Getting upset for my friend thinking I'm crazy for watching Alex Jones/David Icke?

[zenithfreedom]

So I have a very 'unique' YouTube history. I watch all sorts of random stuff. Doesn't mean I believe most of it but it's interesting nonetheless. From 9/11 conspiracies to prank calls to documentaries, and commonly conspiratorial figures like Alex Jones, David Icke, Max Keiser

I gave my friend who has been staying with me since lockdown my tablet to watch something since hers died and she couldn't find the charger. She saw David Icke and thought I was a bit insane and was worried about my mental health.

I said it's just entertainment but I also took a bit of offense to the fact that she thinks I'm mentally unstable for watching these guys. What do you think?

I’m with your friend.

Yeah, I'm with your friend too

Icke is a rabid antisemite. Alex Jones is a lunatic. You’re creating income for these people by watching their drivel.
I agree with your friend.

I'd worry more about your intelligence if you watched David Icke, and your overall maturity if you liked "prank" stuff.
But, tbf, I doubt we'd be friends anyway.

No, you can watch what you like and you’ve said you don’t believe the crap they’re spouting, it’s entertainment.

Some people are so literal minded.

Me too. Watching that crap once is bad enough, but to watch more than one, for FUN? You say you don't believe most of it... so you believe SOME of it? It's a slippery slope.

Also, the more watches they get, the more they start believing themselves and being able to say that they have x many followers and the movement grows, and other gullible people can say 'but look, this has xyz many views, there must be some truth in it...' and it all grows more.

Beardieweirde - How rude!

There’s SO much information out there, far too much to ever read/listen/watch. And that’s what you choose? Alex Jones said that Sandy Hook never happened and that the parents of the dead children were actors. Hell yeah I’d be judging!

You’re obviously free to watch whatever you please and I think this is ok because you aren’t watching and believing in it. Your friend is right to worry though, I worried about my friend when he started watching this nonsense but he actually believed it all…

I can entirely see why your friend would be questioning your sanity if you found David Icke and co ‘interesting’.

Maybe not your sanity, but I'd judge you for giving them views and credibility.

You watch people like Alex Jones and David Icke and say you believe some if it. I'm with your friend, I'd be worried too. They are horrible, hate-filled people that should be avoided.

I thought you meant Alex Jones from the One Show .

I would think nothing of it. I love a good conspiracy theory even though I don’t believe a word of them. The 9/11 ones floating around blew my mind! And the Covid ones

I said it's just entertainment

I don't really understand why watching racist rants is entertainment but if you are into that sort of thing then Hitler is a better speaker than either and there are loads of his old speeches available.

I also took a bit of offense to the fact that she thinks I'm mentally unstable for watching these guys.

People can be really judgy about racists. She's just been brainwashed by the lizard people.

Briefly thought that Aled had gone over to David there. Would have spiced up Songs of Praise a bit.

I’d judge you too. Whether you believe it or not (and it sounds like you’re at least considering it), you’re giving them credibility and income despite them being disgusting racists, misogynists and lunatics. It’s fair enough that people have a problem with that.

I understand the internet rabbit hole thing, I'm sure most of us have been there at some point about a random topic. But if I saw that history on a close friend's device I'd be checking in with her to make sure all was ok. A more distant friend or acquaintance and I'd be backing away sharpish.

I'd judge you for driving views and income to that bunch of utter idiots. Sorry.

I think it's good to be curious about all sorts of stuff, and it's also good to listen to/read things you don't agree with. So I get it.

That said, bear the quote in mind about staring into the abyss!

There's plenty of examples online of people who watch that sort of content out of sheer curiosity (and to better understand "that side") and end up getting slowly sucked in before they even realise. So just make sure you're keeping a critical head on at all times.

I think you seem to have lots of spare time. Have you run out of things on Netflix?

By choosing to be ‘entertained’ by such people, you're adding credibility to their ranting lies.
I know full well what Icke believes - I don't need to watch him online to confirm my opinions.
Your friend has a point.

I agree it's just entertainment. The Nick Griffin/BNP cookery show a few years ago was pure comedy gold.

I would definitely think less of someone who gives views to a man who conducted a years long campaign of harassment against the parents of dead children

I wouldn’t bother to check you were ok. I would know you’d lost the plot and would cut contact before you could have any influence on my children.

I'd judge you too, cannot get my head around someone choosing to engage with any of that awful stuff.