I don’t disagree with most of this. But I would also rather be “tricked” by a grifter than be cynical of people really changing. Trust will have to be earned back, and I don’t think I’ll ever want them to (for instance) teach my kids, but if they’re just seeing where the wind is blowing, isn’t it a win that the winds have shifted?

Have you guys even tried to have a conversation with these people? Not a debate but a genuine attempt in making a connection? Sometimes the connection does get made and good conversations happen… but other times it just goes straight into some form of hatred with a smile on their face.

Yeah, I have. It’s tough, I agree.

Deep down I still want to help people out but I can’t pretend that the people who wanted to hurt my friends and community will magically stop just because they said a specific sequence of words.

Agreed. That’s why actual trust is going to take a while. But I’d be glad to see any amount of change that would let me start that process.