To think that conspiracy theorists are everywhere

[CobbldyCook]

I recently acquired a dog and so now make small talk with lots of people I probably wouldn’t have spoken with before. Not because I would avoid them or anything, just because I wouldn’t run into them. Conversation usually starts normally enough but there seems to be about a 1 in 3 chance that the chat suddenly takes a turn for “mRNA experiments”, “turbocancers”, “contrails”, “chip totality”… you name it! It’s particularly prevalent in men it seems. I never had these kinds of conversations before. What changed? Is this all because of lockdown and/or people spending so much time on the internet/social media? Aren’t there enough real issues in the world to be interested in/worried about without making stuff up? Why are people so credulous?! How should I counter it?!?

Remember when a bat and a pangolin got together and created COVID in striking distance of a biolab with sars strains?

Or when we were all told that you could change sex through the power of thought and you were a hateful bigot if you any expressed doubt about the legitimacy of that statement?

The trust capital between the government, the ruling class and academia and the general population is entirely diminished. The natural consequence is that conspiracy theories will flourish.

😳 OP you're right, they are everywhere.

I’m a JFK conspiracy nut. Listen to loads of podcasts and read books. It’s fascinating topic when you get into it.

I'd be very interested in a study to compare conspiracy theorists' jobs with non-conspiracy theorists.

I have a theory (perhaps it is a conspiracy theory?! 🤔🤣) that people who believe in conspiracies are generally quite junior (in their jobs/ careers). It's easier to imagine a cabal 'above' you who are controlling everything.

I have found (anecdotally at least) that the further people climb up the career ladder, the less likely they are to believe anyone is competent and organised enough to plan and perpetrate evil deeds on a mass scale.

Humans just aren't that great at delivering major projects and most of these conspiracy theories would involve a huge amount of planning, organisation, expertise, technical knowhow and discipline on behalf of a huge number of people, and all at once.

My colleague believes all our weather is human controlled, that the 'elites' decide on what will happen and planes spray to create.
The northern lights were created by antenna in the Arctic. Climate change is made up to tax the shit out of us in fear.
Cloud seeding does exist that is well known, but I don't believe it is routinely used on a day to day basis.
Apparently, proof of all this is that we had glorious weather in lockdown when they couldn't spray.

@tracktrail ask your colleague why on earth we can't build a train line or finish a garden bridge or organise our health system if there is that much expertise and precision organisation around!!

conspiracy theory ... are deadly when taken seriously.

I'm always a believer to question everything but look up creditable sources to help formate you're thoughts.

The saddest conspiracy theory surrounding vaccines in children. Outbreaks of measles or mumps can be deadly or life changing.

exactly!!!

Lockdowns brought out many “conspiracy theorists”, who are now declaring “we are now proven right about many things, we tried to tell you, and you told us to shut up, and stop murdering grannies”.

I don’t subscribe to all the “conspiracy theories” about Covid and lockdowns, but I do find the way the government actively and deliberately terrified the public, and silenced anybody who tried to deviate from their official line deeply disturbing; anybody would think the government is “up to something”.

Absolutely. I am infuriated by anti vaxxers.

I went out for dinner with feiends the other month. Haven’t seen them for years. Was genuinely shocked how one of them (the male) started wittering on about all manner of conspiracy theories. I’ve been poorly recently, apparently the covid vaccine caused it. Putin is only threatening the west because the west went agajnst a secret deal that had been made and other such things. Honestly, the meal couldn’t end quickly enough for me and I’m not in a hurry to see them again.

even if these things are true (which I don’t believe) , I cannot personally do anything about them and would rather live my life in peace and ignorance rather than worrying about something I have absolutely no control over!

Nobody ever said Covid wasn’t leaked out of a lab as far as I can remember. There was speculation around the origins either being a wuhan wet market or a zoological disease lab. What people dispute is the people suggesting that it was a deliberate release and peddling that as fact.

I remember this differently. Quite a few people were quick to call anyone who speculated about the possibility of a lab leak a conspiracy theorist. I don't think it's surprising that people raised questions about accident vs intentional when the official narrative of pangolins at a wet market was patently a lie. I agree claiming it was deliberate as fact is not supported by any evidence I've seen.

