There are also more and less effective ways to introduce information than to outright say "that's wrong, and here's the Truth...". EVERYBODY wants to be right, and telling someone they're mistaken automatically puts them on the defensive, especially if they haven't asked for your advice. And double-especially if it's done in front of other people. In that state of mind, they simply can't hear anything you say except as an attack on them. I've found that asking questions like "really, tell me more about that" or "hmm...where did you hear that?" gives me an opportunity to find out more about their position before I decide if it's appropriate for me to chime in. For example, the hypothetical conversation you cite above might go something like this:
"Shrooms are bad for you!"
"Really? How so?"
"They contain blahblahblah chemical compound that has this and such effect on the nervous system and yadda yadda yadda."
"Ah, I see. I had heard that really alcohol was much worse for you, and that the effect of shrooms was fairly temporary, but I can see how some people might be negatively affected."
etc.
You've given them an opportunity to voice their opinion, you've acknowledged its validity, and you've politely inserted your own point of view without directly contradicting them.
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"If ten million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing."
- Anatole France
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