this post was submitted on 20 Jul 2026
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I don't think it matters in this information environment.
People aren't 'lost,' they've been consumed by their tech and feeds and influencers.
I'm not saying we shouldn't reach out, but... what's the point? If people spend literal hours every day getting drip fed hyper-personalized Trump fandom on their phones and such, being a sympathetic friend can't compete with that. What on Earth are we supposed to do about it?
Burn Facebook down, I guess?
But most of the world has not and never will connect that to the world's problems.
And honestly, Trump is just a symptom that broken system. He was there at the right time to take advantage of it, and for the system to use him. Even if his whole movement dies tomorrow, I don't think it would change a thing; the actual cause wouldn't go away.
I assert this about science literacy, too. Like with climate change.
Scientists putting out little letters and press releases is like blowing into a hurricane, these days. It's pointless noise. And they can't really "stoop" to disinfo peddlers' level, either, because unscientific messages win the engagement war, and they don't peddle controversy for a living.
Thank you. This is a very important point.
Well as a counter to your edit:
This is addiction.
Kindness alone is not going to change people. They need social pain, a stab in the heart, where its most important to them.
"I don't want you in my life when you're like this" (like OP's post) is Breaking Addiction 101. It works. And even then that's not always enough, but it's a powerful motivation.
So I guess what I'm saying is... you can do both. You can reach out a hand with sympathy, like you suggest, but it does not preclude the approach of OP's quote.
I'd argue its best to do both.
Of course, an issue with this is that it doesn't seem like addiction to most. The notion does sound kinda ridiculous to the average person. I think they're aware they use their smartphone to much, but not how perfectly manipulative it is.
Another is there's not always someone in people's lives to apply that kind of pressure.