-09 17:48:17 UTC

A big marketing scheme in the makeup industry is pH adjusting makeup that will give you the "perfect custom shade for your skin tone" when in reality, all humans have similar pHs, meaning the shade will be similar on all complexions.

2026-02-09 17:48:41 UTC

I often see AI being the main contributor to this, as it's easy for someone to use AI now to fake something. For example my mom all the time sends me AI videos which look super realistic and tends to believe in their contents.

Stephen Basilio

2026-02-09 17:49:01 UTC

I think the backfire effect is very common since it seems that most people want to believe that they're never wrong instead of confirming that they're right. Exposure to new ideas tend to become more of a personal issue rather than a logical issue.

2026-02-09 17:49:10 UTC

Trying our best to stop, challenge, and the choose has always been my way of coming out. Sometimes it’s really helpful to keep us from making stuff up as debates roll on.

Taylor Marshall

Polina

2026-02-09 17:49:34 UTC

Some people use AI to create photos and videos of famous people to portray them in a bad light.

Quinn Lerner

2026-02-09 17:49:53 UTC

With how accurate and real AI is becoming I have fallen to a lot of fake videos and shared them to my friends believing they were real. In reality all I was doing was spreading misinformation because the video I saw looked real and sounded accurate. Now I read the comments in posts to make sure other people are agreeing its real.

Ella Nuskin

2026-02-09 17:49:54 UTC

I have seen tons of misinformation on social media before, especially now with AI. With the use of AI it is hard to tell now is something is really true or not especially with its ability to generate photos and videos. It is making us more aware of what is really true or not online.

2026-02-09 17:49:59 UTC

I'm very into the study of cryptozoology (the study of seemingly supernatural animals that may or may not exist, such as Bigfoot), which means I often hear a lot of conspiracy theories thrown around, and people will take easily explainable situations and turn them into stories about scary, supernatural creatures. A prime example of this would be the Flatwoods Monster, where some kids went into the woods trying to find an alien, only to be scared away by an owl, thinking it was an alien, but this story, to this day, is still thrown around as "proof" of alien encounters by conspiracy theorists. While this example is quite harmless, knowing that stories with simple explanations can be misinterpreted and spread around easily, imagine how easily more harmful stories can be spread.

Ethan Lee

2026-02-09 17:50:10 UTC

One of the untrue stories I’ve heard spread that I remember is the theory of flat Earth. Even though there are many pieces of evidence proving that it is not flat, people still continue to perpetuate the theory.

Bella Esparza

2026-02-09 17:50:44 UTC

There is simply too many to choose from, as we see fake news every single day on social media, multiple times a day. The more common false headlines as of late, have to do with politicians or any political figure. I saw one yesterday, that said that the prop Grammy that Bad Bunny gave the child during his halftime show, was the same kid that was detained by ice, however allthough it would be really cool if that was true, it wasn't.

Kalyn Le

2026-02-09 17:51:20 UTC

I always will hear and listen to another's point of view and process it through my head. I'm never trying to change someone's mind, I'm only giving my opinion and advice and know that they will take the information they want to take and ignore the information they want to ignore. But, when giving my opinions, thoughts, and advice, I always try to make sure that I'm not overbearing or too judgmental towards them.

Elan Yanga

2026-02-09 17:51:32 UTC

In a famous exhibit in Ripley's Believe it or Not, he convinced the public that he found a skeleton of a Fiji mermaid. For years, the public thought it was real until it was revealed that it was huge a hybrid of a monkey and a fish, glued together. It soon became a famous hoax

Iha Chakravarty

2026-02-09 17:51:50 UTC

Although I don't remember any specific instance in particular, I noticed a pattern on social media platforms where many accounts are created with the purpose of spreading misinformation on celebrities and just world news in general with the goal of gaining clout and I noticed that many individuals buy into this news and spread it to other people. One example is particular is that someone photo shopped Mamdani and his mother into the Epstein files using ai.

Julia Goebel

2026-02-09 17:52:00 UTC

Some fake news that I had seen was created by AI, used as a joke but as someone looking at it from an outside perspective I believed it to be semi-true. These posts said that a certain player might've been traded to a potential opposing team in their sport. It makes me confuses and I begin asking others, not knowing that the news is entirely fake.

