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?

Chrys

You have fallen into his trap! Always ignore their "facts" and stick to common sense.

With flat Earth I would stick to "Why would anybody bother to lie?". There is no answer to this question therefore I would always win the argument.

Oh yes—I did ask him how is it possible to sail around the world if the earth is flat, and he said people don't actually sail around the world—they're only sailing around the perimeter, and the world is a flat circle that is bordered on all sides by Antarctica. He even had a map to show me for reference!

My dh believes most of them...flat earth, Jews ruling the world, dome etc etc
We had a really bad time of it a couple of years ago when he also became a holocaust denier. Up until then I was prepared to 'debate' his POVs. After that I threatened to divorce him if he ever mentioned this again to me knowing my feelings on it.
And yes, I dont know ONE woman in my immediate life who believes this, but I know quite a few men.
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 smoke weed and he doesnt

@WashingMatilda Possibly! Early 50's, looks a bit like a slightly overweight Alan Partridge?

I wouldn’t debate on points of fact either. I either tell him to stop (& he does, due to trying to impress me) or I say “why would anyone do that?” And “how many people would have to never tell a wife or husband or friend?”

I could not be having a friendship w a Holocaust denier nvm a husband. I feel for you there :(

• @tess* With flat Earth I would stick to "Why would anybody bother to lie?". There is no answer to this question therefore I would always win the argument

I tried this - he always replies with "because its a form of control of the masses"

"Why would anybody bother to lie?"
Oh, the answer to that is always to keep us under control on our little planet and doing what THEY want us to do. Apparently if we knew the earth was flat we'd want to explore beyond the edge of it and then we'd find out THE REAL TRUTH. But as long as we believe there's a vast infinite space out there we won't even think about it.

I have to say that I DO believe that our phones listen to us, as do things like the amazon Echo..

Loads of conspiracy theories are completely laughable...flat earth, fake moon landings, royal family being lizards etc.

However, I do believe some....and I don't think we should take everything at face value.

My DSis is a massive conspiracy nut and drives me bonkers with how steadfastly she believes in fucking conspiracies.

I love a conspiracy, I don't fucking live and breathe them and carry on about them to everyone I know. It's at the point where new people that meet her are like "Riiiiight..." one of my friends met her the other week and was laughing dazedly "I've heard it all today..."

I have no idea how to manage it at all. She's literally lost all her friends and believes every single thing her pot-smoking boyfriend tells her. He has the excuse of being high as a kite, she just believes literally everything he tells her.

@Lizzie
Got to say it literally made me question my marriage as this wasnt the man I fell in love with. He hasnt mentioned it for months now (mentions every other CT though) and knowing him he's realised he was wrong but wont admit it.

Conspiracy theories are simply a religion although their participants don't realise it. They all involve a higher power who is all-seeing and who affects the course of human life. Oh, and an elite group of humanity who know The Truth and who must warn and convert the non-believers.

Talking to the most rabid born-again Christian is actually far easier than talking to a flat-Earthist though.

@Haffiana That's great—I'm going to say that to him next time. He would be mortified to be thought of as being religious.

I usually have to end the conversation by saying, well, if you're right there's nothing we can do about it anyway, so we might as well just enjoy the lie!

Conspiracy theories are simply a religion although their participants don't realise it.

I think that's true for the more extreme ones, but then again in CT circles there is another theory that the Flat earth and such are specifically set up by "The Man" as to discredit the whole sceptic.

There are quite a few where people have been labelled tin foil hat level only to come out as true later on, that doesn't help a lot who really go knee deep into it though.

The conspiracy theorists who really annoy me are the ones who cannot see how closed minded they are, despite their conviction that it is everyone else who is closed minded.

I do think that there are real life conspiracies and cover ups etc, but that the over arching, hugely complex conspiracy theories are utter rubbish: In the complex, chaotic closely connected world we live in there are too many unforeseen consequences and coincidences to control. ie, no-one is really running this shit show!

There is a difference between sceptical and seeing the possibility of some conspiracy theories being true and being a "conspiracy theorist".
eg, I think the Dr Kelly death was deeply suspicious, and have my doubts over the suicide explanation. But I don't know this for sure - how could I? It is possible that the official explanation is entirely true.
A conspiracy theorist, however, would not countenance for an instant that their theory isn't true, no matter how much evidence to the contrary.

With regards the facebook thing - there is a sinister side to facebook, and it is true that it is being exploited by all kinds of interests to mine our data and influence us.

That does not mean that this was the plan all along though!

The kind of people who would like to exploit social media for their own means are opportunists, but no-one could have foreseen the popularity of facebook nor the technological advances and all the unforeseen consequences that created this opportunity.

There's a particularly nasty one being peddled by a woman who does not even hide her identity that Grenfell was owned by a consortium of Jews who torched it to clear the site.

Your mixing with a load of idiots, OP

Let me guess, they're poorly educated, can barely hold down jobs/relationships. They feel super clever but misunderstood. Conspiracy theories are a way for losers to feel 'special'.

Leftwiththedog, how can you stand him?

A conspiracy theorist, however, would not countenance for an instant that their theory isn't true, no matter how much evidence to the contrary.

Yeah I agree with that.

I'm skeptical of David Kelly, the same I am with Gareth Williams, but that is more spooks territory.

I think I was trying to point at the government is recording you across the internet and our devices are recording our conversations even when they are turned off type of conspiracy.

Both would have been on the level of Tin foil hat before it the whistleblowers.

One of my exes was a conspiracy theorist to the point where i told him to shut the fuck up about it permanently. He wouldn't stop blathering on about it and was always trying to get me to watch badly put together videos on YouTube. He was obsessed with stuff to the point of ridiculousness, and it was part of the reason I got rid.

They're interesting subjects when things have some actual merit, but when they explode into totally absurd areas? The folks who believe that are completely batshit crazy.

Love conspiracy theories. I have a line though... Flat-Earth is one of them, 9/11 not so much.

Haffiana, I hadn’t thought of it like that, but you’re right!

Left, that must be hard for you. I hope he’s realized he’s wrong.

Humps, nope, 3/4 are university educated. That never stopped anyone from lacking critical thinking!

Andrew, yes, I’ve seen her online. She disgusts me, that whole train of anti-semetic thought disgusts me. When did it become okay again to hate Jews.

I was telling my son that when I grew up it was in poor taste to be racist/anti-semetic. He thought that was a funny way to put it, but it still makes me wrinkle my nose when I hear that sort of thing.

There a sliding scale of conspiracy theories though. At one end, you have the reptilian Royal Family, and at the other, something like Kennedy's assassination.

It's very convenient for the powers that be to allow for the conflation of the two in order to discredit those that are close to the truth.

I remember recently listening to an LBC host poo-pooing a caller for suggesting ISIS factions were armed and supported by the west. All the while, I was thinking about our security forces' long-term collusion with Unionist terrorists in Ulster.

Just think of all the 'theories' that have been proven to be true. The CIA's overthrow and murder of Allende in Chile; the security forces' planting of bombs across Italy throughout the 70s (Operation Gladio); the Catholic Church's cover up of sex abuse; the CIA's comedic attempts to assassinate Castro. The list is endless.

Icke is a nutter though!