Canada’s largest newspaper chain, Postmedia, is owned by an American hedge fund headed up by a wealthy donor to Donald Trump.
Canada’s largest newspaper chain, Postmedia, is owned by an American hedge fund headed up by a wealthy donor to Donald Trump.
Repeating this statement:
Now’s also the time to admonish your friends and family for consuming enemy state media about their own country. Uncomfortable family talks.
I’ve already had one with my dad. He would’ve supported P.P and was asking my opinion.
Retired boomer with no imagination so he took up a part time job as a driver in a plumbing shop. His conservative coworkers poison his aging grey matter, and I have to deprogram him now and then. Thankfully my dad’s not a reactive dick and will read sources I provide him that he’s not read and change his mind. Begrudgingly. That old boy conservative mindset is ingrained in him deep. He always has a look on his face like he’s betraying his community voting against cons. I don’t get it, but he’s not as bad as he could be.
My point is, people have to fucking try with family if there’s a chance they can be reasoned with. Don’t be cowards/doormats.
Those uncomfortable conversations are essential, and I appreciate that you’re putting in the work. It’s not about “deprogramming” so much as encouraging critical evaluation of news sources.
Media literacy is becoming increasingly vital as we approach the election. The challenge is that many people don’t realize how their media consumption shapes their political views—they just see it as “the news.”
What’s worked for me is asking questions rather than making statements. “Where did you hear that?” followed by “Have you verified that information with a Canadian source?” opens the door without creating immediate defensiveness.
Your dad’s willingness to engage with alternative sources shows he values truth over tribal politics, even if reluctantly. That’s actually quite rare these days and worth appreciating.
The “betraying the community” feeling is something I’ve noticed with older conservatives too. There’s this sense that changing one’s mind is somehow disloyal, when really it’s just part of being an informed citizen. Democracy depends on people who can evolve their thinking based on new information.
Well said!
For sure I appreciate this more than it seems. I focused on the negatives to try and empathize with anyone reading with more difficult relationships. I can’t be fully myself around mine due to their religion that I rejected long ago for example.