Polina

2026-02-09 17:54:49 UTC

Listen to the other person and I am trying to understand their perspective, and then if I still disagree with them I will use real examples to back up my argument.

Graham Wilson

2026-02-09 17:55:22 UTC

I think with a lot of fake news coming from almost all major news outlets in modern day, people have a really tough time trusting the government. Which creates absurd conspircy theories resulting in an even bigger divide in the country, and even more misinformation out there.

Adriana Gonzalez

2026-02-09 17:55:54 UTC

I have heard many stories and have seen so much on TikTok but the most recent one is where kids fall into an animal encounter at a Zoo and the animal does nothing to the child a we know that is AI generated.

Stephen Basilio

2026-02-09 17:56:48 UTC

The internet made conspiracies of strange things happening at 3 am. Many videos, which are mostly satire now, created a fear of 3 am or the dark. Nowadays, I stay up very late at night, and nothing interesting happens.

Julia Goebel

2026-02-09 17:56:51 UTC

If I were to try and change someone's mind about a decision they made/may make, I would say that I understand and acknowledge their beliefs and thinking, and then try to explain them my point of view in a persuading, yet very respectful tone. It's important the other person understands that you hear what they are saying, rather than completely ignoring what they believe. Being successful really depends on how open minded the person you are trying to convince is; if someone is closed minded they can be very stubborn and hard to convince.

Raphael De Guzman

2026-02-09 17:57:49 UTC

When I was a kid, I used to believe in Santa Claus being real, and I was obsessed with trying to catch him in the act. One Christmas night, I stayed up past midnight waiting for him by the Christmas Tree, but he didn't show up until I finally fell asleep and woke up the next morning, when I found out the presents were under the tree, and that's when I knew he wasn't real because he would've shown up on midnight.

2026-02-09 18:05:20 UTC

I use logic and facts and try to remain as neutral as possible to not seem biased to either side. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt because of their cognitive bias.

Matty Danish

2026-02-09 18:07:31 UTC

Ive been in these situations a lot of times and now I try to avoid them as much as possible. it is hard to change somoneone's mind when they are so set on their own that I see it as a waste of time because I know they won't change their minds.

Raphael De Guzman

2026-02-09 18:07:48 UTC

Whenever I try to change someone's mind on a decision they made, I often ask for their full reason or statement on why they made that decision to gain understanding and an empathetic view, then try to find the contradictions of what they said, or say something similar to or better than their own decision. I also try to broaden their mind on something they never thought of before about the decision.

2026-02-09 18:07:57 UTC

I tease my boyfriend because he’s the type who always falls for conspiracy theories or does what he can to make me believe what he just read or saw. My favorite was when he asked AI its opinion on changing the government and he got so fired up on its responses.

Taylor Marshall

Bella Esparza

2026-02-09 18:08:19 UTC

Sometimes, depending on the topic, I wont even try to engage myself in the conversation because it might not even be worth the argument. However, when I do feel that its necessary to carry out with a conversation like this I have to prepare myself for it to maybe turn into an argument. When people voice their opinions I find that the individual is already set in their ways. When this is the case, the conversation kind of turns into them defending their position as opposed to hearing out the other.

ROBERT RANOLA

2026-02-09 18:08:22 UTC

I'm pretty passive, so I am not really argumentative. On the few times I try to change someone's opinion, I approach with a chill vibe so I can gauge whether a person is open to conversation or just closed off to outside opinions. I personally do like hearing other people's opinions, but I rarely share mine. I guess I'm a listener, not a speaker.

Elan Yanga

2026-02-09 18:08:23 UTC

I usually try to listen from their side and try to understand what they're getting at. I try to see where they're coming from and how they're able to get to their claims. Unless they person is set on their views and won't change, it sometime works. I think it's how people are willing to change or they don't want to see another view, it's a hill that they're dying on.

Kalyn Le

2026-02-09 18:09:17 UTC

I feel like the Backfire Effect is very common because regardless of the information you share to someone and the amount of persuasiveness you have, some, if not most, individuals will hear your opinion and disregard it because it makes them sound wrong, and I feel like nobody likes to be wrong. Therefore, as you share information that they highly disagree with, their need to feel correct or validated makes them feel stronger in how they feel and think. Resistance to new ideas is explained by pushback effect because I've felt this resistance. Sometimes, I may be debating with someone, and after the conversation, I feel stronger in my ideas and beliefs because their arguments just didn't correlate or just further proved my belief. Sometimes, I just don't want to feel wrong.

