I don't talk to one of my old best friends anymore because of how lost he's become after doing nothing but playing video games and watching My Little Pony (no joke) for the past 25 years. He's lost his ability to think critically, he takes nothing I say seriously, and he refuses to meet with me in person because he wants to be able to fact check every single thing I say.

Even after trying to sink into his brain how ludicrous it is to think that the vaccine mandate has nothing to do with 2000+ flight cancellations the weekend after the mandate goes into effect, he continues to deny logic and demand an official source telling him this is the reason.

To him, because Southwest said it had to do with inclement weather, that's the truth.

Below is our conversation so far. For anyone who has the patience to read this and offer a well-crafted, witty, or intelligent reply that will help him to second guess himself, I would greatly appreciate the assist. I live in a blue state and all of my friends are LOST. If I could shake the foundation of just one of them, it may help to awaken so many others in our friend group who have closed themselves off to reality.

As much as I love talking with people online about these topics, my own friends are much harder for me to express ideas to. They're extra harsh toward me because I used to be in their friend group, but now I'm an outcast. I know I should let him go, but I'm hoping someone here can help me crack him just a little, so that maybe we can red pill more of our local friends and community members.

Please and thank you, frens! <3

My initial public post: Notice how they lie and say the cancellations had to do with "storms" at the beginning of the article, then how they mention the vaccine mandate in PASSING at the very end of the article.

Never does the article say that the flights were canceled because air traffic controllers walked out because of the mandate.

This is why your media cannot be trusted.

They do not want you to know the truth.

They do not want you to know that Americans are standing up for their rights.

They want you to remain scared. Remain weak. Remain controlled.

Now be a good lap dog for our dictators and write in my comments about how bigoted and wrong I am.

Link to NBC Chicago article

Him: Well if you're going to post this news article and say it's wrong, when it's just reporting what southwest is stating (weather, air traffic control and crews being misplaced) then show me your source that says otherwise, please! The last sentence says that the mandate exacerbates the situation. If you believe it is the primary reason, or the truth, then please show me that information!

Me: Let's see. They mandated vaccines for their employees last week and then over 2000 flights are canceled that same weekend. I don't need a source to do simple math. I don't need a source to understand what's happening. It's common sense.

You cannot wait for the news to tell you that the news is lying to you. Stop letting the NEWS steer your mind North, East, West, and South.

Why don't you go look at the weather over the weekend and tell me how it could have stopped 2000+ flights. The invisible and dangerous storms. And why did no other airline have mass cancellations if the weather was that bad? Do I need to blindly listen to the news or am I allowed to come to my own logical conclusions? Source, source, source, source, source.

No more thinking. Just official government approved sources, please.

Here's my source: me, my intelligent brain, and my stunningly accurate intuition.

Him: I don't want an in person meet. I can't read any sources or verify any claims. I don't want to listen to opinions. Share your information with me so I can read it myself! You can spew what ever you want to me, and I will be skeptical 100% not matter what it is. I hear often "DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH" Well.. I have, and I've found the opposite conclusion from the experts and peer reviewed literature. So tell me where you have your information, and I'll gladly share mine when requested.

Me: News flash: man complaining about not having information declines invitation to receive information.

Oh, crap! I didn't source that news!

Him: Still waiting for that information! Having an in person diuscussion would only allow for each to share their opinion with the other having no option to check that claim!

Me: Breaking News: local man incapable of formulating ideas and opinions unless he has a cited article to explain the information to him.

Him: AGain, talking in person is not information, It's opnion.

Me: News flash: man doesn't value opinions.

Me: News flash: local man claims that opinions cannot contain accurate information. "Talking in person is not information, it's opnion [sic]."

Him: I can formulate my opinion much like yourself, but that means nothing. Opinion and fact are not the same thing. Back then, anyone would guess that heavier objects fall faster than smaller ones, but evidence and testing proved many wrong. In many cases these days, you can have an opinion and be wrong in the same way. Some opinions are very valid. I will honor and respect your opinion that vaccine mandates are unlawful. That's an honest opinion and that's fine. I can see why people see it that way. However, these businesses have the right to decide what is desired to work for them. What I will argue, is your claim that all 2000 flights are cancelled specifically because of this mandate, when southwest themselves claim it is not.

Me: News Flash: local man believes that multi-billion dollar airline tells the truth 100% of the time and has no motivation to lie.

**Him:**okay! Then show me where you found them to be lying! I'd happily read it. Until there is evidence supporting that, you cannot say they are lying lol But I forgot, every twitter star, or YouTube personality where you find this stuff is definitely not lying either, right?

Me: News flash: local man makes assumptions about people he disagrees with in order to feel better about his own lack of research and understanding.

News Update: local man asks for evidence that 2000+ Southwest flights weren't canceled due to storms, but fails to check the weather reports or status of flights from other airlines.

Him: Haha. I can do my research, but if I am to follow your conclusions, I need your information which you fail to provide. The news link you just posted here sources southwest, and I read what they reported. So i'd really like to see where you got your information 🙂

Me: News Alert: local man fails to think with his brain, only trusts information reported by the mainstream media.

Him: well, they said more than just storms, but I see how you continue to cherry pick

Me: Breaking: local man fails to comprehend that a multi-billion dollar corporation which is confirmed to have lied shouldn't be trusted with other information.

Him: so show me the evidence supporting it. You cannot assume anything

Me: Breaking News Update: local man shows lack of simple comprehension skills by failing to recognize or acknowledge that no other airlines were affected by inclement weather conditions at the time Southwest claims to have canceled flights due to severe weather

Him: Breaking news: local man reads one tweet and all of a sudden is an expert in aviation, air traffic control, weather delays and staffing issues with a large airline company.

See I can do it too.

Me: News Update: local man continues living in denial and making assumptions when presented with the evidence he asked for

Him: I've made zero assumptions. That's literally you!!

Me: BREAKING NEWS: Local man believes that it's possible for non-existent severe weather to only affect one airline's flights

Him: well, as you've still misread they cited more than just severe weather. Or did you miss that?

Me: News Update: local man continues failing to understand that just because they cited multiple reasons doesn't mean they didn't lie about one of those reasons, thus ruining their credibility

Him: and you still haven't shown the evidence that they are. I'm not assuming anything, lol. I think you fail to understand that

And HERE is where I could use a really good response! Maybe this is a silly thing to request, but I know how smart and knowledgeable this community is. Please help a fellow pede out? And no, you don't have to follow my annoying news motif. I'm kind of just looking for one last message to drop to him before I bow out and let him stew for a while.