Danger of Conspiracy Theories

Most conspiracy theorists are relatively harmless (chemtrails, moon hoax stuff, etc). But then there is the more serious side, e.g. the insurrection in the US fueled by disinformation and false conspiracy theories (Qanon). And outright harmful medical conspiracy theories (promoting false cures, anti-vaccine views, anti-mask, etc)

Dohnjoe wrote: »

Most conspiracy theorists are relatively harmless (chemtrails, moon hoax stuff, etc). But then there is the more serious side, e.g. the insurrection in the US fueled by disinformation and false conspiracy theories (Qanon). And outright harmful medical conspiracy theories (promoting false cures, anti-vaccine views, anti-mask, etc)

Shouldn't you be asking your default question?

I.E.

Where's the conspiracy here?

ShatterAlan wrote: »

Shouldn't you be asking your default question?

I.E.

Where's the conspiracy here?

No one is proposing a conspiracy in the vague terms we usually see when conspiracy theorist copies and pastes a link with no commentary or context.

However here is a pretty good article related to conspiracies. Specifically how the can make conspiracy theorists alienate themselves.

This is something I've seen in real life and outlines what happens pretty good.

As a conspiracy theorist with some pretty out there beliefs, have you found the same thing occuring to you?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Dohnjoe wrote: »

Most conspiracy theorists are relatively harmless (chemtrails, moon hoax stuff, etc). But then there is the more serious side, e.g. the insurrection in the US fueled by disinformation and false conspiracy theories (Qanon). And outright harmful medical conspiracy theories (promoting false cures, anti-vaccine views, anti-mask, etc)

In my experience, the harmless conspiracy theories are rarely believed in isolation.
A believer in chemtrails is more likely to buy into medical and anti science claims.
A believer in 9/11 conspiracies could easily fall into believing that there's a secret deep state government.
A believe in the moon hoax could easily be convinced that other historical events might not have happened.

If some one falls down a conspiracy theory rabbit hole it's because of a lack of critical thinking.
And since conspiracy theorists rarely challenge other conspiracy theories they believe are false, there's little stopping people falling into others.

There's an interersting section in the Netflix documentary "Behind the Curve" that deals with this., Kind of answers the question "what's the harm in believing that the Earth is flat?" and it's effects on the larger population and education.

the immortals

I read that article and I didn't believe a word of it, especially the bitcoin part

ShatterAlan wrote: »

Shouldn't you be asking your default question?

I.E.

Where's the conspiracy here?

No one is suggesting a conspiracy theory, it's a thread about the dangers of conspiracy theories, "Danger of Conspiracy Theories" is the title of the thread.

The Nal

Good article in the Times today. Former Tommy Robinson friend and video editor. Not sure if its paywalled.

Basically, he was manipulated by youtube algorithms, like so many millions of other easily influenced people.

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio-web/an-irish-former-alt-right-youtuber-explains-his-methods-1.4539342

PhilOssophy

Well I'll see the above and raise you:

https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/a-leading-conspiracy-theorist-who-thought-covid-19-was-a-hoax-died-from-the-virus-after-hosting-illegal-house-parties/articleshow/82131950.cms

China and Russia are actively taking a role in spreading conspiracy theories (Qanon)
https://www.newsweek.com/qanon-foreign-online-1584765

Weaponised disinformation

Dohnjoe wrote: »

No one is suggesting a conspiracy theory, it's a thread about the dangers of conspiracy theories, "Danger of Conspiracy Theories" is the title of the thread.

Yet everytime someone posts on here, your immediate snap-in is "what's the conspiracy?"

So, to paraphrase YOU.."what's the conspiracy"?

You were escorted from the door regarding Capitol Riots being used as a pretext for censorship and the reason for that was that you continued to demand what the conspiracy was. It was explained to you and you persisted until a Mod told you to not post again. And that was in "Conspiracy Theories".

So, again, where's the conspiracy in this subject?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

There's an interersting section in the Netflix documentary "Behind the Curve" that deals with this., Kind of answers the question "what's the harm in believing that the Earth is flat?" and it's effects on the larger population and education.

What's the harm in believing in anything that's untrue? The harm is that is skews a person's interpretation of what's real and what is unreal. It clouds their judgement but also opens up the possibility of believing further, more outlandish falshoods on the grounds that they are benign.