Graham Wilson

2026-02-09 18:09:29 UTC

I think the difficult thing about chaning someones mind, especially the people I care about, is I don't want the conversation to end with either of us mad at each other. I feel like this happens all too much within families about politics, and it ends with loved ones being upset with each other.

Quinn Lerner

2026-02-09 18:09:30 UTC

When I am trying to change someone's mind I usually start with hearing there opinion on the topic before I decide if I disagree with them. Then if I don't agree I usually give them my belief on that topic. Also its good to know that a lot of times people aren't willing to have there minds changed.

Iha Chakravarty

2026-02-09 18:09:43 UTC

From my experience trying to voice my perspective to assist people into changing their point of view, I realized that its a significantly challenging task so I take the route of understanding their perspective and the place their coming from and instead of disagreeing their perspective I share my perspective to reach a common ground with the other individual. I try to keep an open perspective and I don't judge them for their perspective.

Coco Kennedy

2026-02-09 18:09:48 UTC

Having an open conversation is the best way. You have to be able to come from a place of understanding for the other people, even if you don't believe or support their side. If you're open to hearing them out, they are usually more likely to listen to you and your points as well. At some point though, you have to make the decision to walk away if they aren't harming anyone, since some people get cemented in their mindset and it's impossible to sway that. If it's something small it's not worth getting into it. Bigger topics is usually a different story though.

Ella Nuskin

2026-02-09 18:09:51 UTC

I personally think it is important to hear all perspectives, even when trying to change someone's opinion. It is important to hear them out since they might actually have a valid point that you haven't necessarily thought of yourself. Sometimes it is hard to get someone to change their views, but I have been successful at doing it before. Even if you aren't successful it is also important to know how to agree to disagree or compromise without being judgmental since it is okay to not completely agree on every single topic.

Stephen Basilio

2026-02-09 18:09:57 UTC

I start with the logos, giving any evidence that may appeal to reason, then ethos to show that I know what I'm talking about. When the conversation becomes subjective, or they fail to see my own viewpoint, I become unsuccessful either because they fail to see my viewpoint or because it is a completely subjective argument. Eventually, I must let bygones be bygones.

2026-02-09 18:10:15 UTC

I’m a full believer on a backfire effect. I see it all the time working in the salon. I can hear my other stylists try to support why someone needs a gel and then the client will come back on “well what’s it made of or those ingredients sound iffy” so my girls are then back paddling on it.

T.Marshall

Ethan Lee

2026-02-09 18:11:40 UTC

I usually do not try to change people’s minds, but when I do, I try to present alternatives to their line of thinking. I’m usually unsuccessful because I prefer to avoid confrontation.

Alyssa Ferrer-Perez

2026-02-09 18:13:02 UTC

First, I try to understand where that person is coming from with their viewpoint, and asking what information they're basing their argument off of and where they heard that; a clinical study or a text post off Facebook? Then, I'll usually approach their points as, "I see that," "That's fair," etc. to try to find some commonality to ensure it remains a civil conversation instead of heated debate.

Autumn Kelly

2026-02-09 18:13:03 UTC

I feel like it is important to listen to other people's points of view before providing your own opinions because people are more likely to hear you out when you are open to listening to them. Once I have heard the other person out, then I will ask them where they got their information from, and then go into my own opinions. I also think it is better to think of the interaction as a discussion rather than a heated debate because I am not always right, and I feel you can really learn a lot when you are open to listening to what others have to say.

Adriana Gonzalez

2026-02-09 18:17:32 UTC

When I try to change someone’s mind, I try to hear them out and understand their point of view. After that, that is when I input my opinion and try to change their mind with knowledge and facts. Sometimes it works and there is other times that they are very stuck to their beliefs and won’t change their mind even though they know you are right.

Coco Kennedy

2026-02-09 18:28:31 UTC

I believe the backfire effect is extremely common. People don't like to be wrong, and sometimes it can stem from insecurities, emotions, or just the hard wired need to fight with people. Once you realize someone is pushing on your ideas, you tend to want to double down and explain why you're right and why your ideas are correct, even if they aren't. It's hard to change your ideas if your ideas have been so wired into your brain and neural network.

