AIBU To feel like I'm losing my sister to conspiracy theories?

[Thestreets]

My sister is a very intelligent, funny, interesting woman but recently , probably since lockdown she has been spending more and more time online and reading into conspiracy theories about the Hollywood elite and politicians and child sacrifices and all kinds of ludicrous claims.

This has utterly consumed her, you cannot have a conversation with the her that she does not turn to her trying to show some you tube video as "evidence". I'm so worried but do not know what to do as everything I say is met with "well that's what they want you to think".

My brother has gone the same way. He used to be the sibling I felt closest to but since Covid hit, his reaction to that makes me feel I can't talk to him any more. Apparently I am a fool for listening to the BBC news, because that is all lies. The only truth is on YouTube videos. Very depressing.

My ex has gone the same way. His mum and sister contacted me as they thought he might listen to me.
He is obsessed with thinking covid isn't real and the vaccine will kill me and my kids. He also talks about the illuminati and paedophile rings.
He didn't mention Trump as he knows that would be a bridge too far. I think there's a game in involved. He even thinks Paul Mccartney is dead and he has lots of dodgy evidence....I'm hoping he sorts himself out. Its frightening for you. I definitely think boredom weed and paranoid thoughts go hand in hand

The irony around these people who believe these theories is they constantly spout things like ‘’you believe everything you’re told to believe’’, when in actual fact they are too blind to see that THEY are the ones believing everything they are told by the people propagating these unsubstantiated claims. Reasonable and rational people have the critical thinking skills to differentiate fact from fiction/half truths/twisted facts. The reliable sources they do sometimes use to back up their claims, they cherry pick and don’t understand what they’re reading.

They constantly demonstrate confirmation bias by completely ignoring any real scientific evidence or anything that the media or government publish, yet they will believe anything in the media if they think it fits with their existing beliefs. That isn’t proper research. It’s ironic they think they are ‘’free thinkers’’ yet they are heavily influenced by nutters!

These things happen in distressing times though. Psychologically, humans have a need for control over their lives and a situation that’s completely foreign and scary to them will make them desperately seek out other explanations. We also are suckers for pattern seeking behaviour!

Most of the ones who shout the loudest usually don’t have qualifications above GCSE level and wouldn’t have the first idea what a reliable source of information is, but they massage their own ego by thinking they are special and more intelligent than the rest of us because they have low confidence in other areas.

They deserve pity really, not ridicule.

And I emphasise MOST of the loudest ones are not very well educated before someone pulls me up on that. I do realise anyone can get suckered in. It’s very sad.

We have a massive mental health crisis going on which will probably carry on for years to come after this.

It is baffling, and it seems to take so many people this way, just complete and utter obsession to the detriment of the lives they should be living. It's really very sad. I alternate between feeling sad for them (that they are so frightened and isolated), worried for their kids, and angry that they are endangering others with their selfish choices. The Google search "why do people believe in qanon" has some interesting articles about what is going on psychologically for these people but very little practical advice on how to rescue loved ones that have been sucked in. Very sad how it's destroying families.

@Clumsyvolcano interedting point about education but i suspect its more about intelligence ie you can be educated but not very intelligent. Others have called it critical thinking. Like others ive stepped away from social media and culled a lot of 'friends'

@IWentAwayIStayedAway oh yes, I realise that a person can be very highly educated and still fall into that trap. In my experience though, most of them aren’t. The people who are usually sensible are obviously really struggling with their mental health.

Funny as well how they all say the government only allow certain things to be published in the media etc, when that is clearly not true else Dominic Cummings trip to Barnard Castle wouldn’t have made it to the press, or Matt Hancock’s affair, or any story in relation to rare serious side effects of the vaccine. All would be censored. Some people are too far gone to stop and think of these things.

@Clumsyvolcano my experience as well 🙈

Have a look at reddit's QAnonCasualties. Many families struggling with this. There isn't much you can do - they have to want to stop it themselves.

I believe the recommended technique is a) not engage in the nonsense conversation and just say you don't want to talk about it, then b) talk about neutral subjects. This gives the ConspiracyNut a chance to relax and talk about things other than their stressors, which may give them an inkling there's life outside of Youtube.