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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think my mum has fallen down a conspiracy rabbit hole and I can't get her out

422 replies

Coffeesoon · 25/11/2025 17:54

My mum has just sent me a video of Ant Middleton explaining how in 2027 the migrants / boat people who are seeking asylum and have already been made legal, will kick off and attack us all.
He says there will be a civil war, he knows because of army contacts and that we need to prepare.
What am I suppose to say to that?
She fully believes that an army is being formed and is constantly telling me or sending me videos about it.
I love my mum but since covid, which she thought wasn't real, she has been thinking the government is out to get us. We live in an area of increased immigrants and she absolutely hates them.
I've tried to talk to her but shes adamant and its really getting me down.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
Ravenslea · 26/11/2025 18:28

wrongthinker · 26/11/2025 18:15

Jesus wept.

Your little village sounds lovely. And it also sounds like there's no danger of 600 undocumented immigrants from some of the most misogynist, violent, and uneducated populations in the world descending on your lovely little village and turning it into a shithole.

So you can sit in your lovely little house with your lovely neighbours and slag off all the people whose own lovely little neighbourhoods have been turned into terrifying shitholes. Sounds like a jolly wheeze.

Didn't you get the message? Anything perceived as middle class or liberal is always correct!

Birthdaysocks · 26/11/2025 18:38

Mlddleoftheroad · 26/11/2025 17:44

Clearly I've misunderstood your posts which appear to have been centred around boat people invading the UK as an army of fighting aged men when you meant men already in the UK. I still think using the trauma of those affected is abhorrent.

Apologies for giving desperate people the correct title.

Your useless of the word hysteria to try to diminish speaks volumes.

Using the trauma! What do you think you are doing? You are using the trauma to enjoy a bit of sanctimony.

And the only comment I've made about asylum seekers is to contest the claim that travelling across Europe is life threatening for these economic migrants. Millions of people travel around Europe daily, and apparently we have to believe it's dangerous and life threatening for Middle Eastern, Asian and African adult men on their way through but not European teenage girls and women.

AntikytheraMech · 26/11/2025 20:15

My grandmother was accused of being a conspiracy theorist in 1935.
She was a German Jew living in Berlin and in 1934 she saw a man with a mustache preaching.
She didn't like the look of him.
She was 25.
She tried to advise all of her Jewish contemporaries to leave Germany as soon as possible.
They scoffed and called her a conspiracy theorist.
Her husband and she left Germany to move to United Kingdom in 1935.
The friends that stayed didn't ever leave Germany again. 😔

AntikytheraMech · 26/11/2025 20:22

Maybe we get back on topic and stop political bashing?
Sigh once again it's turned into bashing orange man and Nigel farage and derailing from the original topic. I'm surprised mumsnet HQ don't have the charisma to steer the topic back on subject.
This topic is about people that have often unrealistic perspectives relating to conspiracies theories.

Blizzardofleaves · 26/11/2025 20:40

AntikytheraMech · 26/11/2025 20:15

My grandmother was accused of being a conspiracy theorist in 1935.
She was a German Jew living in Berlin and in 1934 she saw a man with a mustache preaching.
She didn't like the look of him.
She was 25.
She tried to advise all of her Jewish contemporaries to leave Germany as soon as possible.
They scoffed and called her a conspiracy theorist.
Her husband and she left Germany to move to United Kingdom in 1935.
The friends that stayed didn't ever leave Germany again. 😔

Thank you for posting your family history. Your post has meaningfully added to the discussion. It highlights the importance of considering all views.

sleepwouldbenice · 27/11/2025 01:13

I agreed with @Woodchiponthewallfunny how the conspiracy therorists on here all pretty much believe the same things
anti vax
anti govt
anti nhs
anti immigrant and believe every single aspect about it.
banning xmas etc
against ID cards
free speech suppressed
chemtrails or whatever the weather thing is
even that gb news is unbiased ( hilarious that one, incredulous)
riots are imminent
phrases like woke, asleep, wake up
facts distorted using exactly the same words
not noticing a difference between someone who partly agrees with them and someone who states the opposite

And no it’s not just sharing the same thoughts, it’s repeated and sustained exposure to misinformation

of course there is an element of truth in many things, but this complete list of “common thought “ is really scary

sleepwouldbenice · 27/11/2025 01:15

sleepwouldbenice · 27/11/2025 01:13

I agreed with @Woodchiponthewallfunny how the conspiracy therorists on here all pretty much believe the same things
anti vax
anti govt
anti nhs
anti immigrant and believe every single aspect about it.
banning xmas etc
against ID cards
free speech suppressed
chemtrails or whatever the weather thing is
even that gb news is unbiased ( hilarious that one, incredulous)
riots are imminent
phrases like woke, asleep, wake up
facts distorted using exactly the same words
not noticing a difference between someone who partly agrees with them and someone who states the opposite