2026-02-09 18:28:36 UTC

Pretty common because humans are just deathly scared to be wrong. I think it could be explained by simply our human nature of wanting to be leaders and having power and usually this role is "never wrong"

Bella Esparza

2026-02-09 18:28:55 UTC

I think the backfire effect is really common in day to day life. Everyone no matter what they say is worried about what other people think to some degree. Wether that be politics related or an experimental outfit, the potential feedback that we MIGHT receive stops us from following through at all.

Iha Chakravarty

2026-02-09 18:29:33 UTC

I believe that the the Backfire Effect is fairly common, As it partly dose have some correlation within individuals ego and peoples need to be right or correct so when presented with strong information that's contradicting their believes only strengthen their own believes and their need to prove their point. I think that this is partly a combination of both the Backfire effect and the pushback effect as humans its an inherent feeling to be resistant to change as its something that may feel unsafe or new territory.

ROBERT RANOLA

2026-02-09 18:29:35 UTC

It depends on the people engaging in the argument. Sometimes, the more people say something, the more others start to believe. However, some people end up being more critical. Not everyone goes with the flow. I'd like to say that both pushback and backfire occur equally often. There is a reason there are 2 parties in government, and why there continue to be only these 2 sides. It is because people continue to change their minds and evolve their ideas over time.

Ella Nuskin

2026-02-09 18:29:41 UTC

I think the Backfire Effect is very common. We all want our personal believes and opinions to be correct or valid and for someone to state the opposite can make you defensive. It can trigger that fight or flight response since no one wants to think they are wrong or disrespectful.

Julia Goebel

2026-02-09 18:29:41 UTC

I think the backfire effect is very common, more than people may realize. I think the resistance is explained by the pushback effect. It explains that when people are faced with beliefs that contradict their very own, why they push against ideas that may make their seem "unture" or less important. Even though with the backfire effect that the false beliefs are contradicted with fact, because those beliefs are rooted so deeply within a person, it makes it harder to change their minds and point of views on certain topics. I think these effects work both together and independently.

Quinn Lerner

2026-02-09 18:30:59 UTC

I think backfire effect is common because a lot of times people make there initial opinion based on there cognitive biases. When in the long once you see certain things play out you can see how in that moment you were just being bias and you could've seen it coming if you opened you mind to others thoughts. I think the push back effect has a lot to do with this because a lot of times people don't like to admit or believe there wrong leading them to push back.

Graham Wilson

2026-02-09 18:32:30 UTC

I think that the pushback effect is something that will always, unfortunately, plague conversation for the foreseeable future. Just because it's so strong in our country to be right and not accept being wrong.

Elan Yanga

2026-02-09 18:32:30 UTC

I believe that the backfire effect is very common since our ideas and views can be challenged everyday and people believe that they're never wrong, especially when our facts are contradicted. It makes it harder for us to change our minds and just plant our feet on a subject.

Coco Kennedy

2026-02-09 18:33:56 UTC

I definitely have seen the way both sides are using this "information warfare" and its more common than you might think. Both sides double down and want to be right, and this is one of the big ways that this happens. It sucks but it's true. You have to take information hunting into your own hands to help combat this. Be interested, ask questions, but also be open to other sides and opinions to get the FULL picture instead of a piece of it. I wonder about the specific psychology of how both sides have gotten so caught up in their ideology, to the point where they are trying to manipulate both the general populous and the other side.

Autumn Kelly

2026-02-09 18:35:06 UTC

I believe that the backfire effect is common because people don't like to be wrong and they don't like when their opinions and beliefs could be based on false information. So because of this, it makes it so much harder to change our minds on topics that may be very passionate to us.

Polina

2026-02-09 18:35:56 UTC

Backfire effect is really common in. our society, because people do not like realize when they are in a wrong, and they will support their opinions no matter what, even if they realize that they are wrong they might still stick to their opinion just because they are emmbarassed to say they were wrong

Alyssa Ferrer-Perez

2026-02-09 18:38:11 UTC

I think the backfire effect is very common, especially given the argumentative nature of American culture. The pushback effect definitely can impact people's resistance to new information, both factoring in psychological and cultural impacts.

