Conspiracy theories - Revision history

Fractalguy at 13:34, 30 November 2025

2025-11-30T13:34:58Z

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	[[File:Conspiracy-theory-misinformation-qanon-illuminati-deep-state-foolishness.jpg\|thumb\|Apparently "JFK playing cards with the Qanon Shaman" is "against the DALL-E content policy"]]		[[File:Conspiracy-theory-misinformation-qanon-illuminati-deep-state-foolishness.jpg\|thumb\|Apparently "JFK playing cards with the Qanon Shaman" is "against the DALL-E content policy"]]
	The proliferation of [[wikipedia:Conspiracy_theory\|conspiracy theories]] on [[social media]] has gone hand-in-hand with the spread of [[misinformation]] and [[outrage]].<blockquote>''"It's easy to make everything a conspiracy when you don't know how anything works."'' -[https://absentofi.org/2021/11/brandon-bradford-its-easy-to-make-everything-into-a-conspiracy-when-you-dont-know-how-anything-works/ Brandon L. Bradford]</blockquote>When people lose [[trust]] in [[institutions]], there is a tendency to imagine nefarious villains puling strings behind the scenes, rather than the [[wikipedia:Manufacturing_Consent\|manufactured consent]] of established [[cultures]] within those [[institutions]] that cause bureaucratic rigidity, perverse [[incentives]], and [[authoritarian]] mindsets.		The proliferation of [[wikipedia:Conspiracy_theory\|conspiracy theories]] on [[social media]] has gone hand-in-hand with the spread of [[misinformation]] and [[outrage]].<blockquote>''"It's easy to make everything a conspiracy when you don't know how anything works."'' -[https://absentofi.org/2021/11/brandon-bradford-its-easy-to-make-everything-into-a-conspiracy-when-you-dont-know-how-anything-works/ Brandon L. Bradford]</blockquote>When people lose [[trust]] in [[institutions]], there is a tendency to imagine nefarious villains puling strings behind the scenes, rather than the [[wikipedia:Manufacturing_Consent\|manufactured consent]] of established [[cultures]] within those [[institutions]] that cause bureaucratic rigidity, perverse [[incentives]], and [[authoritarian]] mindsets.
			[[File:Conspiracy-theory-conspiracy.jpeg\|right\|frameless\|300x300px]]
	It represents a modern myth-making, where [[complex]] systems of [[society]] are given simple [[Metanarrative\|metanarratives]], so that those without the [[necessary]] [[education]] can [[believe]] they understand how things work.		It represents a modern myth-making, where [[complex]] systems of [[society]] are given simple [[Metanarrative\|metanarratives]], so that those without the [[necessary]] [[education]] can [[believe]] they understand how things work.

Fractalguy: /* YouTube Conspiracy */

2025-03-26T11:40:06Z

YouTube Conspiracy

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	The idea that the YouTube [[algorithm]] promotes conspiracy theories is exactly what they want you to think. {{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLfL1Gm9QDM\|\|center\|How to Argue with Conspiracy Theorists (And Win)\|frame}}		The idea that the YouTube [[algorithm]] promotes conspiracy theories is exactly what they want you to think. {{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLfL1Gm9QDM\|\|center\|How to Argue with Conspiracy Theorists (And Win)\|frame}}
			<br>
			Contrapoints gives an entertaining, thorough, and nuanced examination of conspiratorial thinking. Probably not the thing that conspiracy theorists would enjoy, but after watching you'll understand why.
			{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teqkK0RLNkI\|\|center\|Conspiracy - Contrapoints\|frame}}
	<br>		<br>
	[[The Church of the SubGenius]] attempts to subvert conspiracy theory through [[wikipedia:Culture_jamming\|culture jamming]]. It is dedicated to fighting "the conspiracy" through the advocacy of [[Slack]].		[[The Church of the SubGenius]] attempts to subvert conspiracy theory through [[wikipedia:Culture_jamming\|culture jamming]]. It is dedicated to fighting "the conspiracy" through the advocacy of [[Slack]].

Fractalguy at 16:45, 13 February 2025

2025-02-13T16:45:49Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:45, 13 February 2025
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	[[File:Conspiracy-theory-misinformation-qanon-illuminati-deep-state-foolishness.jpg\|thumb\|Apparently "JFK playing cards with the Qanon Shaman" is "against the DALL-E content policy"]]		[[File:Conspiracy-theory-misinformation-qanon-illuminati-deep-state-foolishness.jpg\|thumb\|Apparently "JFK playing cards with the Qanon Shaman" is "against the DALL-E content policy"]]
	The proliferation of [[wikipedia:Conspiracy_theory\|conspiracy theories]] on [[social media]] has gone hand-in-hand with the spread of [[misinformation]] and [[outrage]].		The proliferation of [[wikipedia:Conspiracy_theory\|conspiracy theories]] on [[social media]] has gone hand-in-hand with the spread of [[misinformation]] and [[outrage]].<blockquote>''"It's easy to make everything a conspiracy when you don't know how anything works."'' -[https://absentofi.org/2021/11/brandon-bradford-its-easy-to-make-everything-into-a-conspiracy-when-you-dont-know-how-anything-works/ Brandon L. Bradford]</blockquote>When people lose [[trust]] in [[institutions]], there is a tendency to imagine nefarious villains puling strings behind the scenes, rather than the [[wikipedia:Manufacturing_Consent\|manufactured consent]] of established [[cultures]] within those [[institutions]] that cause bureaucratic rigidity, perverse [[incentives]], and [[authoritarian]] mindsets.

