So I used to be a republican... 

watch till the end guys lmaoo

The seatbelt argument is the same line of thinking people seem to apply to masks. Regardless of whether or not they think it’s helpful, they won’t do it because someone told them to. It’s so weird to me.

A reminder again for americans, being a "liberal" isn't the same as being on the left lol Edit: Please stop telling me about politics in the comments to this lol

The irony of seatbelt laws is they exist for the very people who oppose them

conservative families are like "don't believe everything you see online" and then literally do that 😭😭

“Secret planet between Earth and the Sun” Venus and Mercury?

I was outside recently and my neighbours were talking. One said ‘I’ve always carried an organ donor card, but they’re going to make it compulsory, so I’m not going to do it anymore.' I thought, wow, so it was never about the potential to save someone’s life, it was just about thinking you were better than other people, and now it doesn’t make you better than other people, so you won’t do it.

Man, if I had a dollar for every time I asked for a source, and got linked to a RU-vid video that used the word "Sheeple," I'd be rich enough to drink the blood of children too.

Math majors get so radicalized. Gotta get to the root of it.

You hit the nail on the head with the whole “I believe a conspiracy theory and thus I am smarter because I know something you don’t and am not a sheep for the mass media and the government” thing and I think it is a critical point that not enough people talk about.

LMAOOO HIDDEN PLANET

The only thing scarier than believing extremist theories is when you stop believing and realize your family is crazy

I relate to this so much. I grew up in a conservative house and didn’t even realize how having Fox News on in the living room formed my opinions for me. Once I moved out, traveled, and met people outside my bubble, everything flipped. It’s now so hard for me to go home to family without going insane listening to all the new conspiracy theories. Beyond glad I got away and that others share similar experiences to me.

I’m still thrown by the seatbelt law thing. I did not know this was a real thing that people cared about

saw the title and thought “oh a reverse coming out video” i hate myself for this

"DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH!" How many times do you see that battle cry of the conspiracy theorist online? And without any further elaboration.

When your freedom takes away from someone else's, it's called entitlement.

Ok but why does that seat belt conversation sound like something an anti masker would say

My parents always refused to talk about politics around me when I was younger because they were adamant that I formed my own opinions. I live in a pretty diverse area so I went to school with and became friends with people across the political spectrum, and I remember at lunch we would always have in depth discussions about certain topics. They never really got heated and none of us got angry, we just shared our opinions and moved on. I didn't fully develop the skills I needed to think critically about these issues until the end of high school and my views have changed since then, but I think having these conversations was a good first step for me and I feel lucky to have had that experience. tldr: It's important to talk to people you disagree with, as long as you're willing to listen to each other

I read this as: "So I used to be a reptilian"

I was raised deeply conservative, and I use to have some seriously questionable ideas about how the world works. I agree that the bubble effect applies to a large extent, but there's also the issue with how our education system has been warped over the last few decades. Anything requiring creative thinking (art, music, etc.) is considered unnecessary, leaving only the rigidity of the "memorize and regurgitate" model. Having found my way out of that mindset, I've been able to notice that many of the ideas of the right wing are short, easy to remember, and constantly repeated. Memorize and regurgitate, just as they were taught to do. What's correct isn't as important as what feels right, when it comes from someone you trust. Questioning it often doesn't even enter into the equation because it's just the default position for them. Thanks for this video. It's always nice to see others who have learned how to move on from how they were raised. :)

Funny how the claims you bring up from like 2009 are still things I hear word for word from my conservative parents. it’s such an echo chamber that never progresses

I saw this title and clicked immediately....I put my literature essay down and just devoted myself to it...niceeee

The US political system, tax system, prison system, and everything else is pretty flawed.

“If it really were the best course of action, people would do it freely” One of those core life lessons that are part of becoming an adult is understanding that this is in no way true 😄 Thank you for this fantastic video to help explain how once perfectly-reasoned people wind up in such dark spaces.