Kalyn Le

2026-02-09 18:38:17 UTC

I do see what Raunch is stating when it comes to the information shared between political parties and creating a toxic information environment, and I agree. Regardless of what political party you side with or are associated with, every specific individual interprets, absorbs, and views differing information in different ways. I'm not stating or accusing any political side, but I just agree with the overall statement that we do live in a toxic political environment, with manipulation from both sides, cognitive bias on both sides, and (as I said in my previous posts) the need to be correct or superior on both sides when it comes to political conversations. As Raunch said, "right now it's the right, later it may be the left", showing that regardless, there will be a toxic environment. I wonder if it is ever possible to have an environment that is not toxic, since, throughout history, I feel like there has always been a toxic information environment, with some eras being more toxic than others.

ROBERT RANOLA

2026-02-09 18:38:21 UTC

Honestly, I feel like even this statement is biased itself. Any opinion is naturally biased. Although it may contain some truth, it is not the whole truth. People will believe what they wanna believe.

Ethan Lee

2026-02-09 18:39:12 UTC

I feel that the Backfire Effect is common because I feel that people are generally afraid of great changes in the status quo. However, I also feel that the Pushback Effect is equally as common, which is more likely to occur in those who have an easier time accepting changes in their beliefs.

2026-02-09 18:39:21 UTC

Doesn't really make me feel in any way. I believe that yes it does indeed create a toxic environment as the idea of one side having only one way of thinking kinda creates stereotypes and miscomunicating on the ability to debate on another. It makes sense as it'll take the major of one group to represent its side without including the minority. And I guess my questions is how do we clear up these misconceptions about either group.

2026-02-09 18:40:29 UTC

Both sides are doing what they can to sway people and I feel that they are using their own tactics agains each other which is what is driving a lot of people to distrust more or even distrust the people that they align with. If people are left in the dark they can argue that ignorance is bliss. But if you are choosing to align or even draw a line in the sand then you’re taking your seat at an argumentative table. I feel a lot of people end up at the table on accident or with different intentions that are then challenged by the people they are sitting with.

T.Marshall

Iha Chakravarty

2026-02-09 18:41:12 UTC

Rauch's argument regarding the use of disinformation and the use of sophisticated forms of information warfare that both parties employ is an enticing take. Especially because these tactics ultimately create an great disruption between both parties portraying the other believes and notions in a bad light this ultimately affects the people and further amplifies the growing divide and as Rauch explains this truly is breeding a toxic information environment.

Stephen Basilio

2026-02-09 18:41:35 UTC

Associating people with the left or right limits or stereotypes people to only think one way rather than another. I do agree that situations between two different viewpoints can get very toxic, but I think everyone has their own way of thinking and their own way of arguing. Not everyone is educated in debating or discussion work, which is why it gets messy. Why have we settled on a political compass to group people's perspectives? Does it really make it easier to group people like this, or does it oversimplify the way we think?

Alyssa Ferrer-Perez

2026-02-09 18:41:37 UTC

I can see why he believes the left and right use the methods he described, and they are also more common on the extreme left wing and right wing of politics; which are also growing areas in the current political state. The toxic information environment ends up being self sustaining amongst certain groups after it has been corroborated enough (groupthink), especially if some parties have yes men taking leadership roles in them.

Graham Wilson

2026-02-09 18:41:47 UTC

For the most part, I think Raunch hit the nail on the head with his argument. I think both sides have really deployed their own unique and effective tactics to get others to join their side of the political spectrum. The problem that you run into is that it creates a bigger and bigger divide in the country. With a bigger divide becomes a bigger gap between the two parties. Which makes coming to an agreement and common ground very difficult. My only question is what does it take to find common ground. What topic, decision, or discussion does it take for almost the entire population to reach an understanding and actually agree with each other.

Autumn Kelly

2026-02-09 18:41:55 UTC

I don't really have any strong feelings on this matter but I do believe that due to the different beliefs that dwell between the right and left parties, it does create a toxic environment for discussion on these kinds of topics.

