To think that conspiracy theorists are everywhere

The term "conspiracy theorist" was put into circulation to discourage chatter after JFKs assassination by the US security services, as I recall
That in itself is a conspiracy theory. Awkward 😂

It is now used to shut down and ridicule anyone trying to challenge injustice or highlight bad actors in authority
This is what conspiracy theorists tell themselves and each other 🤷‍♀️

@catchthebeat ok I'll pipe down

It's perfectly reasonable to assume there are other side effects that haven't been officially documented yet. This happens quite often when new medicines are administered on a global scale, even following trials. It doesn't have to be conspiracy theory, just because it concerns vaccines. We're in a strange situation now where people are so scared to be called anti-vaxxers, any critical thinking or natural curiosity around new vaccines and drugs is instantly dismissed as a conspiracy theory. We don't approach other areas of science with this absolute certainty that we already know all there is to know. If you've noticed a strong correlation between a drug and a peculiar side effect, it doesn't make you a conspiracy theorist to assume there may be some causation.

There is a recognised phenomena of intelligent people having stronger ideological biases than less intelligent people. The theory is that people who are good at reasoning are also good at rationalising so are able to persuade themselves they are right about things which clearly make no sense.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-57781637.amp

@catchthebeat not the heart problem I have. The ones I've read about are not the same

I'm no conspiracy theorist. I had all the Covid jabs willingly.

But why are you saying that this is a conspiracy theory? The link between certain covid vaccines and heart problems was very well documented in the mainstream media and has been confirmed by the medical community. It's the fact that they continued administering those specific vaccines after finding this out that was shocking.

I hate the phrase “conspiracy theory”. Such an easy way to poo-poo any information that doesn’t fit the script!

Always look into things yourself.

Just watching documentaries on mainstream channels has opened my eyes to the amount of corruption in every area of power.

Also, "conspiracy theorists" is nothing new, it's happened with many technological advances before, although they might have been named under a different insult. When television was a novelty, people would say:
"It gives you square eyes."
"It's bad for children, it fries their brains."
"It gives people bad ideas."
And, quite probably, some people feared that it could be used by the government to "brainwash" the public, and that's without George Orwell's idea of telescreens that would spy on you in your own home as well.

I agree with this!

@Jumpingthruhoops I think the main issue these days is that everything is explored, examined, considered in absolute terms. Good, bad, left, right. When I suspect the actual truth is somewhere in the middle. But no one gives each other the time of day enough to work that out.

Social media has made everyone much more binary, polarised, one side or the other. Right or left. Wrong or right. And self-rightious, tending towards information sources which affirm their hunch, rather than challenge it. OP I have also come across this on dog-walks!

Generally, people seem less tolerant of having their ideas and theories challenged (in a respectful way). Is this due to the whole social media push to be kind, respect others etc etc?

🤣

Why don't you try them? They may indeed be ill informed. Or YOU might be ill informed. There's really only one way to find out - but it would involve having a measured, respectful conversation.

Strip it right back... You say there are 'gaps in their knowledge'. What are they referring to that makes you say that? Why does what they say 'stay with you' if you 'know the truth'?

I think the main issue these days is that everything is explored, examined, considered in absolute terms. Good, bad, left, right. When I suspect the actual truth is somewhere in the middle. But no one gives each other the time of day enough to work that out.

What, critical thinkers? You're right, we are!

Conspiracy theorist is just a dickhead term for people whose opinion you don't agree with - largely because you haven't made even a vague attempt to look into anything they're saying yet still think you know it all.

All I heard throughout the pandemic, for instance, was: 'They just want to be proved right'. On the contrary, they desperately want to be proved WRONG. Now, as PPs have said upthread, lots of these 'theories' have come to fruition. Whether you choose to believe them is, at this point, neither here nor there.

My advice would be, before you write people off as 'conspiracy theorists', ask yourself this: why would somebody go out of their way to make themselves unpopular?

There are many things that were considered to be conspiracy theories, mk ultra being one of them . Many of the conspiracies have been declassified by the CIA in recent times. So if some of the conspiracies of yesteryear are true it stands to reason that some conspiracy theories of today are true.

The problem is that governments and corporations and billionaires lie ALL THE TIME in order to keep hold of power and wealth.

It's very hard for us to know what is real and what is not.

Common sense can be useful.
A CT that the rich manipulate us so we vote a certain way and they get away with tax avoidance - highly likely

The royal family are lizards - highly unlikely.

I try to think who would benefit, is there a strong evidence base and is it likely according to common sense?

Exactly this. I still remember when Hancock et al said with great authority “masks are ineffective “, then there was a massive u-turn. So now, I take the view that if the government really presses and emphasises something, it is likely to be false. It will be years or decades before I can believe, respect or trust any government again.

@fuckssaaaaake yes vaccines can cause heart complications but it's rare.

What is quite common though is heart complications following a Covid infection. Even asymptomatic covid can cause long covid. Some of the most common symptoms of LC are fatigue, brain fog and heart palpitations. Can also cause a racing heart at random times.

More people have long term effects of Covid than we realise and the effects include cognitive decline. The long term consequence is that even more people may end up believing in conspiracy theories.

(LC isn't a CT by the way, it's backed up by tonnes of evidence published in the top medical and scientific journals)

My husband and I are both healthily sceptic. We don’t think the royal family are lizards. We don’t think there is an aim for global control by higher powers

we are both professionals in higher earning jobs. You would never guess from speaking to us that we lean towards some so called conspiracy theories

from the start we believed Covid was a (accidental) lab leak. We declined the vaccines. We laughed at the statements that they stopped transmission. JFK was shot by the US Security service. Weapons of mass destruction and dodgy reports? I could go on. I’m not even sure the US landed on the moon to be honest but I don’t care hugely.

what is the difference between conspiracy theory and fact? Perhaps a decade?

I am always amazed people are so trusting. You just need to look at the catalogue of shit to realise experts often have ulterior motives. Asbestos, smoking, bloody mesh, blood contamination, the trans debacle.

People and soldiers were disbelieved during the war when they spoke about camps being built that people were worked to death and killed in.
Obviously not since 1945, as they were clearly fact by then.

There is so much information accessable via internet/social media these days that people can delve into what they want.

I'm not into conspiracies as such but think the very lightheaded ones are fun to read or research so I can see why people get caught up in it. It's a bit of escapism from the "real news" which in my opinion is truly terrifying.

And don't worry.

The army has the 77th brigade to monitor "disinformation" and carry out psy-ops to counter it.

Not a conspiracy theory.

I think all this started around 2016. The people voted for Brexit and I just assumed those in power would work to put it into effect. But no, they spent 3 years wasting time and trying to stop it. Then Covid. We have had many pandemics in the past including in 1957 and 68 but life just went on as normal and govt tried to keep calm and carry on. This time they did the opposite, controlled us in the extreme and actually lied about things like whether the vaccines stop transmission and efficacy of masks. So now people are extremely sceptical about anything they say (I tend to think they do and say the opposite of what's in my interests)

I think if you think that people AREN'T conspiring for their own good in some way or other, then just enjoy life. Enjoy the dog walking, pop some headphones on so people think you are listening to your own conspiracy theory podcasts and don't overthink it.

YANBU . I know a few people who I always thought were intelligent and sane by they believe all sorts of nonsense, especially surrounding covid and vaccines. You can tell them that the majority of the world's scientists are saying the opposite of them and then they tell you that they have done their research ....... how incredibly thick they are to think that at few hours of googling is going to wield better information than a degree in a relevant subject and years of experience.

I think as PP have said it of because people are stressed and anxious. Plus Trump has validated these people .