And no it’s not just sharing the same thoughts, it’s repeated and sustained exposure to misinformation

of course there is an element of truth in many things, but this complete list of “common thought “ is really scary

And of course that climate change is fake, and everything that goes with that

RedTagAlan · 27/11/2025 02:57

AntikytheraMech · 26/11/2025 20:22

Maybe we get back on topic and stop political bashing?
Sigh once again it's turned into bashing orange man and Nigel farage and derailing from the original topic. I'm surprised mumsnet HQ don't have the charisma to steer the topic back on subject.
This topic is about people that have often unrealistic perspectives relating to conspiracies theories.

Yes, anyone would think MN HQ had an agenda here. Hmmmm. I can add this site to my massive file on Soros funded brainwashing study.

I jest of course, but that's how easy it is I suppose.

I think it's easier to do what I just did there than to read the pro and anti posts and get a feel for the ratio.

Orange man and Farage do feed into many of the anti migrant conspiracies. They depend on it.

What did Orange man say as he came down his golden elevator to
launch his first campaign ? Paraphrasing sorry: " Mexico are not sending us their best, they are sending criminals and rapists". Later it's " THEY are emptying their prisons and asylums to send them here, even paying their fares ".

THEY ARE SENDING. Could be off the pages of a great replacement conspiracists web page.

wrongthinker · 27/11/2025 08:20

sleepwouldbenice · 27/11/2025 01:13

I agreed with @Woodchiponthewallfunny how the conspiracy therorists on here all pretty much believe the same things
anti vax
anti govt
anti nhs
anti immigrant and believe every single aspect about it.
banning xmas etc
against ID cards
free speech suppressed
chemtrails or whatever the weather thing is
even that gb news is unbiased ( hilarious that one, incredulous)
riots are imminent
phrases like woke, asleep, wake up
facts distorted using exactly the same words
not noticing a difference between someone who partly agrees with them and someone who states the opposite

And no it’s not just sharing the same thoughts, it’s repeated and sustained exposure to misinformation

of course there is an element of truth in many things, but this complete list of “common thought “ is really scary

Your reading comprehension is embarrassingly poor.

Unless you're posting on the wrong thread? Most of the comments here have been about either illegal immigration, rape and sexual violence, or the methods of debating employed by either side.

Where are you getting all the anti vax, anti nhs stuff from?

Did you ever stop to think that maybe you are part of the problem? Try to be more honest and open, and you might actually find yourself able to have real conversations and connections.

Ravenslea · 27/11/2025 13:33

sleepwouldbenice · 27/11/2025 01:13

I agreed with @Woodchiponthewallfunny how the conspiracy therorists on here all pretty much believe the same things
anti vax
anti govt
anti nhs
anti immigrant and believe every single aspect about it.
banning xmas etc
against ID cards
free speech suppressed
chemtrails or whatever the weather thing is
even that gb news is unbiased ( hilarious that one, incredulous)
riots are imminent
phrases like woke, asleep, wake up
facts distorted using exactly the same words
not noticing a difference between someone who partly agrees with them and someone who states the opposite

And no it’s not just sharing the same thoughts, it’s repeated and sustained exposure to misinformation

of course there is an element of truth in many things, but this complete list of “common thought “ is really scary

This list is silly.

Yes, there is a certain kind of person who bangs on about climate lies and anti vax.

But dismissing people’s values concerns gets us nowhere, and it doesn’t help your ‘side’ either.

There are also valid points on some of these, like police failing to investigate real, physical crime but dedicating a disproportionate amount of time into offensive tweets.

Also, since when is not liking the government a Conspiracy? Most people are now unhappy with this current one, they pissed everyone off now. And ‘not knowing the different between someone who partially disagrees vs states the opposite?’ What?

dailyconniptions · 27/11/2025 13:39

She's not alone. A lot of people think this. Many of them hate British culture and people and are violent males.

Acommonreader · 27/11/2025 13:51

LifeSurvior · 25/11/2025 18:26

Having an opinion that illegal immigration might not be beneficial for the country and actually questioning the influx of small boats and the growing illegal money making industry that comes off the back of them is not racist.
It's actually a bit thick to reply in such a way without thinking about any nuance around the subject.
Shouting racist at any and all opinions that differ from your own narrow veiwpoint is actually very lazy and actually dilutes the word itself and its true meaning and the insult/shutdown that you meant it as.

