I don't understand something. How do conspiracy theorist decide what is the truth? Surely they sometimes see something and say "Well that is just weird. It can't be true".
I've got fairies living in the garden and the government is putting up 5G towers to spy on them!!!
If I define that statement as a personal belief why does it have any less credibility than "Climate change is a hoax"
Personally my own theory is that in their own mind, they are more intelligent than most people, researched this stuff on the internet and have knowledge that most people don't. They are not one of the sheep. They are too smart for that.
?????????

How does anyone decide what is the truth ......................................................

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Paddles B'mere said..
How does anyone decide what is the truth ......................................................

Hey Paddles, if you are interested in acquiring tools to search for your truth, try reading Bertrand Russell's 'History of Western Philosophy'. Heavy going but worth it.

A stupid man's report of what a wise man says is never accurate because he unconsciously translates what he hears into some thing that he can understand. - Bertrand Russell

My view in response to the topic, CTs are 21st century gossip mongers participating in the most widespread & dangerous game of Chinese whispers ever undertaken by humanity.

Hey Brent, I reckon the first tool available to everyone is an "open mind"

Reality is your own personal perception.

My reality is different from yours.

You are all just part of my twisted imagination and possibly I part of your's

I read somewhere that you should believe everything you read...

I've got a theory!
I think they are passed on or promoted by people who feel they are not receiving the full respect or recognition for their mental abilities that they deserve. For example a dude who thinks to himself that he is smarter than everyone else but was just unlucky to not go to university or someone that had a important position/job but is now getting supplanted or marginalised by a younger generation or peer group.

They generally don't notice people ostracising them because at least while they are spouting their bs (flat earth etc.) they receive more attention than they did before.

Maybe one of these "truthers" can help me out with my theory: honestly is your life and the regard people have for your abilities on a upward or downward trend?

Not exactly answering your question but a good summary of why people believe them

getpocket.com/explore/item/conspiracy-theorists-have-a-fundamental-cognitive-problem-say-scientists

Another article i read talked about that people struggle with major events not having a major cause. So JFK being shot by a random crazy person isn't mentally satisfying. Whereas a minor event people are comfortable with a minor explanation- hence why there are no raging conspiracy theories around the attempted assassination of Reagan. Same thing, but less impact.

that makes sense to me when you look at the covid 5g theories etc, which are all clearly ridiculous when it is obviously caused by chemtrails

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CH3MTR4IL5 said..
Not exactly answering your question but a good summary of why people believe them

getpocket.com/explore/item/conspiracy-theorists-have-a-fundamental-cognitive-problem-say-scientists

Another article i read talked about that people struggle with major events not having a major cause. So JFK being shot by a random crazy person isn't mentally satisfying. Whereas a minor event people are comfortable with a minor explanation- hence why there are no raging conspiracy theories around the attempted assassination of Reagan. Same thing, but less impact.

that makes sense to me when you look at the covid 5g theories etc, which are all clearly ridiculous when it is obviously caused by chemtrails

Has anyone heard that 9/11 was an inside job?

I surprised it is not being discussed more on here

But why do people accept some things as fact and not others and how are those ideas formed? Is it that if it does not agree with your world view it is not a fact. I find this troubling, the scientific method as I understand it is to propose a theory and have other people try to disprove it. If you already accept something as false because it differs from your world view, how do you learn anything new? Any contrary opinions are just labeled as false and disregarded . By the way, I accept that mistakes have occurred in vaccinations, does that mean we can't learn from that and make them safer? Should we make a blanket statement that all vaccinations should be banned?

Fortunately, other scientists have found a way to block the pervasiveness of illusory pattern perception: critical thinking. In a previous interview, North Carolina State University psychology professor Anne McLaughlin told Inverse that critical thinking is something that can be taught, and if people are trained in the right way, pseudoscience and false conspiracies can be combated with logic and reasoning. The brain may try to make false connections, but that doesn't mean you have to believe it.

The most amazing of all.
We look at this interference into personal freedom protesters etc buls**** then crowds looking at complete silence into Elon Must brain implants.
With movements around the world , silently waiting , no breathing at all. Sudently we could implant electrodes into every new born and human in existence to take complete control of sociaty.I understand that our Elon Musk entertains this technology to control his Mars colony inhabitants.
There is no room for protest, revolutions , inappropriate behavior on his new Mars colony.
At the press of the button, you could disable everyone with brain implant.
But our governments will be more then happy to utilize the technology right now and right here on Earth. No more public protests.Forget compulsory covid vaccination. Brain implant is next thing here to happen.
www.businessinsider.com.au/elon-musk-neuralink-animal-testing-benefits-2020-9?r=US&IR=T

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Macroscien said..I understand that our Elon Musk entertains this technology to control his Mars colony inhabitants.

see my post above.

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Paddles B'mere said..
I reckon the first tool available to everyone is an "open mind"

..., but not so open a mind that your brain falls out.

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hilly said..

Macroscien said..I understand that our Elon Musk entertains this technology to control his Mars colony inhabitants.

see my post above.

Yep, ain't mental impairment wonderful!

Basically when humans lived on a subsistence level as hunter gatherers the stupid people did stupid things and died. Society formed and has evolved. We now harbour and support stupid people. They survive. We live with the consequences.

Worse and more than depressing - I have spent my working life developing the ability of people to communicate with each other. What has that done? In the past stupid people could talk stupidities over the back fence to neighbours and that was about it. Now they have the tools to talk beyond the back fence. Really depressing this is.

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Paddles B'mere said..
How does anyone decide what is the truth ......................................................

If the science does not support the theory. It may just be someones opinion who has stitched together a whole lot of dodgy happenings and then they present it as fact. Like the guy who said vaccinations cause autism without any proof .
He's still out there spouting his B/S without any proof at all but there enough people on social media who believe him.
I wonder how many kids have died because their dopy parents believe social media as opposed to hard scientific study.

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rockmagnet said..
..I wonder how many kids have died because their dopy parents believe social media as opposed to hard scientific study.

yeah, but, yeah.... but...

...to be scientific you'd have to also know how many kids have died becuase their dopy parents believe hard scientific study as opposed to social media and also how many kids have just died and also how many haven't.

Otherwise any theory that kids dying because their dopy parents believe social media as opposed to hard scientific study isn't a scientific theory and is just ....

...well, its just a conspiracy theory.

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rockmagnet said..

Paddles B'mere said..
How does anyone decide what is the truth ......................................................

If the science does not support the theory. It may just be someones opinion who has stitched together a whole lot of dodgy happenings and then they present it as fact. Like the guy who said vaccinations cause autism without any proof .
He's still out there spouting his B/S without any proof at all but there enough people on social media who believe him.
I wonder how many kids have died because their dopy parents believe social media as opposed to hard scientific study.

Science deniers are not worth bothering with.
when it comes to politics, foreign affairs, big business and horse racing I'm becoming cynical enough to believe just about anything.....

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Carantoc said..

rockmagnet said..
..I wonder how many kids have died because their dopy parents believe social media as opposed to hard scientific study.

yeah, but, yeah.... but...

...to be scientific you'd have to also know how many kids have died becuase their dopy parents believe hard scientific study as opposed to social media and also how many kids have just died and also how many haven't.

Otherwise any theory that kids dying because their dopy parents believe social media as opposed to hard scientific study isn't a scientific theory and is just ....

...well, its just a conspiracy theory.

If you don't have the data,It's just another persons opinion.