Elan Yanga

2026-02-09 18:42:03 UTC

I think in some ways it does make sense but you need to understand what they're coming from. You have to take in the information they're getting and make your own opinion from it or what claim do you form. We all have different views on different subjects, that's just how our minds work. But I do agree we have a toxic information environment, it's a lot of "them vs us" mentality.

Quinn Lerner

2026-02-09 18:42:28 UTC

I completely agree with this statement, when you look at political belief's from a neutral mindset you are able to see how hard each side tries so hard to sway opinions using different tactics. I think this is a very scary way of running a country and it can cause a lot of harm in the future. I can see people being unsure of what to believe and scared to state there thoughts. The only question I have is how do we stop this from happening.

2026-02-09 18:42:40 UTC

Honestly, anytime I see this, whether it's online or on the news, it makes me have less faith in our country's future because both sides are doing it. I often see political ads that try to manipulate your emotions to support a cause, rather than presenting facts and data from trusted sources. Right now, the president is using falsified information to villainize the opposition to win votes, and seeing that he and his party could legitimately win the next election is very concerning to me

Bella Esparza

2026-02-09 18:42:46 UTC

Both sides of the political spectrum use this tactic, and a lot of the times each sides followers will interact with just one post that contains that information (liking, commenting, or even hovering over that specific post longer than other ones) and their algorithm will turn into posts that are curated to that specific niche. This just creates more division, because they aren't checking the sources, or seeing headlines from the opposite political spectrum.

Julia Goebel

2026-02-09 18:43:09 UTC

This argument doesn't really make me feel a certain way, I agree that it is a toxic information environment, but it just makes me think that these tactics are a little weird. I understand that they seem strategic to their corresponding sides, but part of me believes that both sides are wrong in a sense when you look at it from a morality viewpoint. I don't necessarily have any responses, but I believe that there could be ways to respond and share information, but because it is really a huge competition, both sides do what they believe they have to.

Adriana Gonzalez

2026-02-09 18:43:47 UTC

I think the backfire effect is very common. People are really stuck to their beliefs and ideas, when they hear someone else that might be right, they shut them off of reject their ideas. People like to stick to their ideas so they feel control about themselves.

Ella Nuskin

2026-02-09 18:44:25 UTC

I understand with what he is saying with it being a toxic information environment since both sides to have biases on their personal beliefs. This information warfare uses cognitive biases and stereotypes overall creating an overly toxic environment. My question is will we ever be able to have a less toxic environment where people are more excepting with others opinions even if they don't align with their own.

Polina

2026-02-09 18:44:46 UTC

I think this is true that our information environment is very toxic, and that it is challenging to find information that is true, especcialy with AI. And if just one person falls for misinformation they will go around and tell that idea to everyone around and convert others to believing fake news.

2026-02-09 18:45:22 UTC

Most of the time, I no longer try to change a mind. Despite showing as many facts, data, and logic to a person who is trying to argue with me, they are just so concrete in their stance that I just try to avoid the debate altogether. I've also taken Mark Twain's advice to heart about debating, and that is, "Never argue with an idiot, they will just bring you down to their level."

Ethan Lee

2026-02-09 18:48:25 UTC

Regarding Rauch’s argument, the only thing that I feel about it is that it accurately depicts the faults of both parties when it comes to their line of thinking. I would respond by saying that I do not think everyone, in both parties, agrees with the forms of information warfare that their party tends to use and that the people who do use such tactics tend to get more attention.

2026-02-09 18:48:59 UTC

I'd say it's extremely common, and our resistance to new ideas can be more likely explained by the pushback effect, because we'd rather use what we already know in debates to shape our beliefs than to use new, seemingly alien beliefs that go against what we believe. So, as a result, trying to revise or change an opinion is quite difficult.

Raphael De Guzman

2026-02-09 18:51:39 UTC

Honestly, I agree with Rauch because both sides never win or lose to the other. It's a constant, endless, toxic argument that makes both sides go at each other. Overall, I feel nothing about it except he's right, and I'd rather just believe what I want to believe without any side persuading me nor being a part of the argument. I wonder if there is a third side or another player on the table who is winning. I also wonder if there is psychology has a hand in this since it's all about persuasion in the argument.

Matty Danish

2026-02-09 18:51:56 UTC

I think the backfire effect is really common. many people will go out of their way in order to believe that their opinion is right.