There is a massive between listening to utter lies and nonsense spouted by the likes of Ant Middleton and questioning the influx small boats. No one is actually in support of small boat crossings as it is unsafe.
It is also ‘a bit thick ‘ to refer to illegal immigration when you actually mean legal asylum seekers. Who by the way are a tiny part of total migrants.
I hope this provides further information and nuance on any lazy or narrow viewpoints you may have come across.

Acommonreader · 27/11/2025 13:58

Staringintothevoid616 · 25/11/2025 21:04

You’re going lot of sighing, is that because you have no actual coherent arguments? Or is it a sigh of resignation that you have been brainwashed yet again..

The sighing is because explaining does not work. Facts are rejected.
We sigh because you do not listen. It’s actually really sad and depressing that so many people are prepared to believe GN news, the Mail and Express. Actual, real information is freely available on these matters but you choose to be misled and froth instead .

Blowing · 27/11/2025 14:27

Happyjoe · 25/11/2025 21:16

No I haven't and your post just cements again that you have no idea what a well reasoned debate is.

And if you see comments from these posters on other threads, you get a better idea of their real agenda…

sleepwouldbenice · 27/11/2025 20:35

wrongthinker · 27/11/2025 08:20

Your reading comprehension is embarrassingly poor.

Unless you're posting on the wrong thread? Most of the comments here have been about either illegal immigration, rape and sexual violence, or the methods of debating employed by either side.

Where are you getting all the anti vax, anti nhs stuff from?

Did you ever stop to think that maybe you are part of the problem? Try to be more honest and open, and you might actually find yourself able to have real conversations and connections.

You need to read some of the comments here (other than your own) from other people whose friends and relatives have fallen down the obsessive rabbit hole.

sleepwouldbenice · 27/11/2025 20:36

Acommonreader · 27/11/2025 13:58

The sighing is because explaining does not work. Facts are rejected.
We sigh because you do not listen. It’s actually really sad and depressing that so many people are prepared to believe GN news, the Mail and Express. Actual, real information is freely available on these matters but you choose to be misled and froth instead .

Yes. The same old spoon fed continuous misinformation

sleepwouldbenice · 27/11/2025 20:41

Ravenslea · 27/11/2025 13:33

This list is silly.

Yes, there is a certain kind of person who bangs on about climate lies and anti vax.

But dismissing people’s values concerns gets us nowhere, and it doesn’t help your ‘side’ either.

There are also valid points on some of these, like police failing to investigate real, physical crime but dedicating a disproportionate amount of time into offensive tweets.

Also, since when is not liking the government a Conspiracy? Most people are now unhappy with this current one, they pissed everyone off now. And ‘not knowing the different between someone who partially disagrees vs states the opposite?’ What?

No its a list of commonly held beliefs by those swallowing conspiracy theories
On your other point, yes OK substitute "establishment" for "govt"
I also said there is an element of truth in most conspiracy theories, such as the examples you gave. But they are usually wrapped up in swathes of misinformation and misdirection

sleepwouldbenice · 27/11/2025 20:43

Blarn · 25/11/2025 18:00

Sympathies, op, my mum is similar and I dont know the answer. She isn't concerned about immigration but is very much of the mindset that 'they' are planning to steal all our money, keep us in our homes, police our every move and global warming is fake. I either change the conversation or reply with basic facts that counteract her comments.

Has your mum moved to getting a lot of her 'news,' off youtube? I cannot get through to mine that being on YouTube does not make it true, she needs to research the topics properly somewhere else.

Example @wrongthinker

sleepwouldbenice · 27/11/2025 20:44

Idontknowhatnametochoose · 25/11/2025 18:16

Covid seems to hsve messed with a lot of people's perception of reality. I lost a previously very good and well grounded friend because she went down a similar rabbit hole and decided I wasn't safe to be around as I got vaccinated. She also thought covid was fake and the government were out to destroy us. I think she believed that vaccinated people would be dead within ten years. Sadly she has passed away now...not from covid i might add, so she won't live to see how things pan out.

