How do I keep running into idiots who are positive they are intelligent?

the nazis were socialists that's for sure. nazism is a branch of socialism. it's national socialism.
I find frustrating talking with anyone from usa due to their incredible lack of culture geography and history. discussing facts is just stupid because there's no possible arguments against facts and evidence.
you can't change people's beliefs just like that specially if they are very different from yours. but still there's many ways to discuss.
I recommend reading about daryl davis.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/kkk-klu-klux-klan-members-leave-black-man-racism-friends-convince-persuade-chicago-daryl-davis-a7489596.html

Humans don't have a good grasp of soundness or validity for their arguments. It's just not a natural instinct. And, catch-22, trying to explain that to them is going to be really, really difficult. XD

Often facts and definitions take a backseat to emotions and preconceptions. Humans often make value judgements on things in a split-second, and anchor their opinions there before giving it any thought. Moving that opinion will already require more effort, and if they are doing mental backflips, or someone persuasive is deceiving them, then it gets even more difficult. Argument about the point can actually entrench them more, because now they perceive themselves as invested in the position. The most stubborn of which often leads to absurdity, which is how you get people doing insane things for insane reasons.

Humans are creatures capable of reason, not creatures of reason.

The Nazis were national socialists, not to be confused with the democratic socialism espoused by Bernie Sanders. The two are completely different.

We're living in a seriously anti-fact, anti-intellectual, anti-science moment in this country. It's greatly concerning this is exactly the kind of rejection of rationality and information that people like Stalin, Mao and Hitler used to empower themselves on the backs is citizens who could be manipulated into violence against one another. I hope we can prove to be better and finding our way back to valuing knowledge and critical thought before the shit really hits the fan.

Horribly sad it's so prevalent.

Certainly, many are as you described, yet I wonder how many of these idiots are simply baiting debate because they feed off antagonistic behavior.

Either way, I encourage your use of the [i]block[/i] button❌

Keep your visitors to your liking; it'll be best for sanity.

I sometimes feel that we are regressing in culture and education and entering a new dark age of thought. People are actually rejecting the scientific method and believing in superstition again.

I find it ironic that the people who reject science, it's scientific method, and empirical facts, are using this electronic medium to espouse their beliefs. In fact every aspect of their life and the modern world they live is was created by science.

Many American are very confused what socialism is and different systems of governance in general. Educated can be ignorant because we don't educate people in a well rounded way; but niche skills.

In fact I was told by a user who is a biologist that she has colleages that do not believe in evolution!

We've been fighting that war for a very long time, and based on the way the vote came down, I don't think its just a Southern problem. We now have a President who's campaign strategy and even some of his governing policies seem like they came straight out of 1930s Germany. I don't believe that he's a racist, any more than I think National Socialists were Socialists, but that's not really what bothers me about it.

You have to accept that there will be misinformed individuals spreading their rhetoric unimpeded, on a social media platform.

Besides, there is currently no law against being an ignoramous.

Alternative facts. Why do you think I keep shitting all over the south? If they don't want me to shit all over the south perhaps they should change and stop being full of shit. But alas that is not possible. Shit, texass can't even go an hour without being a national embarrassment.

Wow... that is funny. People don't like to be wrong and worse, they don't like to be proven wrong. It's a tough thing. BUT, I think if you are open to the idea that you might need to up date your view, then you can learn. Most folks don't.

About the time it became ok to ignore the evil following in Mrs Clinton's wake.

U aRE SMARTz FoR A LADY
;)

I think that happened when the less educated middle class while folk started feeling left behind.

This is a neverending discussion. Certainly nazism they were anti-marxist, but there are different trends in socialism. There were utopian socialist. There is social-anarchism. And national-socialism.

From each according to his ability, to each according to his deeds (socialism). From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs (communism). socialism tends to rely more on ideology than on facts.

I've given up, I'm not here for arguments or debate. Anyone who irritates me gets blocked, plenty more to talk to.

Whats the south got to do with it.

speaking of....

never trust a happy intelligent person