I think ‘what is going on’ is more complicated than just ‘bait and switch’. And it’s also a situation where others have gotten drawn in or may be drawn in. The issue of having a real conversation with iamb died for me quite a long time ago. The phenomenon of someone taking the positions he does (which are not consistent with each other nor with his behavior) and his interactions with people here, I’ve actually found generated a lot of interesting thoughts for me. Apart from the iamb in each of us, I think we all have to deal with people who present themselves a certain way, but really are doing something else. When one meets the person IRL it is easier to determine what they are up to. Not always possible or easy, but easier. We can come more comfortably to a conclusion about motive, what they don’t want to look at, what they are hiding, perhaps from themselves also, in fact usually. Here it is much easier for him to control what is seen - though many of the contradictions come through anyway. So, it’s kind of a generalized training in dealing with the pattern. When there was a part of me that thought ‘just around the next corner, some part of what I am saying may reach him or he’ll at least acknowledge X’, thinking even the minimal that it might happen, then it was a serious waste of time. I have no such illusion now. He will never admit or concede anything
unless
something rather big happens in his personal life.
Or he has some ongoing change that can whittle away at some of his beliefs, but again coming from perhaps a relationship IRL.
But words on a screen have not gotten even a minimal concession that I have seen over many years about anything. He could be a bot.
I can play chess against a computer online, and have, to train for real games. Though here it’s more like pointing out the habitual heuristics of the program to those who want to play with it. And then mulling over what is happening, in conversation with others, and what might really be going on. I think that is useful. Because that happens all the time irl.
It should be added that as long as it doesn’t entail him looking at his own assumptions and behavior, he can make good points. Also he does seem to integrate ideas over time. They don’t change his positions, but it keeps the necessary jujitsu fresh.