One of the funnier things I’ve experienced was that my parents were like “oh, you’ll get more politically right as you grow older” and I’m sitting here having gone pretty darn consistently left 😅

We need to normalise changing your mind and admitting you were wrong

College probably was where I shifted my thinking too. Just being in a different environment allowed me to look at things from new perspectives and realize I'm not always the center of every problem

This kinda reminds me of my Tory parents claiming, extremely confidently, that there are cities and towns in the UK genuinely governed by sharia law. So that's fun.

I saw the title and I am immediately intruiged🧐

Wearing a seatbelt is actually safer for everyone else, a human hurtling through a windscreen in an accident can actually kill someone else, even if that person was sensible enough to wear a seatbelt. As always, your freedom to be an idiot doesn't trump the safety of others

As a Conservative that had this video pop up on their suggestions for some reason, I wholeheartedly agree with you and wish more in the Republican Party, just the right in general really, would call this kind of stuff out. I have definitely had to critically assess and determine why I believe what I do, and in doing that ended up changing my views on several things. I too attribute this to having gotten out of my bubble (the military and hobbies in this case) and being exposed to more beliefs. It's kind of funny, but also sad, that many of the people I grew up with or around (mostly family) would call me a RINO or traitor today if they would even have much of a conversation about it at all.

Father Evan: That my son is why I don't wear seatbelts Son Evan: WAT

This video turned the frogs gay.

I had this happen with my uncle. I had to do a school project on conspiracy theories and I decided to look into a right-wing Conspiracy and I was telling him about it and he said “do you believe it?” And I said “no” because That’s the conclusion I had come to and my uncle just shook his head like I was some poor little child who was to dumb to understand the real world. It was a really weird moment because my uncle is a pretty level-headed dude and I was really surprise he believed in it since I thought it was pretty cut and dry.

He really hit the nail on the head with the "I'm smarter than everyone" bit - I too was very close to falling down several conspiracy rabbit holes

I miss the days when it was considered a “joke” and it was “hilarious” to be a conspiracy theorist. 😓

"It's definitely safer to wear a seatbelt, but because someone told me to, I'm not going to do it!" Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face...

This is literally my same exact problem. I was raised by conspiracy theorists and it scared me spitless to hear things my parents were saying.

Bro, that feeling you described about having "special knowledge" is part of what cults provide. This kind of thing runs deep in many political circles but its a staple on the right because religion is already part of the infrastructure on the right. Breaking that kind of conditioning is hard to do, so congrats.

YES. I feel this 100% I was raised in a conservative home and heard a lot of "exclusive knowledge" that the "corrupt media" wasn't going to share. I see the same kind of communication pattern happen in problematic churches too. There's a religious rhetoric that makes it really easy to disbelieve or worse, pity, the other side. Thanks for being willing to share your experience and shift in thinking on the internet. You're def not alone!

When it comes to arguing any point to a conspiracy theorists, I have said this before and I'll say it again. Unfortunately arguing with idiots is like playing chess with a pigeon. At the end of the day it doesn't matter how good you are at chess the pigeon is just going to knock over all the pieces, defecate on the board and then strut around like it won the game.

I also used to be way more economically liberal and politically right wing than I currently am. Having to deal with a right wing government during a pandemic showed me the error of my ways.

my parents thought my catholic high school made me more leftist even though it just came from having an education and meeting foreign exchange students from all over the world

It makes me sad that my granny believes in crazy conspiracy theories and doesn't believe that climate change exists. It makes me sad that I get angry when she visits us and that I can't just enjoy her company.

I know it's just his light reflecting off the window but for the night setup I will continue to make it a moon in my mind.

Man this resonated with me. I was a psych major at a university know for being very conservative and came out the other side as a liberal. It's not universities, it's life experience that made me the way I am.

I don't see a "dumb republican" I see "a victim of indoctrination".

This video is great - I really like the acknowledgement that our beliefs, political or otherwise, SHOULD change and evolve as we get older and gain a different perspective on the world. It doesn't mean that our previous beliefs/opinions were necessarily wrong, but that our experiences will shape us, and our priorities will shift. I think there's a lot of expectation that people should know exactly who they are and what is "right" as soon as they are adults, but you change hugely over time, especially in your late teens/early twenties. For me now at 25, I would hugely disagree with myself at 18 on so many topics. That doesn't make my 18 self an idiot, or a bad person, just young, and without much exposure to the world beyond my home town and social circle.

