Quote from princessa:
i really mean no disrespect, jss, so please don't take this in the wrong way, but...
what makes you think your friend, although truly believing what he says, is not wrong? is not in fact brainwashed by the corporation he works for?
i have seen tobacco company executives state with a straight face that cigarettes don't harm you. said executives also themselves smoke to show that they really believe this.
i think it's possible to want to believe in something so much that you believe it despite it's being obviously (to everyone else) wrong. consider that your oil friend, especially if he's invested in his company, may believe a fallacy.
other examples of debates which (probably) should not be but are based on wanting to believe something regardless of facts to the contrary: global warming, evolution, high fat foods harming your health. all of these have facts to support them, but there are those who have a vested interest in believing the opposite so they argue the contrary.
again, no disrespect intended, i really love your posts. just a point of view on this topic of denial.