If they can’t offer any–and especially if they look genuinely confused by your request–respond with something like this:
Well, if you are someone who holds beliefs without regard for actual evidence then I have no interest in continuing this conversation. Basically, if facts don’t sway your beliefs, then there’s no reason I should believe I will be successful either.
This approach will yield one of two responses:
- a renewed interest in listening to your evidence
- an angry retreat back to his/her beliefs, with no offer of evidence
Either way, you benefit. You either get to have a real conversation or you get to save energy for someone worthy of one. ::