[netsharc]

And admitting it would mean bursting the bubble of "I'm an intelligent person." (and even "a good person"). It's easier to construct a virtual reality where you're still the one with the clue and everyone else are just utter morons.

Also, with everything being written down nowadays (on your social media), changing your opinion means inviting mockery of past comments being dug up to be flung at you. Then again, the idiots in power seem to have developed a thick skin for this.

A little over a month ago: https://www.npr.org/2025/02/26/g-s1-50605/conspiracy-theorie... / https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43194910

[ziddoap]

>"changing your opinion means inviting mockery of past comments being dug up to be flung at you."

This has to be one of the most damaging things about social media, in my opinion. I never really understood why changing your mind about something as you get new information is looked down on and mocked, but it is.

[freedomben]

Seriously. I look at people who made big transitions in opinions with more respect than I do people who have never changed. What are the odds that you'll be correct with every opinion you form the first time? It's time people starting learning Socratic Wisdom again

[ajmurmann]

The social issue go much beyond this. The country to a large degree has sorted itself along party lines. Changing your political opinion in either direction will likely lead to arguments with people you are close to and might get you ostracized from your friend group or even family. For most people this is much worse than being ridiculed online!

[matwood]

> And admitting it would mean bursting the bubble of "I'm an intelligent person." (and even "a good person").

Or, "I do my own research".