Is it me or do most conspiracy theorists believe in EVERY conspiracy?

[HMSBeagle]

Dh knows a covid denier, so do I. Both of these people seem to believe in EVERY conspiracy.

Lizard Royal family, anti vax, no such thing as covid ( but also it was man made in a lab whilst not existing?) 9/11, David Ike, moon landings, micro chips from Bill Gates, you name it, they believe it.

If I made a video saying that clouds are really man made to hide surveillance cameras, or that pee is really plasma bleeding out because of toxins- they would believe me, even if its just BS I made up on a whim.

I am sure there is some truth in some conspiracies, but buying into all of them? Why?

I'm not bashing conspiracy theorists, just the wholesale buying into every conspiracy that I struggle with. It's like the only thing that matters is that someone is out to get people.

Or is this sometimes paranoia for some people? Because in a few people there is no differentiation. They just believe in each one as it comes out. Every single time.

I'm not sure it's paranoia but fear of a world they can't control or have much influence in. Obviously, excluding professional influencers (Icke et al) who just monetise the fear.

A friend of mine keeps posting all kinds of conspiracy nonsense. All I can do is laugh. She seems unable to think critically about any of it and she takes any challenge as a personal attack.

Yes I think there is that element. Like I can see why people want or need to believe covid was man made because the idea that there are endless viruses just waiting to jump the species and kill us all off and we have zero ability to prevent it.

I was sure it wasnt man made, then I thought yhat there was a element of merit in the theory. I didnt have hours to watch YouTube videos to confirm or deny either way. I'm.happy to wait and read about it in the New Scientist ot Nature magazine so they can research and distill it for me.

Maybe it is partly fear and wanting to believe humans control everything?

I was wondering if its fulfilling a need to believe or belong?

If you do not believe in vaccines, that's a theory or a belief, possibly based in something that matters to you on a personal level - like your kids for example. I get that and can respect it, even if it's not my opinion.

But lizard people? What part of that fires you up to watch hours of videos? While doing to same with 5G, and Bill Gates microchipping people, and all the rest? It seems so scattergun to me

I believe in quite a few conspiracy theories but by no means all.

There's always going to. Be someone who believes the opposite regardless of truth / science / proof.

I give you religion.

I was wondering if its fulfilling a need to believe or belong?

Yes, I was thinking that too. At first, I was wondering if there was a link between religious people and conspiracy theory believers but I'm now wondering if conspiracy theories have just simply replaced religious belief. I mean, that's a fairly obvious conclusion, I suppose - not a great insight on my part.

There are some psychological reasons why some people are more prone to believe in conspiracies. This is likely to be around narcissism or particular vulnerability in the sense of self - the conspiracy gives a feeling of being special, having superior knowledge, and having a sense of belonging in a group. There is also something about intolerance of uncertainty and trying to have a feeling of control (believing things that are batshit in order to explain the world is better than not understanding / having no control). Also, I guess it could be pure paranoia and psychosis.

My favourite is the Duke of Edinburgh ordering MI6 to bump Diana off.

I find it kind of goes in levels. Like my ex would mock people who believe the earth is flat (yes they still exist) or people who are into Qanon stuff, but definitely believes in the vaccine conspiracies and is a rabid anti-masker. Re: masks and vaccines he believes it’s all part of the government testing how much they can get away with in terms of obedience and control.

I just laugh now.

Here’s hoping all the anti-vaxxers will cop it with the diseases they didn’t believe in/didn’t want to vaccinate against and we’ll evolve to become a less moronic world.

They accuse others of being sheep while automatically believing everything their favourite grifter says on youtube.

Have alot of experience in that community. It comes from that mentality when your husband has an affair so anytime he's late from a night out or doesn't answer his phone you think he's having sex with someone.

The government, in probably every country, has lied and has often been corrupt. Once you find out about one lie, you see lies everywhere. Sometimes they're telling the truth but how do you ever trust them again?

My husband fell down this rabbit hole and started believing everything certain youtubers said, eventually the youtuber was proven to be lying aswell. Now he's much better at looking at whole situations and all evidence and coming to his own conclusions.

I dont think we landed on the moon, the technology just didn't exist but I think scientists did originally think it was, technology was amazing to everyone then, but it was really like the flintstones.

I also think America did 9/11 there's actually a government document from years before discussing how they could fake an attack like that and when you read about what happened it just doesn't make sense. Governments sacrifice citizens lives all the time for the benefit of the country as a whole.

