Some are good at not allowing truth to disturb their prejudices. How do they do that? Close their eyes/ears/minds/hearts?Are they zombies?

ideally,one must influence people and also get influenced by people.

no.they have their own life and are entitled the the beliefs they choose.
ZOMBIES.ha,ha,i actually saw some.that is in another day and place.

In my experience they view contradictions as exceptions or ignore them entirely or make excuses.

i guess prople with narrow narrow minds (hi rosie)

They've already decided that they're right.

allow dear,
allow,
each goes at their own pace of awakening to truth.
Familiar is what people seek. It makes many feel secure living in the same beliefs and routines.
it frightens many to break out of this and venture into new ideas, paradigms.
No they are not zombies.
I think if we see a zombie in the OTHER, we are just reflecting an aspect of self, IN THEM. But there are trillions of other aspects in them and self we could focus on.
I see ENLIGHTENED BEINGS in potential in all.

when we focus on the negative in others we might be overlooking somethings we still need to wake up to.
Or one might be looking at that negative in the other, forgetting to see the potential of enlightenment and their struggle and fears.
I rather see the potentially enlightened in a being then point at their possible short comings.
I also know what we see and point at out there is many times something we have not looked at within.
I was surprised when a masters once told me " you are already enlightened". First I was surprised, taken aback, then my ego liked this...but then I realized he spoke of the "potential" of absolute enlightenment in all.he was encouraging me to see all the potentials in myself.
since I focus on this in all as a potential, I don't have too muchto point at the others any more. I can just love them, and wish them the best. I see their confusion, struggles, fears, many times, and feel deep compassion.
I understand that you see " them" out there. But try it one day, and see the " goodness of God in that same being who you might wish to call zombie." They might behave like zombies, but essentially enlightenment slumbers in them, too.