Thread

1. zasz · 1789740962 · focus · HN ↗

   Honestly the most surprising thing about this is that facts and evidence do work to persuade people.

   1. tolugenius · 1789741185 · focus · HN ↗

      I more wonder if it's pure facts and evidence can work, or facts presented in a certain light can work? I guess asking how mush is it the data is presented that's doing more work than the data itself.

      1. pixl97 · 1789744534 · focus · HN ↗

         >or facts presented in a certain light can work

         At least to me this is a given.

         You can take the same set of factual information and give it to one person that studders, has poor presentation, and otherwise poor vocal cadence and people are going to have a hard time with it.

         Now, if you took the same facts, maybe even the exact same paragraphs and gave it to Richard Feynman, even if you didn't know who he was, the presentation itself is likely to hook you.

      2. dns_snek · 1789744598 · focus · HN ↗

         Based on my own observations the presentation and appearance of legitimacy matters far more than the actual argument, "Lies, damned lies, and statistics".

         Anecdotally I've noticed a trend of far-right bots/trolls moving on from just spouting hatred and really lean into cherry picked and misrepresented statistics to give themselves an aura of credibility. That strategy seems moderately effective because the argument consists of verifiable facts even though it forms a faulty conclusion.

         So all of this is to say that this is a double edged sword where malicious actors will have the advantage.

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