あちら側にいってしまった人との付き合い方

不安につけ込むのはいつの時代にもあることで、今回のパンデミックも無関係ではありません。陰謀論が相も変わらず出ては消えしていますが、今回はPandemicならぬPlandemicだという陰謀論。FacebookやYoutubeでは禁止されてしまったようですね。

Virus Conspiracists Elevate a New Champion

A video showcasing baseless arguments by Dr. Judy Mikovits, including attacks on Dr. Anthony Fauci, has been viewed more than eight million times in the past week.

By Davey Alba May 9, 2020

こういう陰謀論に目を輝かせてしまうとヤバいですよね。まあYutaも武漢研究所原因説を興味シンシンになってしまったので他人事ではないのですが。。。親しい人がそんなあちら側にいってしまったらどうすればいいのでしょう。Atlanticが対応法を教えてくれています。

If Someone Shares the ‘Plandemic’ Video, How Should You Respond?

Experts provide scripts to help you push back as effectively as possible.

JOE PINSKER MAY 9, 2020

一番いけないのは頭ごなしに否定すること、指差して笑うなんてもってのほかです。やはりまずは教えてくれたことに親切に感謝してからやんわりと回答することがいいようです。英語学習だとどうしても「英語の場合は結論から述べる（キリッ）」ということをまず教わるんですが、人間社会の言語であることを忘れてはなりません。

Whatever camp someone falls in, though, the general principles are the same. “It’s always important to respond in a way that doesn’t suggest that the other [person] is foolish, naive, or gullible, as much as you think they may be,” said Joshua Coleman, a psychologist with an expertise in family relationships. “So rather than saying, ‘I can’t believe that you fall for this crap!,’ better to say, ‘I have heard others talk about that as well. And I agree, these days there’s so much information out there, it can be hard to know what to believe.’”

After setting an empathetic tone, Coleman suggested continuing with something like this:

That video might be right, but I've been reading a lot these days that goes counter to that. Do you mind if I send you an article or video about that? It would be good for us to look at both and see what we think.

別の研究者にも聞いていますが、同じようなことを推奨しています。“I’m glad you brought this up. Those are some scary claims in that documentary. I am skeptical, though, because a lot of the things mentioned don't jibe with what I have been reading."のようにI’m glad you brought this up.と言える心の余裕が欲しいです。

“First validate” the fears people might have about the pandemic “and then pivot,” Rachael Piltch-Loeb, a fellow at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, recommended. Along those lines, she suggested something like “I’m glad you brought this up. Those are some scary claims in that documentary. I am skeptical, though, because a lot of the things mentioned don't jibe with what I have been reading. Here’s an article that I found to be more helpful at explaining these issues, and I feel more comfortable with the science behind it.” If you send along more information, Piltch-Loeb suggested trying to find reliable sources that might still be familiar to whomever you’re talking with.

これはTOEICでも同じことです。最新の公式問題集でも相手の申し出を断るときにこのセオリーを踏まえています。どちらも最初から頭ごなしい否定的な回答をしていません。

Would you like to be on the committee to choose the new evaluation process?

- I'm interested, but I'm pretty busy with other work now.

新しい評価プロセスを選定する委員会に入りたいですか。

- 興味はありますが、私は現在、他の仕事でかなり忙しいのです。

*******

So if you'd like, I can just sign for it. Then you won't have to take the status.

- Oh, thanks. But this delivery requires her signature.

よろしければ、私がそれに署名できますよ。そうすれば、あなたは階段を使う必要がないでしょう。

- ああ、ありがとうございます。ですが、この配達物は本人の署名が不可欠なんです。

まあ、それで済めばいいでしょうけど。あちら側にいってしまった人は早々と引き下がらないでしょう。その場合は諦めることも肝心のようです。

It’s also important to know when to give up. “If they don’t engage openly and in a way that suggests a willingness to compromise, then I would walk away and wish them well,” Uscinski said of people with a strong belief in a conspiracy. “I would like all of the people I care about to believe the most authoritative information, but I don’t control other people’s minds, and attempting to do so might not work out in my favor.”

If that feels like a defeat, Uscinski suggested some other places to channel your energy: “Support science and universities,” “don’t support politicians who lie all the time,” and “push back hard” if a media outlet spreads a conspiracy theory.