There are facts and there are falsehoods. It's that simple. Between the two are perhaps areas where we are unsure because we don't possess the facts OR someone is attempting to promote a falsehood.

Reindeers cannot fly. That's a fact. Nor can they carry a man all around the world in a couple of hours and for him to climb down a chimney through millions or 100's of millions of households and deposit gifts before embarking on another leg of the trajectory. It's physically impossible yet it is constantly delivered.

One might say it's a tale to allow children to dream and that's fine. The problem is that when the fairytales become ADULT fairytales like "we're all either going to go to Heaven or Hell" after we die...then there's harm in that.

ShatterAlan wrote: »

".
So, again, where's the conspiracy in this subject?

There isn't one. No one is suggesting there is.

Any opinion on the article?

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2058148302&page=3

Just for your personal edification.

Are people allowed to discuss matters without you demanding what the conspiracy is (yourself excluded of course)?

Your words:

"considering that this is a Conspiracy Theory thread then what is the conspiracy:

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2058148302&page=3

Post #46

Fighting Tao

ShatterAlan wrote: »

What's the harm in believing in anything that's untrue?

Great question and you answer it in the covid restrictions thread. Something about shooting someone with a Shotgun and using an axe.

That is the danger. When people get so swallowed up in lies that they start to become a danger.

moonage

ShatterAlan wrote: »

Shouldn't you be asking your default question?

I.E.

Where's the conspiracy here?

I'll offer one—the story from this "anonymous" woman was made up to paint anyone who looks into conspiracy theories as nutjobs.

As the last year has shown, more and more conspiracy theories are turning out to be conspiracy facts.

The real problem in society is conspiracy denial.

moonage wrote: »

I'll offer one—the story from this "anonymous" woman was made up to paint anyone who looks into conspiracy theories as nutjobs.

As the last year has shown, more and more conspiracy theories are turning out to be conspiracy facts.

The real problem in society is conspiracy denial.

Well I thank you for your lucid input.

ShatterAlan wrote: »

Yet everytime someone posts on here, your immediate snap-in is "what's the conspiracy?"

No, that's false. If someone is hinting there is a conspiracy but not detailing it, then I ask.

So, to paraphrase YOU.."what's the conspiracy"?

There is none, it's a thread about the dangers of conspiracies theories.

moonage wrote: »

I'll offer one—the story from this "anonymous" woman was made up to paint anyone who looks into conspiracy theories as nutjobs.

As the last year has shown, more and more conspiracy theories are turning out to be conspiracy facts.

The real problem in society is conspiracy denial.

But conspiracy theorists always claim that their theories are coming true. This applies to all conspiracy theories including the ones you don't believe.

Do you believe there are any false conspiracy theories that people genuinely believe?
Or do you that there are only true conspiracy theories and ones that have been faked by the government to discredit the real ones?

moonage wrote: »

I'll offer one—the story from this "anonymous" woman was made up to paint anyone who looks into conspiracy theories as nutjobs.

People paint themselves with absurd beliefs

As the last year has shown, more and more conspiracy theories are turning out to be conspiracy facts.

Go on..

hawley

moonage wrote: »

I'll offer one—the story from this "anonymous" woman was made up to paint anyone who looks into conspiracy theories as nutjobs.

I agree with you. The story of the article is completely unbelievable. You have a left wing feminist dating someone who is making all these comments. He's supposedly attending family events during the last year, even though he sounds like someone who wouldn't wear a mask. There's no sense of any relationship between her and him in the way she speaks of him.

Most of the article is just a lecture about conspiracy theories. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but this is quite obviously fake. They closed the comments on it, something they don't usually do for this type of story. They publish "Fact Check" pieces, but are happy to spread their own disinformation.

hawley wrote: »

I agree with you. The story of the article is completely unbelievable. You have a left wing feminist dating someone who is making all these comments. He's supposedly attending family events during the last year, even though he sounds like someone who wouldn't wear a mask. There's no sense of any relationship between her and him in the way she speaks of him.

Most of the article is just a lecture about conspiracy theories. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but this is quite obviously fake. They closed the comments on it, something they don't usually do for this type of story. They publish "Fact Check" pieces, but are happy to spread their own disinformation.