Visiting other countries and experiencing cultures (for longer than just a holiday/vacation) should be mandatory imo

It's always such a hopeful thing, to hear people talk about how they changed and grew.

I had a friend that I hadn't seen for about 5 years, and when I visited him I found that he had gone completely conspiracy nut. He bent my ear for an hour and a half before I stopped him to ask him a couple of questions. I said, suppose you are right? How is it helping you? He didn't have an answer, so I answered for him. It's not helping you. After he told me that government agents were surveilling him while he was doing dishes, I said, good to see you, I gotta go.

When he mentioned European media speaking about divided USA I thought he was going to say it is not so bad. Shocking to hear it is much more worse.

During the Me Too movement my step father, who raised four girls and would have never said such insane things, said ‘well, women wear thongs, make up, and read Fifty Shades of Grey, so they must want the attention’....

I never gave a single shit about politics for a majority of my life until recently when my father dove head first into the election was stolen conspiracies and pushed me to really start looking into what was going on. To this day he thinks it was stolen and whenever I try to push back and have him watch sources that aren’t blatantly republican and conservative he always tell me that of course they aren’t talking about it, they got it and now they have to keep everyone’s mind off it so they don’t get caught. It’s honestly terrifying to see so many people falling into such wild conspiracies and that it’s becoming the norm here.

I love you’re freely talking about this, I think specifically in America there is this you’re on our side or their side. It really annoys me when people jump down people’s throats for not 100% agreeing with them. It’s tribalism really

wow, didn’t think this would come from you, but it’s neat to see how your mindset changed over the years. great video, lighting beautiful as usual

I'm privately educated, surrounded by tories all my life. All it did was make me more 'left'. I guess i was the rebel 😂

What disheartens me even more about that episode with your brother is not the complete irrational conspiracy theory, but the fact that at this point people can't enjoy a piece of art for what it is, they need to check the bio of whoever produced that art and only accept it if they fall under the same political spectrum as them, even if the product itself has absolutely no political message.

I grew up with grandparents teaching me to be sceptical of things and question everything and to only listen if other people can give solid proof backed by facts and scientific evidence along with legit sources and the data they have. I don't and can't believe something that is based off of a conversation.

"Truck Driver" I immediately yelled out Rush Limbaugh. Disappointed, but not surprised.

It can be hare to realise your in an echo chamber if your used to the echoes. Many people won't realise their parroting other people's arguments until they finally meet someone who says no

I’m not even American but my dad is just: this.

“I know things other people don’t /I am the smart one/ I am the woke one/this is me/ everyone else is wrong” you were spitting bars there son lol straight 🔥 somebody put a beat on that please

Wow! I have so much respect for you for changing and allowing change. For listening to others and being open enough to not dismiss ideas that went contrary to what you were comfortable with. This was a surprising and very important video. Thanks for that!

Evan being the ‘I’m not like other girls’ 😂😂

Dude, your story is like my story only my dad died and I'd listen to those programs religiously to feel a connection. I remember the moment I realized I didn't have a single opinion that was my own and it was because I finally dared to disagree about something. It blew my mind.

I’m a leftist, and my family are all solid right - far right it’s scary. They get all their “news” from whatsapp and facebook - often with photoshopped images and obviously fake videos (sometimes taken from films lmaoo). I can’t talk politics at home, because whenever I say “These policies are terrible for the working class” they go “what did Congress do? Why are you always attacking the BJP?” I AM 19. I WASN’T EVEN OLD ENOUGH TO MAKE OPINIONS WHEN CONGRESS HAD GOVERNMENT. JESUS CHRIST. (I’ve given up on talking to my family about their xenophobia, Islamophobia and casteist veiws, it leaves me mentally drained.)

There is a documentary called "The Brainwashing of my Dad" about an otherwise Kennedy lovin' democrat who listened to too much talk radio and got lost in the Alt Right sinkhole. Worth a watch.