It is because people who believe in conspiracy theories are fucking idiots

Well some have been proven so therefore it gives credibility to Everything.

Yes I was thinking it might fill a gap that might be relating to faith.

Faith is something that all sits nicely in one common theme of belief and values. So if your a Jehovah Witness is not hard to understand that you dont believe in celebrating Christmas or birthdays or blood donation. It's common belief in the literal wording in the Bible. But I mean the disparate scattergun of "what do I value as absolute truth? - it involves a web of lies to cover up the truth - tick!" Like who cares about if it's important to me, or is a core belief, or it touches my life? As long as someone says it's a cover up, count me in! I'm all for it!"

I also see with my person that superiority element. Shouting WAKE UP! At me. Not sure I should retort that they are beyound arrogant that they think they know about science more than me when I studied for years at uni, researched in the field and the lab and then actually paid work in science for decades. When they only watched hour of videos. They didnt see it and feel it first hand like me. If it was one topic I can smile, nod and back away slowly. But when it's a combination of every growing theories that have no common theme except rejecting mainly all science, I start to feel it's something more going on

Narcissism + poor critical analysis = conspiracy nut. So yes, i think it makes sense that those who believe one, will believe several.

The MK ultra was one I can
Think of.

Some are wild though

Some maybe.

Some are Literally get to fuck your crazy twat

When they coincide with other plans long in the making such as taking out seven Muslim countries on five years, then yes, I tend to believe in them. If there doesn't seem to be a good reason behind it (eg flat earth, faking moon landings etc) then I tend not to.

I believe that JFK was killed by a stray bullet fired by accident from an FBI agent riding in the car behind him, After LHO had fired off a few rounds. I also believe that LHO was a patsy of the CIA who wanted JFK dead because of his views on Vietnam.

I'm not crazy, lacking in critical thinking or stupid.

I don't believe in all conspiracy theories and I'm not an anti-vac believer. Turns out we're all different, can you believe it!

True about the elements of truth that hook people down a worm hole. I remember watching Tony Blsir in a video just before you went into the 9/11 memorial and thinking "you slimey evil barstard" but I believed him back in the day. But that's the ability to think critically that made a mistake. That seems lacking for some. Its black and white.

So the common theme is anti establishment? Seems true thinking about it.

Good points @Nottherealslimshady. Makes more sense now

@ludothedog

I believe that JFK was killed by a stray bullet fired by accident from an FBI agent riding in the car behind him, After LHO had fired off a few rounds. I also believe that LHO was a patsy of the CIA who wanted JFK dead because of his views on Vietnam.

I'm not crazy, lacking in critical thinking or stupid.

I don't believe in all conspiracy theories and I'm not an anti-vac believer. Turns out we're all different, can you believe it!

I dont think conspiracy theorist are crackers. I'm musing on why some people seem to believe in every single one as soon as they come out. Every one. Even if they individually conflict. So a friend is a covid denier but also thinks it was man made in a lab. Both ok separately I guess depending on view point but unlikely to both be true simultaneously. Thats what I struggle with. Belief in all conspiracies. Regardless of topic

My recent fave is one of my exes friends who has been on benefits for most of their life (nothing wrong with that in principle btw), who posts rants about how universal credit will be turned into universal basic income, which is the ultimate method the government will use to control our lives.

While I can see why his theory has legs, the deep irony of him being the one to say it tickles me

I know a conspiracy theorist. I think a lot of it stems from insecurity and a feeling of disenfranchisement. Therefore, the conspiracy provides a feeling that you are 'in the know', enlightened and not a sheeple.
From what I can tell admittedly I'm not always paying attention start with a secret ruling elite and nearly everything fits in from there. For example, Epstein. Not dead, secretly whisked off to a private island. As he is one of the elite/friends of the elite. Various stars who've died eg. Prince - murdered because they were going to reveal something about the elite.
Vaccines- depopulation on behalf of the elite.
And so on...... very difficult to counter argue as the response is generally that you shouldn't believe mainstream media (controlled by the elite) or medical experts (in the pay of the elite).
Denver airport (my personal fave conspiracy). That ones probably true

I think it's funny that people are mentioning faith so much. It seems so insane to so firmly believe in something so utterly abstract and to believe it so fiercely as people do with their religions. It's like an adult believing in father christmas to me.
Whereas believing that humans who are trying to gain money and power would lie to the people they have power over seems perfectly sensible.

So how does flat earth and lizard people fit in with elite/power/money aspect? I guess I should Google but I guess that's how it starts 🤔