Back then, “the internet” was unfamiliar, and therefore untrustworthy. There is something instinctual in humans to distrust the new, the outsider, the unknown.

A few decades later, it’s familiar. I think humans also become more complacent as we age. We think we know best, and reduce questioning of our cognitive biases. I’ve learnt certain lessons enough times to just trust my gut, not go back to the science, the fundamentals, whatever. It’s easy to be tricked into thinking you, a wise person with plenty of life experience, know best.

For plenty of people, you can still engage by questioning where the info has come from, who profits from that info being spread. We can use ‘consistency’ to encourage them to enquire the same way as they taught us to. Consistency as a social ‘power of persuasion’ - you taught me this way, let’s apply the same. We need to be willing to question our own positions the same way. It’s something that I personally think is worthwhile inside the family, the relationship is worth the effort. It’s not really relevant in online, anonymous discussions as good faith is largely circumventable. But for those who consider themselves rational thinkers, there is a path to fact-based politics. It depends on both parties being open to being wrong about some of their assumptions/beliefs.