As a small child I remember picking up on the fact that mom would lock the door when in a “bad neighborhood” because it was “dangerous” as if a black person would attempt to snatch us from a moving vehicle 🙄. I remember being at the park at five years old and a kind black girl my age was trying to play with me and I was genuinely scared. Mom and I have come a long way. My older sister (born from my mother) is half black. It is not impossible to be racist with a black child and with a black man. We have all grown very much growing up. We are all very much not republican and very much anti-racist. But yes as a child my own beliefs and opinions were formed off of my parent and grandparents beliefs and opinions. Because as a child you do not question what authority figures may say because they’re always right. Right?

As a person coming from the rural U.S., I identify with this so much. The bubble is real.

I’m glad there’s actually stories like yours that show that radicalization can be reversed

The irony of reality is that everyone has a different perception of it.

I love how it looks like the moon is staring in your window

This is so well articulated. I've wrapped my head around this for a long time but you describe it so well.

After 2016, I changed my voter's registration to "independent - no affiliation"

I think it was a retired Norwegian professor who said in his wisdom: Some people I have been very disagreeing with, have been right. I think that is a very good and deep wisdom and acknowledgment.

the lighting looks stunning btw :)

It makes me happy, 5 months later, to point out that Rush Limbaugh WAS an incredibly outspoken conservative radio host.

Growing up in Texas, this was point for point exactly what my experience was like growing up. It wasn't until my mid-twenties that I finally had enough varied life experiences that I finally realized how closed minded i had been for all of those years.

I cannot stress this enough : Speak to people who are different to you, there is no limit to what you will learn and how much more kind and empathetic you can become.

The same thing happens in the UK with tabloids and grandparents, then it all kicks of at Christmas

I went through a very similar experience. Thank you for talking about this

As a Gen X Libertarian, I always quote the great Chuck D, "Neither party is mine, not the jackass or the elephant." Or Stealers Wheel, "Clowns to the left of me! Jokers to the right! Here I am stuck in the middle with you."

You've hooked me in lol spill the beans

So, this has made me think a bit. I'm from the UK- so this will all be UK politics based. I've had two really close friends who've been properly conservative (I've also had the same core friend group for like 5 years and most of them are politically apathetic the rest of them are left leaning- like I am) I enjoy political debate and argument and so I've been happy to talk and chat with them. One of them had come from a all boys school, was a member of the conservatives and used to canvas for them. They came to our mixed sixth form, in a more diverse area, where several of the students including close friends were out. We used to have heated political debates and some of them got quite heated. But over the time that we were friends his opinions started changing. Jokes he used to think were funny just became awkward and he stopped making them. I'm not so close any more with uni and life- but when I saw them just after the election they hadn't voted conservative, they'd voted lib dem. They were never going to be fully left wing, but had changed their mind about several things. The other person I was close with who was a conservative I met at uni. We also had a lot of political conversations often they'd bring up various vague sources and if I asked for more detail they'd say they didn't have them to hand. Fair enough. If I bought up a source they wouldn't believe it was real until I bought it up on my phone. I'd send him a link but they said they couldn't be bothered and that I was nagging. Having studied politics at school sometimes I'd bring up political theory and they'd say it wasn't relevant because it only mattered what the public thought. I'd say that doesn't make it true but they'd refuse to listen. The clinching points in that friendship were two things. When we had a debate and got to the nitty gritty of a point and they told me to my face- Human lives don't have intrinsic value. Nothing has value. You only value people's lives because you think you have to. I'm happy for people to die if it makes my life easier. That was such a shift in value system to me. To think Human lives are worthless. The other clinching point is when we argued again and they'd often say things and I'd rephrase them slightly and they'd say 'That's not what I said' - but also never clarify. Again and again and again. This person I stopped being friends with- for other behaviour too, but partly because I realised that they''d never listen to me and refused to ever challenge themselves. So yes, please do have open and candid conversations with people- especially if you disagree. I've changed my opinions about certain things through being challenged by friends. But also don't put your time and emotions into talking to someone who refuses to respect you, because at the end of the day they aren't really your friend. (sorry for the rant)

