Third_Density_Resident
Jedi Council Member
I bring up this topic because just the other day I was talking with a family friend about an incident which occurred in a nearby city in which someone either fell or jumped out of a very high building, and her colleague saw it happen outside his office window. Then we started to talk about the act of jumping, and what would have to be going through someone's mind to do that. I then said how appalling it must have been for those poor people on the top of the Twin Towers who felt driven to jump rather than be engulfed in flames.
And then the friend said, "What do you think of all those stupid people who believe that the Trade Towers collapsed because of a government conspiracy?"
She really expected me to say something like, "I know, aren't they stupid!" But she got a real shock when I smiled and said, "I believe in that conspiracy." She then shook her head and said, "No, I don't believe that," then she cited a documentary she saw on television. It was the BBC debunking one (surprise, surprise). I then said, "Well after having researched the topic on and off for 5 years, I think I'm probably in a better position to draw conclusions than you are."
Anyway, I then proceeded to tell her why I believe in that conspiracy, and went through many different points. There were a couple of points I forgot to mention which were pretty damning, but I have always thought to myself in the past that if ever I had to defend my views I would find it hard to recall the right things to say at the right time.
I believe that my views not only shocked her, but definitely left her with food for thought because she didn't say much after that. Even if she still doesn't seriously question her own views on the matter, she now knows that there are at least some reasonably intelligent people out there who believe in such things (she has praised the digital video and animation work I've done for her over the years).
Now, I'd like some advice on how I could have BETTER handled the situation. I know I probably sounded quite arrogant saying "Well after having researched the topic on and off for 5 years, I think I'm probably in a better position to draw conclusions than you are", but isn't that the truth? (Not that the truth is necessarily an excuse to be arrogant.) I was also thinking of how external consideration could have used in this situation.
And then the friend said, "What do you think of all those stupid people who believe that the Trade Towers collapsed because of a government conspiracy?"
She really expected me to say something like, "I know, aren't they stupid!" But she got a real shock when I smiled and said, "I believe in that conspiracy." She then shook her head and said, "No, I don't believe that," then she cited a documentary she saw on television. It was the BBC debunking one (surprise, surprise). I then said, "Well after having researched the topic on and off for 5 years, I think I'm probably in a better position to draw conclusions than you are."
Anyway, I then proceeded to tell her why I believe in that conspiracy, and went through many different points. There were a couple of points I forgot to mention which were pretty damning, but I have always thought to myself in the past that if ever I had to defend my views I would find it hard to recall the right things to say at the right time.
I believe that my views not only shocked her, but definitely left her with food for thought because she didn't say much after that. Even if she still doesn't seriously question her own views on the matter, she now knows that there are at least some reasonably intelligent people out there who believe in such things (she has praised the digital video and animation work I've done for her over the years).
Now, I'd like some advice on how I could have BETTER handled the situation. I know I probably sounded quite arrogant saying "Well after having researched the topic on and off for 5 years, I think I'm probably in a better position to draw conclusions than you are", but isn't that the truth? (Not that the truth is necessarily an excuse to be arrogant.) I was also thinking of how external consideration could have used in this situation.