Another @wrongthinker

sleepwouldbenice · 27/11/2025 20:47

Howtorattatwangyourpanda · 25/11/2025 19:39

If I wasn’t an only child we could be siblings OP. My mum is well and truly down the rabbit hole and there isn’t any coming back from it for her unfortunately. She watches YouTube / conspiracy vids on FB almost constantly, has become an advocate for the views preached from twats sat on a sofas recording themselves harping on about covid, chemtrails, vaccines, civil unrest, the uprising, the migrants, WEF, WHO, Bill Gates, digital slavery…the list goes on. Apparently the covid jab contains nano chips which are now controlling our minds and smoking tobacco actually protects from covid - even though she doesn’t think it’s real in the first place.
The irony is she hates the state because all it does is erode free will, but quite happily takes the money given to her by the state so she can live. You just can’t make this shit up.

My advice; low contact and stick to pleasantries only - I can’t even talk about the weather anymore because ‘They’ control the sun’s rays, seed the clouds etc etc. It’s exhausting.

@wrongthinker.
Another one
In summary very easy to find examples within 2 mins
There are discussions wider than your one track mind

trustybread · 27/11/2025 21:12

Acommonreader · 27/11/2025 13:58

The sighing is because explaining does not work. Facts are rejected.
We sigh because you do not listen. It’s actually really sad and depressing that so many people are prepared to believe GN news, the Mail and Express. Actual, real information is freely available on these matters but you choose to be misled and froth instead .

What you're missing is the effect of the sighing on the other people reading who would be open to facts.

I get the frustration of having to keep making the same argument but it's what always happens on any forum. You see people getting frustrated with it. "Oh god we've not got to go through this again have we?". But of course it's not one person wilfully refusing to accept something, it's a constant stream of new people coming along, so getting angry with them because they haven't yet got the message is pointless as well as unfair.

Amongst those people there are ones with fixed ideas, and manipulative people with racist agendas and faux concerns. The problem is that what they do very effectively is plant real concerns in the minds of people who weren't inherently racist to start with and who don't yet have fixed opinions, but who are in danger of being essentially conned into agreeing with racist proposals out of fear.

Responses like "sigh" do absolutely nothing but cement those people's views that anyone who's worried will be ignored by the establishment and the left or even centrists, and that just drives them further into the arms of Farage & co. These are people who are genuinely worried, not faking it, even if their worry isn't necessary and results from them being manipulated. Scornfully dismissing them and even more importantly being seen to be scornfully dismissing them by a silent audience of lurkers is just incredibly unhelpful, and really misguided.

HamptonPlace · 27/11/2025 21:29

TY78910 · 25/11/2025 20:06

It’s a really sad world we live in and unfortunately social media algorithms are awful for this type of nonsense.

Maybe a little anecdote from the past to resonate? All the crap that was being spewed about the Jews (not just in) Germany and where that got us? They were being painted as vile scrounging rapists with no place in society just like migrants are being portrayed today. She can’t really argue with the holocaust.

You’d be surprised…

Xmasdemon · 28/11/2025 02:30

I noticed in covid the government keeping it quiet about the scale of the problem and the number infection. They didn't close schools till April, right after they went on live news to disclose formally the fact of an epidemic. And we got a text saying we couldn't go out side. It seemed to come out of almost no where. Then keeping the schools closed and open in alignment with whether they wanted the contagion to spread or slow. Recommending children to get the vaccine when it was statistically more dangerous to them than covid itself. It was all very secretive and un- transparent and I believe that has caused people to remove their trust in them

HamptonPlace · 28/11/2025 07:22

Xmasdemon · 28/11/2025 02:30

I noticed in covid the government keeping it quiet about the scale of the problem and the number infection. They didn't close schools till April, right after they went on live news to disclose formally the fact of an epidemic. And we got a text saying we couldn't go out side. It seemed to come out of almost no where. Then keeping the schools closed and open in alignment with whether they wanted the contagion to spread or slow. Recommending children to get the vaccine when it was statistically more dangerous to them than covid itself. It was all very secretive and un- transparent and I believe that has caused people to remove their trust in them

Edited

What would you have done?

RedTagAlan · 28/11/2025 08:00

Xmasdemon · 28/11/2025 02:30

I noticed in covid the government keeping it quiet about the scale of the problem and the number infection. They didn't close schools till April, right after they went on live news to disclose formally the fact of an epidemic. And we got a text saying we couldn't go out side. It seemed to come out of almost no where. Then keeping the schools closed and open in alignment with whether they wanted the contagion to spread or slow. Recommending children to get the vaccine when it was statistically more dangerous to them than covid itself. It was all very secretive and un- transparent and I believe that has caused people to remove their trust in them

Edited

Quote : " Recommending children to get the vaccine when it was statistically more dangerous to them than covid itself. "

This is wrong of course. But I wont ask for a link, because it will be a conspiracy site.

No idea where you get " out of nowhere" from.

There was all the stuff on the news.

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