To be concerned about DM,s conspiracy theories and radical political views swinging full circle in the last couple of years?

[Soultree]

For the whole of my life my DM has been a fairly left wing liberal, nothing radical but on that side of the political spectrum. She also seemed to have no particularly strong views on issues in the news and media.

In the last few years she has really got into US news. Stuff I know that she has openly told me is that she is a Trump supporter, she believes the vaccine will kill you. She thinks we are all brainwashed and behave like sheep. The global elite are controlling us etc etc.

If she gets onto any of this, I quickly move the subject on and just say each to their own. I don't feel the need to get into a debate and I respect her right to an opinion.

Anyway she sent me a link of a post of something she thought was funny and it had her username. So I went on and this linked me to her profile and I could see all her posts and comments.

I'm honestly amazed in her beliefs, it's much more extreme than I could dream of. Stuff like the fires in Hawaii were created by laser beams, Joe Biden isn't Joe Biden and he wears a mask, Global elite are trafficking children, we are being gassed by planes dropping stuff. So much more but you get the picture.

Could this be dementia or is it just her right to have her own views. In reality she lives in a small town in the UK, she can't do any damage but I feel sad that her retirement seems to have deteriorated into this way of thinking. I can tell she thinks I'm a fool re her Covid beliefs. I'm not strong either way but I did get vaccinated.

Would you keep quiet or mention something? I don't need to say I have seen her posts, things crop up all the time like when she texts me videos of Trump saying he gives excellent advice on how to raise kids! I just laugh it off but maybe I should be challenging her?!

Sorry to hear that. My experience and post relates to my relative and their feeder group

I work with a guy that comes out with all of this stuff, every CT, you name it, he believes it. Most, firmly routed in anti-Semitic belief. He is utterly convinced. Unfortunately, he is the type who has an answer for everything, we would spend far too much time researching to disprove him to even bother
He is shit hot at his job. Otherwise, probably would have been fired long ago.

My brother is a bit like this. It's due to being isolated (because of a new disability) and his distrust of authority (which is kind of based on experience) plus significant time falling down YouTube algorithms which push borderline content. These algorithms have now been adjusted to avoid this sort of stuff but if you're already subscribed you'll still see it.
I don't get into it with him. I just prioritise our relationship as I think that connection and seeing that there is positivity in life is what he needs. He has gradually got better through getting out more and having a social life and getting involved in local causes. He still doesn't go in for vaccination etc, but he shares fewer mad videos these days.

If I did ever chat with him about stuff I'd say things like, it seems weird that so many people would be conspiring to say the earth is flat, I wonder what they'd get out of it?
Or it would be awful if the world was run by a huge gang of peadophiles and child torturers, but it seems unlikely that I'd be able to stop it happening.

I've sadly found more posts, I've read them all now. She is quite racist and hateful. I'm upset to realise how deeply ingrained it all seems to be. She mentions that she has given up on her relatives who get jabbed and said a few derogatory things about me too.

Guess I will just have to avoid the topics and act like I don't know. Such a shame this has happened. Thanks got all the supportive messages and similar experiences, it's helped to know I'm not on my own!

Has anyone ever confronted their CT and had a good outcome ?!

I really don't see any point in challenging her with a view to changing her mind - I think in your shoes I'd say I've seen what she thinks and I wish her good luck but Goodbye.

@BMW6 , I could do that with a friend but it's not that simple with your Mother! Especially when it all seems to be newly found beliefs and ideology.

This happened to my best friend of my whole life and she dumped me over it. She's 42 and not stupid.

@Tukmgru yes I’d second an AMA thread, it would really help if this information were better known

I see it as a symptom of mental illness / isolation/ anxiety. I also think people who are vulnerable to these CTs feel like they don't have much control over their own lives in real life and and get a buzz out of feeling they are superior to the "sheep".

We had a friend who became immersed in many conspiracy theories and extremist Men’s Groups. Endless talk of feminazis and vaccines causing death. Became worse when he retired, apparently he was constantly online.

My friend doesn’t fit this bill. Full control over her life. Loaded. Great lifestyle. Loads of friends. Lovely warm person. Just has some very entrenched views that have come from going down the rabbit hole. So sad as it’s hard to be her friend because I can’t challenge her but can’t bear to hear all the tosh.

Some people have too much time on their hands hence fall down the conspiracies rabbit hole. No hobbies, outlet, maybe disappointed in their life and need to present as wordly/knowledgeable/superior. Watch 1 YouTube clip then another, & it just keeps suggesting more and more.

I have a couple of friends like this. I just avoid them. There's no telling them, they've turned into complete bores stuck on 1 subject. No doubt they pity me for being a "sheep". They've never been to USA, never will go, dont do much with their lives yet its all about Trump etc. When I do come across them and they start, I tell them very firmly I'm not interested. I walk away if I have to. You'll have to do that with your Mum.

My Mum's not so extreme in views but she has Sky rolling news on 24/7 and is compelled to talk about the news only. Tedious. I dont allow her to bombard my brain either.

Could this be dementia or is it just her right to have her own views.

Unlikely to be dementia, more likely that she is just totally lacking in critical thinking abilities and has been sucked into an online community where she is surrounded by similarly unhinged people who are reinforcing her beliefs.