So faked by...?

You've also seemed to have changed your mind on the article. You originally claimed it was sad in your OP.
What changed your opinion on the article in the space of a few hours?

McGinniesta

The way I see it is that it'd foolish to take anything at face value anymore given the world we live in, both conspiracy theories and mainstream media alike.

You always have to scratch the surface to see what might be at play.

McGinniesta wrote: »

The way I see it is that it'd foolish to take anything at face value anymore given the world we live in, both conspiracy theories and mainstream media alike.

You always have to scratch the surface to see what might be at play.

This is kinda just false equivalence though.

It isn't equally as likely that there's a big giant secret satanist pedophile ring controlling the world as it is that that's just not true.

Claims about unfounded vaccine dangers aren't as supported as the mountains of evidence for their safety.

It isn't a 50/50 toss up about whether or not the Earth is flat.

For most popular conspiracy theories, to even sit on the fence about them, you have to assume things like it's possible that there's a giant global conspiracy and that the vast majority of experts in a field are involved in that conspiracy.
This is already a massive leap in logic to take just to consider the possibility.

By the same token, what do you have to assume is possible for the conspiracy theory to be wrong?
That some anonymous person on the internet is talking out of their arse.
That's not exactly a stretch of the imagination.

And in my experience, if you scratch under the surface of any of the popular conspiracy theories here, even a little bit, they tend to fall apart.

patnor1011

moonage wrote: »

I'll offer one—the story from this "anonymous" woman was made up to paint anyone who looks into conspiracy theories as nutjobs.

As the last year has shown, more and more conspiracy theories are turning out to be conspiracy facts.

The real problem in society is conspiracy denial.

Funny thing is they had to put bitcoin in it. LOL if that chap interest in bitcoin started few years ago then he is investment genius likely multiplying his holdings several times over.

astrofool

King Mob wrote: »

This is kinda just false equivalence though.

It isn't equally as likely that there's a big giant secret satanist pedophile ring controlling the world as it is that that's just not true.

Claims about unfounded vaccine dangers aren't as supported as the mountains of evidence for their safety.

It isn't a 50/50 toss up about whether or not the Earth is flat.

It reminds me of the scene in the terminal when Tom hanks is asked why he queues every day for a visa only to be rejected, he points out that there's only 2 stamps and thus he has a 50% chance of success

Markus Antonius

King Mob wrote: »

In my experience, the harmless conspiracy theories are rarely believed in isolation.
A believer in chemtrails is more likely to buy into medical and anti science claims.
A believer in 9/11 conspiracies could easily fall into believing that there's a secret deep state government.
A believe in the moon hoax could easily be convinced that other historical events might not have happened.

If some one falls down a conspiracy theory rabbit hole it's because of a lack of critical thinking.
And since conspiracy theorists rarely challenge other conspiracy theories they believe are false, there's little stopping people falling into others.

Ha! I got a good laugh out of this, thanks King Mob.

Never have I interacted with anyone as anti-science as you are. You are completely oblivious to how critical it is to be allowed question anything and everything in the scientific world, be it science established for thousands or years or cutting-edge new science - it doesn't matter.

Your mantra in every conspiracy thread you don't agree with (or you feel doesn't meet your scientific standards... :rolleyes:) is to close down and stifle any meaningful debate with sh!tpost after sh!tpost until everyone loses interest and leaves or better again having a mod ban your "opponent".

And you think you are doing a service to the community? You think you are "addressing misinformation". The irony! People with attitudes like yours are more dangerous than 99% of conspiracy theorists.

Markus Antonius wrote: »

Ha! I got a good laugh out of this, thanks King Mob.

Never have I interacted with anyone as anti-science as you are.

Again, you believe the entire space program is fake.

Markus Antonius wrote: »

Your mantra in every conspiracy thread you don't agree with (or you feel doesn't meet your scientific standards... :rolleyes:) is to close down and stifle any meaningful debate with sh!tpost after sh!tpost until everyone loses interest and leaves or better again having a mod ban your "opponent".
.

But this isn't true.
I ask serious questions and address points directly.
This isn't "stifling" anything.