I think it's a symptom of our times. People seem generally more anxious. I've never met a happy conspiracy theorist.

The term "conspiracy theorist" was put into circulation to discourage chatter after JFKs assassination by the US security services, as I recall.

It is now used to shut down and ridicule anyone trying to challenge injustice or highlight bad actors in authority.

If a conspiracy is as yet unproven, it's a theory, that is all.

Real conspiracies exist, moreso than ever.

The Internet allows the proliferation of ridiculousness and it's encouraged to obfuscate the truth.

AI and deep fakes will muddy the water further.

The biggest conspiracy out there is the manipulation of the world economy to transfer wealth continually into the hands of fewer and fewer people while blaming ordinary people for being poor.

The elite may not be lizards but they are greedy, self centred and promoting the idea that ordinary people only have themselves to blame for the cost if living.

We live in strange and interesting times that's the only thing that's certain.

If you search York Cardiologist you will find a very highly respected doctor who will tell you the vaccine absolutely is causing heart problems in many people. Sorry to hear you are struggling with your health.

loadofbobbins raises a valid point. If so many believe their truths,what are they doing about it?
We have an election coming. Who is standing up for what they believe in? Which party supports flat earth?
which party supports Lizard people?
which party supports agenda 2030?
Which party has policies in place?
If some of this stuff is so easily provable, cite credible sources and do something about it, Don't just rant about it.

This, with knobs on.

I don’t know why they feel the need to unburden themselves. It’s never a conversation, just a monologue; they never seem that interested in the evidence against / counter-viewpoint.

"... those specific topics you cite aren't remotely theories, they're facts. There's plenty of data/evidence to back any of it up, should anyone care to look - just like these people have."

No they are not "facts" and reading what some tinfoil hat wearer has posted on line is not looking up "evidence" or "facts".

YANBU . I know a few people who I always thought were intelligent and sane by they believe all sorts of nonsense, especially surrounding covid and vaccines. You can tell them that the majority of the world's scientists are saying the opposite of them and then they tell you that they have done their research ....... how incredibly thick they are to think that at few hours of googling is going to wield better information than a degree in a relevant subject and years of experience.

I think as PP have said it of because people are stressed and anxious. Plus Trump has validated these people .

I think if you think that people AREN'T conspiring for their own good in some way or other, then just enjoy life. Enjoy the dog walking, pop some headphones on so people think you are listening to your own conspiracy theory podcasts and don't overthink it.

I think all this started around 2016. The people voted for Brexit and I just assumed those in power would work to put it into effect. But no, they spent 3 years wasting time and trying to stop it. Then Covid. We have had many pandemics in the past including in 1957 and 68 but life just went on as normal and govt tried to keep calm and carry on. This time they did the opposite, controlled us in the extreme and actually lied about things like whether the vaccines stop transmission and efficacy of masks. So now people are extremely sceptical about anything they say (I tend to think they do and say the opposite of what's in my interests)

And don't worry.

The army has the 77th brigade to monitor "disinformation" and carry out psy-ops to counter it.

Not a conspiracy theory.

There is so much information accessable via internet/social media these days that people can delve into what they want.

I'm not into conspiracies as such but think the very lightheaded ones are fun to read or research so I can see why people get caught up in it. It's a bit of escapism from the "real news" which in my opinion is truly terrifying.

People and soldiers were disbelieved during the war when they spoke about camps being built that people were worked to death and killed in.
Obviously not since 1945, as they were clearly fact by then.

My husband and I are both healthily sceptic. We don’t think the royal family are lizards. We don’t think there is an aim for global control by higher powers

we are both professionals in higher earning jobs. You would never guess from speaking to us that we lean towards some so called conspiracy theories

from the start we believed Covid was a (accidental) lab leak. We declined the vaccines. We laughed at the statements that they stopped transmission. JFK was shot by the US Security service. Weapons of mass destruction and dodgy reports? I could go on. I’m not even sure the US landed on the moon to be honest but I don’t care hugely.

what is the difference between conspiracy theory and fact? Perhaps a decade?

I am always amazed people are so trusting. You just need to look at the catalogue of shit to realise experts often have ulterior motives. Asbestos, smoking, bloody mesh, blood contamination, the trans debacle.