Persuasion

“Give it up, Jack,” I said. “You’re wasting your time!”

“There has to be something I can do,” my friend replied.

“Not in this case,” I said. “I think he’s hopeless.”

“There is always hope,” he insisted. The two of us stared at the man that Jack had been debating with for the past half hour. While his opponent chose to remain silent, Jack was animated, as always; his thin frame made him seem twice as tall as he actually was. This time, though, I was convinced that Jack’s energy was not going to help him.

“Look,” Jack said at last. “I know my arguments are sound; I probably just need to communicate them a little better.”

I shook my head. “You’ve been communicating for the past hour, Jack, and haven’t made a bit of progress. If I were you I’d call it a day and go home. You can’t win them all.”

“It’s got to be possible,” Jack replied. “It’s got to be! I mean, we both speak the same language, right? His IQ is quite high; why, he’s got a Ph.D. in neurobiology, for crying out loud. I’ve read the scientific papers he’s written and they are clearly the product of a brilliant mind. All I need to do is change my approach – just put things in a way he can understand.”

“That’s the whole problem right there,” I said. “I just don’t think he can understand no matter what you do. It takes more to change an opinion than a good, convincing argument – a lot more, actually. Especially in this case! I don’t think you realize what you’re up against.”

“But there’s got to be a way!” Jack replied. “I refuse to believe it’s hopeless. You can’t go around thinking you’re defeated before you even start!”

“Sometimes that’s the case,” I said. “You’re not God, Jack. Some things are just beyond your ability. Optimism is a waste of time if what you believe is wrong.”

“But it’s all just a matter of understanding!” he replied, gesturing toward the doctor. “If I can get him to understand where I’m coming from I’m sure he will change. It’s all very logical!”

“I don’t think you can force understanding, Jack,” I said. “Even if you can – which I doubt – you can’t force belief. People will believe whatever they want to, and in some cases no amount of reasoning will help. You don’t seem to have any idea why people hold their opinions. It’s rarely because of the facts, Jack.”

“I just think you’re wrong,” Jack said. “You don’t realize the power of my arguments!”

“We’re talking about our friend here, not me,” I said. “I’m already on your side. I just don’t think that you’re going to have any impact on Dr. Roberts. This is one of those situations that require divine intervention, Jack. You’re not up to it.”

“And why is that?” Jack asked.

“Because Dr. Roberts is dead,” I replied. “Look at him – he’s a skeleton! I bet he’s been dead for at least twenty years now.”

“There’s always hope,” Jack insisted.

“Let me know how that turns out for you,” I said, as I turned to leave.