Good for you man, personal growth can be hard and so many won't even engage with people who think differently. Great video

My godmother blocked me on fb two days ago, after I replied to a posting rant she made about how America is doomed and going to turn into a Communist Socialist country. I said how America is not doomed, provided her with facts and logic about how these scares are the same scares that happened when Y2K was around; America is not in danger, etc. In another post earlier in the year, during the election with the debate on Universal health care, she claimed how that would eventually lead to the country's turmoil. I again replied with no, it doesn't and explained about systems such as the NHS. She attacked, saying "well if the system is so great in the UK why aren't you living there yet?" The funny thing was, I was in the process is getting my Visa to remain in the UK, and I recently got approved! It seems like they go deeper into that rabbit hole, and do not want to get out of it. They will go into their echo chambers, and only listen to other people who share their same crazy theories and conspiracies.

I used to be a Republican too, but then I graduated high school.

This is something people absolutely need to hear. Growing up in that environment and going back to it now. It's insane. And it's so damningly hard to argue with people like this.

I, too, am a Republican... An Irish Republican

I also grew up in a red area of a blue state. Also grew up with a father who opposed seat belt laws (I can remember when they made the federal seat belt law).

I’ve been actively answering questions (no matter how rude) about my disabilities and sexuality for my entire life, and I’m so tired. I’m only 22, but I’m so tired. Yeah sometimes I open eyes. But most of the time I get threatened, ridiculed, and scared. I want to raise awareness and help the next generation so they don’t have to do this as much. But honestly, I’m struggling to keep up with myself. I’m tired of fearing for my and my loved one’s safety. My wish for this world before I die is for politics and human rights to finally be seen as separate things. I just want the freedom that my republican parents promised me as a child. I want the home that America promised me. If you’re a republican reading this, remember that the far right ideals against lgbt people, disabled people, and people of color aren’t just affecting your jobs or taxes. Its killing people. Every day. I’m tired of being so scared. And I’m tired of watching my loved ones die. Please stop the cycle. You can be republican. I don’t care if you tax me to death or make petty China take their pandas back or whatever. I just want to be free.

My parents watch OANN...yeah. I’ll leave it at that. I’ve tried talking to them about politics but it’s just so tiring. I keep my distance from them for other personal reasons too, like me being bisexual. I once went on a few dates with this guy who said some really racist things about my own race who didn’t know that it was racist. I called him out on it and he didn’t even realize it was harmful. I really do think we need to speak up, not in a cruel way, but just let them know. If people don’t know they’re being hurtful, how will they know and learn?

"Where's my bloody blood!" I'm dying, here.

First time ever watching your videos and 16secs in i wanted to subscribe. Just due to the speed, and light comedic tones in the first few sentences.

This is one of the most important videos that you've made. I wish that everyone would watch it.

Thanks for the video. I was raised in a very right-wing religious family in the midwestern U.S. Church three times a week, no movies, no dances, nonchristian music wasn't allowed. As a young adult, I was a republican. Like you said experiencing life and talking with others changed me. Going out seeing the world for myself scared the crap out of me. The fear the church puts into many of these people so ingrained it is hard to escape. I would see everything in the world as something assaulting the good Christian morals blah blah blah. However, it became impossible to reconcile what I had been old about certain people and how those "out to get me, America and God" people actually treated me. More and more I found these vilified groups were just everyday people trying to make the best for themselves and their families. I agree with you that this situation is much worse than we see on the news. It saddens me to see so many of my friends go down this dark path I grew up on. The left seems to expect people to be of perfect political lineage and often will have purest tendencies like I experienced when I was on the right. Although having been on both sides I think the right by far acts out on more extremist behaviors and today are far a greater threat to American freedoms than the left I do see how the left could become just a purest. Critical thinking is needed more than ever.

The way you keep the first bit of audio from the next clip onto the end of the last one is so soothing and nice to watch

This is a wonderful and insightful piece. I subscribed because of this video.