To think that conspiracy theorists are everywhere

"... those specific topics you cite aren't remotely theories, they're facts. There's plenty of data/evidence to back any of it up, should anyone care to look - just like these people have."

No they are not "facts" and reading what some tinfoil hat wearer has posted on line is not looking up "evidence" or "facts".

This, with knobs on.

I don’t know why they feel the need to unburden themselves. It’s never a conversation, just a monologue; they never seem that interested in the evidence against / counter-viewpoint.

loadofbobbins raises a valid point. If so many believe their truths,what are they doing about it?
We have an election coming. Who is standing up for what they believe in? Which party supports flat earth?
which party supports Lizard people?
which party supports agenda 2030?
Which party has policies in place?
If some of this stuff is so easily provable, cite credible sources and do something about it, Don't just rant about it.

If you search York Cardiologist you will find a very highly respected doctor who will tell you the vaccine absolutely is causing heart problems in many people. Sorry to hear you are struggling with your health.

The term "conspiracy theorist" was put into circulation to discourage chatter after JFKs assassination by the US security services, as I recall.

It is now used to shut down and ridicule anyone trying to challenge injustice or highlight bad actors in authority.

If a conspiracy is as yet unproven, it's a theory, that is all.

Real conspiracies exist, moreso than ever.

The Internet allows the proliferation of ridiculousness and it's encouraged to obfuscate the truth.

AI and deep fakes will muddy the water further.

The biggest conspiracy out there is the manipulation of the world economy to transfer wealth continually into the hands of fewer and fewer people while blaming ordinary people for being poor.

The elite may not be lizards but they are greedy, self centred and promoting the idea that ordinary people only have themselves to blame for the cost if living.

We live in strange and interesting times that's the only thing that's certain.

I think it's a symptom of our times. People seem generally more anxious. I've never met a happy conspiracy theorist.

Nobody ever said Covid wasn’t leaked out of a lab as far as I can remember. There was speculation around the origins either being a wuhan wet market or a zoological disease lab. What people dispute is the people suggesting that it was a deliberate release and peddling that as fact.

I remember this differently. Quite a few people were quick to call anyone who speculated about the possibility of a lab leak a conspiracy theorist. I don't think it's surprising that people raised questions about accident vs intentional when the official narrative of pangolins at a wet market was patently a lie. I agree claiming it was deliberate as fact is not supported by any evidence I've seen.

I went out for dinner with feiends the other month. Haven’t seen them for years. Was genuinely shocked how one of them (the male) started wittering on about all manner of conspiracy theories. I’ve been poorly recently, apparently the covid vaccine caused it. Putin is only threatening the west because the west went agajnst a secret deal that had been made and other such things. Honestly, the meal couldn’t end quickly enough for me and I’m not in a hurry to see them again.

even if these things are true (which I don’t believe) , I cannot personally do anything about them and would rather live my life in peace and ignorance rather than worrying about something I have absolutely no control over!

Absolutely. I am infuriated by anti vaxxers.

Lockdowns brought out many “conspiracy theorists”, who are now declaring “we are now proven right about many things, we tried to tell you, and you told us to shut up, and stop murdering grannies”.

I don’t subscribe to all the “conspiracy theories” about Covid and lockdowns, but I do find the way the government actively and deliberately terrified the public, and silenced anybody who tried to deviate from their official line deeply disturbing; anybody would think the government is “up to something”.

exactly!!!

conspiracy theory ... are deadly when taken seriously.

I'm always a believer to question everything but look up creditable sources to help formate you're thoughts.

The saddest conspiracy theory surrounding vaccines in children. Outbreaks of measles or mumps can be deadly or life changing.

@tracktrail ask your colleague why on earth we can't build a train line or finish a garden bridge or organise our health system if there is that much expertise and precision organisation around!!

My colleague believes all our weather is human controlled, that the 'elites' decide on what will happen and planes spray to create.
The northern lights were created by antenna in the Arctic. Climate change is made up to tax the shit out of us in fear.
Cloud seeding does exist that is well known, but I don't believe it is routinely used on a day to day basis.
Apparently, proof of all this is that we had glorious weather in lockdown when they couldn't spray.

I'd be very interested in a study to compare conspiracy theorists' jobs with non-conspiracy theorists.

I have a theory (perhaps it is a conspiracy theory?! 🤔🤣) that people who believe in conspiracies are generally quite junior (in their jobs/ careers). It's easier to imagine a cabal 'above' you who are controlling everything.

I have found (anecdotally at least) that the further people climb up the career ladder, the less likely they are to believe anyone is competent and organised enough to plan and perpetrate evil deeds on a mass scale.

Humans just aren't that great at delivering major projects and most of these conspiracy theories would involve a huge amount of planning, organisation, expertise, technical knowhow and discipline on behalf of a huge number of people, and all at once.

I’m a JFK conspiracy nut. Listen to loads of podcasts and read books. It’s fascinating topic when you get into it.

😳 OP you're right, they are everywhere.

Remember when a bat and a pangolin got together and created COVID in striking distance of a biolab with sars strains?

Or when we were all told that you could change sex through the power of thought and you were a hateful bigot if you any expressed doubt about the legitimacy of that statement?

The trust capital between the government, the ruling class and academia and the general population is entirely diminished. The natural consequence is that conspiracy theories will flourish.

In what way were they speaking about concentration camps? The German use of them? Don't think any one reasonable has doubted their existence after 1945.

I've found myself being a bit of a conspiracy twat this week. I've been having problems with my heart and I'm only 35, in addition, I've also heard about 4 different people all locally with the same thing! One person said to me, do you think it's the vaccine and all of a sudden I started to think it must be.
I know it's silly, I know it's not, but my head has been turned a bit

This!

I’ve never heard anyone say any of these things, just keep men out of sports, prisons and rape crisis centres.
Which seems fair enough really.

People used to label people who spoke about concentration camps as conspiracy theorists too.
I try not to be too quick to discount things just because they sound crazy.

I work with a CT, and I'm subjected to it every day. He says they aren't conspiracy theories, they are truths, and people need to get away from tv and mainstream media and research properly. In his case, Internet 😂 He doesn't see the irony.
There are often grains of truth that are extrapolated to something else.
I have often wondered how many people believe all this stuff. Some are interesting, some plain batshit others offensive we get them all.

I recently discovered Cloud seeding very much exists. And has done since the 50s.

I wouldnt go down rabbit holes with things, but equally I would open my mind a bit.