Conspiracy theories - what to do

[lizzieoak]

I’m not sure if this is a blokey thing or if the men I know are just a bit daft. I only seem to have these conversations with men, but that may be coincidence.

A number of my male friends and relatives keep getting all excited over (really stupid) conspiracy theories. Last night, for example, I’m hanging out with a good friend and he starts going on about Facebook. About how the Chinese govt, or CIA,
or Dr Evil (I was so boggled I wasn’t taking in all the details) actually invented Facebook, and they found Zuckerberg to front it as they needed a personable young person (yes, because everyone loves us Jews). They invented it so tht we’d provide them, free of charge, with all the information they need to control us down the road; our kitten photos, pictures of the kids’ school plays, our opinions on Strictly Dancing, and our holiday party invites (I may be paraphrasing ;) )

He then said “they” have “men in suits” (not sure why he thinks suits are a sign of evil, he often wears suits) monitoring our Facebook accounts.

I pointed out that if they are watching fb, it’s going to be the accounts of suspected radicals and organized crime people, and that “they” do not have the manpower to watch all the fb accounts in the world (and “they” would die of boredom if they did). I’m not sure he saw the logic there!

I’ve had a similarly stupid conversation w my ex husband years ago when I emailed him at work to tell him our baby dd had just stood up for the first time. He said the govt (his employer) was paying people to read every single incoming and outgoing email to catch people not working, but indulging in the doings of ridiculously adorable infants.

Is this anywhere near common, or do I just know plonkers? Am I somehow driving them mad? I’ve asked my friend to stop telling me his conspiracy theories as he’s making me uncomfortable (I’ve pointed out that conspiracy theorists often end up believing in the lizard people and antsemetic tropes). He stops for a while, then starts again. Claims it’s “fun” to think about.

Is it as odd as it feels to me? Are they mad? How to stop it?

[EmilyChambers79]

I love a good conspiracy theory, thought some of them are just plain daft.

There was huge discussions on the David Icke website about Jimmy Saville and it got picked up by the media who then slated it as he also has the theory about the Royal Family being reptiles.

About a year later, it all broke about Jimmy Saville.

But then I find things like the Bilderberg Conference fascinating and that there are actually higher powers that control the world!!

[Wheelywheel]

I love a good conspiracy theory!

Read up on MK Ultra 👀👀

[lizzieoak]

99% of the time conspiracy theories give me the creeps. Partly because they end at either lizard people or the Elders of Zion rubbish, and partly because they are almost always very illogical. Kennedy, for example, would have required a lot of people knowing but never gossiping. Seems unlikely. Why would they do that? Versus Saville where people didn’t want to lose £ or jobs by complaining (people did complain but were ignored).

David Icke having been in media would have heard rumours but it doesn’t discount him being a nutter.

[ButchyRestingFace]

Jim Carr of The Corrs fame has supposedly never been quite the same since 9/11...

[ButchyRestingFace]

*Corr not Carr.

[Tessliketrees]

I think the 9/11 and Kennedy ones are a bit of a comfort thing. People are more comfortable believing those things were a plan made by super clever people rather than gobshites who got lucky.

[lizzieoak]

I think Jim Corr’s sisters would get me

[Viviennemary]

I believe loads of conspiracy theories. I love them.

[Ohyesiam]

I think it's emotionally " tidier " to think that there is someone, or a group of people in charge at the top, manipulating us all. It keeps things black and white. Good and bad, powerful and manipulated etc.
The truth is probably that we all have a shadow side, and that human nature tends towards self serving unless we consciously do ethical thinking.
Smoking weed is often part of the picture in conspiracy theorists I've met. Also a certain kind of intelligence, but lacking wisdom and life experience.
I couldn't have a close friend who was into ct , it would drive me mad, and I could never trust what other sorts of odd thinking they might indulge in.

[lizzieoak]

Yes, Tess, I think you’re right there. I’m as creative as the next person, but I suppose I like creativity to be expressed in art and literature etc, versus conspiracy theories. It all sounds a bit unhinged to me (sorry for offence. Not saying it is unhinged, but that’s how it feels to me).

[Tessliketrees]

Smoking weed is often part of the picture in conspiracy theorists I've met. Also a certain kind of intelligence, but lacking wisdom and life experience

Snap! I know two exactly like this.

[lizzieoak]

Thanks ohyes!! It’s not just me then that finds it odd. He’s a good man in many ways, but I find it lazy thinking and just can’t imagine saying that sort of thing (to myself, never mind out loud). I’m not very credulous and tend to think we never have the end wisdom on anything really. The certainty, as well as the illogic bugs me.

[VladmirsPoutine]

I do like to occasionally fall down an internet rabbit hole reading about various conspiracy theories but to actually tell someone earnestly that the royals are lizards or that extra-terristial life exists or whatever crosses the batshit line.

[lizzieoak]

I’ll have to think more about the weed. Certainly 2 of the 4 who do this did smoke a lot when younger (& still smoke weed on occasion).

[lookingforthecorkscrew]

My BiL is convinced 9/11 was an inside job because he watched one documentary about it. I now think BiL is a berk. My (American) SiL thinks he’s worse than a berk!

[lizzieoak]

He’s never gone lizard people on me, that would be my last straw. It’s all more mainstream political stuff, with the occasional soupçon of 9/11.

My ex I don’t speak to unless absolutely necessary, and the other two I don’t see as often.

[WeeBeasties]

I love conspiracy theories, i listen to a few podcats about them. I tend to prefer really daft ones where noone gets hurt, like Stevie Wonder isn't really blind, and elvis is still alive type stuff.

I don't believe then and I find people that do a bit weird, but I love hearing about them and having a good debate.

[ManicUnicorn]

I love a good conspiracy theory, but some of them are really bonkers. However you have to be really naive if you think stuff doesn't get covered up far more than we know up.

[Tessliketrees]

lizzie

It drives me mad too, a recent one I had with an acquaintance was him insisting we were all entitled to a lump sum of case and/or our debts cleared if we produced our birth certificate to... somebody.

[Tessliketrees]

*cash not case.

[ObscuredbyFog]

I think they are quite fun to talk about with friends whilst sharing a few glasses of wine, then forget about it, because whether it's true or not we're not able to do anything about it so we may as well just get on with our lives as they are.

Some people though seize upon some ideas, have some sort of epiphany and think they have discovered "The Truth" and then start living a paranoid type life, dropping all sorts of odd hints that "They" are watching every move everyone makes and have some sort of agenda often involving the global subjugation of humans.
I avoid anyone who seriously thinks along those lines like the plague.

[Justanotherlurker]

I love a good conspiracy now and then, MK Ultra and such.

Also anyone who would have said pre-snowden that the governments where dragnetting all internet data to pick through when required would be labelled a conspiracy nut.

I think there is a degree to conspiracy theories as well, obviously lizard people on one end to everyone who doesn't vote a certain way has fallen for propaganda etc

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

I hate conspiracy theories. I'm not a credulous person, or at least I very much hope not. I think cock up is usually a far more credible explanation than conspiracy.

I think many people do seem to need the reassurance of thinking there is some grand plan behind what goes on in the world. This explains religious belief, I suppose. I don't have any. I have no issue at all with the idea that we are here as a result of a long series of random events.

[LadyFlumpalot]

I thought they were fun things to talk and wonder about until I read about the Marconi Deaths and realised that I work for a Marconi company under a new name! 😱