Perhaps talk to ON followers at their level. Anecdotally, one I've spoken said he votes for ON because "Pauline says what most Australians think, she thinks like me" (one of the everyday people). When I pointed out she keeps company with billionaires etc, what I got was anger and a walking away from me.

It seems to me this is a long-term project. If people want to be reflected at their most reactionary and feel secure as part of a tribe then we need political reps from other parties who will not talk over their heads.

[–] Zagorath@quokk.au 6 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Pauline says what most Australians think

This is the real problem IMO. She says what they think. Because they're racist, and project that onto others, assuming it must be everyone.

I think the best tactic is redirection. They obviously have a lot of anger, and thanks to Hanson and the broader right-wing media climate, that anger gets directed towards immigrants. But if you can seek to redirect the anger where it belongs—to the billionaire class—without actually attempting to call out Hanson in too explicit a way (risking them getting defensive, as you observed, resulting in the backfire effect where they double down and reinforce their previous beliefs), that can help.

I think it's very notable that One Nation voters tend to preference LNP and Labor at much closer to a 50/50 rate than you might intuitively expect. A lot of them are disillusioned and poorly informed on the issues, rather than being hardcore dedicated True Believers in Hanson's racist cause. And can be reached, if the anger and fear they quite rightly feel are instead directed somewhere productive.

Not that I'm very good at this, mind you. When I'm exposed to them in real life I'm much more likely to do what you did, or to call them out personally. It's something I need to get better at.

[–] arbilp3@aussie.zone 3 points 6 days ago (1 children)

But if you can seek to redirect the anger where it belongs

I agree with you. The question is how do we do this? Most of the mass and popular media is well and truly paid up to give them the narrative that shapes and reinforces the 'us and them' perception. Someone must come up with the skills (online workshop, booklets, leaflets?) that can be learnt to be able to talk rationally with people who have been socialised this way without creating more rejection. Facts aren't enough.

[–] eureka@aussie.zone 3 points 6 days ago

I don't have any on hand, but there are plenty of references online for trying to deradicalise cult members, and many of the factors in play here are similar, so those skills can be used to try and open these people to other ideas.

This could have some, I haven't checked in depth: https://www.reddit.com/r/QAnonCasualties/wiki/resources/ (if you're not already familiar with QAnon conspiracies, Wikipedia article)

An important thing is to not aim for immediate change of mind, but to empower them with an alternative framework which is ready for them to consider when they face a contradiction in their worldview and the world.

[–] Wataba@sh.itjust.works 3 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Remind them that the Harpy specifically said 'I share a lot of the same values as Donald Trump' when he was elected the first time.

If they're happy to vote for someone sympathising with a paedophile rapist war pig, fuck them.