Reply #18: People come at understanding through various avenues. Yes, they SHOULD be challenged to grow, [View All]

but you don't do so by closing the doors on what they are interested in, but rather by taking what they are interested in and making connections between it and what you know to be important.

P.S. You'll never persuade anyone by telling them that what they think is important isn't important. All that does is divide you from them because you are basically saying "What matters to you does not matter to me." When people are distracted by "shiny objects", they need to be validated to whatever extent possible, i.e. find SOMETHING that you can at least demonstrate your understanding, if not approval, of - and then expand that thing to INCLUDE what you are trying to tell them by showing them similarities and, eventually, differences. Try it; it works.