	~~When people lose~~ [[~~trust~~]] in [[~~institutions~~]]~~, there is a tendency to imagine nefarious villains puling strings behind the scenes, rather than the~~ [[~~wikipedia:Manufacturing_Consent~~\|~~manufactured consent~~]] ~~of established [[cultures]] within~~ those [[~~institutions~~]] ~~that cause bureaucratic rigidity, perverse~~ [[~~incentives~~]]~~, and~~ [[~~authoritarian~~]] ~~mindsets~~.		It represents a modern myth-making, where [[complex]] systems of [[society]] are given simple [[Metanarrative\|metanarratives]], so that those without the [[necessary]] [[education]] can [[believe]] they understand how things work.

	It represents a modern myth-making, where [[complex]] systems of [[society]] are given simple [[Metanarrative\|metanarratives]], so that those without the [[necessary]] [[education]] can [[believe]] they understand how things work.<blockquote>''"It's easy to make everything a conspiracy when you don't know how anything works."'' -[https://absentofi.org/2021/11/brandon-bradford-its-easy-to-make-everything-into-a-conspiracy-when-you-dont-know-how-anything-works/ Brandon L. Bradford]</blockquote>[[wikipedia:Conspiracy_theories_in_United_States_politics\|Conspiracy theories]] distract us from addressing the real problems in [[society]] by substituting imagined ones. They need to become [[taboo]] again, so that discussing them on [[social media]] will get you shunned, even within your own [[in-group]].		[[wikipedia:Conspiracy_theories_in_United_States_politics\|Conspiracy theories]] distract us from addressing the real problems in [[society]] by substituting imagined ones. They need to become [[taboo]] again, so that discussing them on [[social media]] will get you shunned, even within your own [[in-group]].<blockquote>''"Three can keep a secret, if two of them are dead."'' -[[wikipedia:Benjamin_Franklin\|Benjamin Franklin]]</blockquote>If you need a simple, [[universal]] argument that debunks most conspiracy theories, simply consider the number of people who must keep the proposed secret. If that doesn't immediately discredit the conspiracy, study [[game theory]] and [[wikipedia:Prisoner's_dilemma\|the prisoner's dilemma]] and then think about it again.

	== Religion Abhors a Vacuum ==		== Religion Abhors a Vacuum ==

Fractalguy at 15:40, 13 February 2025

2025-02-13T15:40:47Z

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	When the [[brain]] is not given a productive way to incorporate the [[information overload]] that [[life]] throws at you, it has a tendency to make unproductive [[connections]]. Because it ''has to make some connection no matter what''. It's just what the [[brain]] does.		When the [[brain]] is not given a productive way to incorporate the [[information overload]] that [[life]] throws at you, it has a tendency to make unproductive [[connections]]. Because it ''has to make some connection no matter what''. It's just what the [[brain]] does.

			{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrbcTBbKyjY\|\|center\|Why do brains love conspiracy theories?\|frame}}

	=== Productive Apophenia ===		=== Productive Apophenia ===
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	== Ethics of Grifting Off of Conspiracy Nuts ==		== Ethics of Grifting Off of Conspiracy Nuts ==

	While it is very tempting to make some [[money]] on all of the willingness to [[believe]] in [[misinformation]], the fact that so many [[grifters]] have recognized the opportunities for profit within the conspiracy theory [[community]] has been a big factor in the [[feedback loop]] that has accelerated its growth. When conspiracy can become a profitable full-time [[Jobs\|job]], the [[incentive]] to keep them going increases exponentially.		While it is very tempting to make some [[money]] on all of the willingness to [[believe]] in [[misinformation]], the fact that so many [[grifters]] have recognized the opportunities for profit within the conspiracy theory [[community]] has been a big factor in the [[feedback loop]] that has accelerated its growth. When conspiracy can become a profitable full-time [[Jobs\|job]], the [[incentive]] to keep them going increases exponentially.

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	== YouTube Conspiracy ==		== YouTube Conspiracy ==

	The idea that the YouTube [[algorithm]] promotes conspiracy theories is exactly what they want you to think. {{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLfL1Gm9QDM\|\|center\|How to Argue with Conspiracy Theorists (And Win)\|frame}}		The idea that the YouTube [[algorithm]] promotes conspiracy theories is exactly what they want you to think. {{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLfL1Gm9QDM\|\|center\|How to Argue with Conspiracy Theorists (And Win)\|frame}}
	<br>		<br>

Fractalguy: /* The Great Fractal Conspiracy */

2025-01-25T11:58:31Z

The Great Fractal Conspiracy

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	== The Great Fractal Conspiracy ==		== The Great Fractal Conspiracy ==
	The best way to combat the tendency to make false connections and associations in an attempt to understand the world is to offer true connections and associations that make [[rational]] sense of the whole [[universe]].		The best way to combat the tendency to make false [[connections]] and associations in an attempt to understand the world is to offer true [[connections]] and [[associations]] that make [[rational]] sense of the whole [[universe]].

	In [[metaculture]], the master [[meme]] that connects all of the facts that you know about [[reality]] is referred to as the [[God Concept\|god concept]]. The [[brain]] naturally [[Self-organization\|self-organizes]] a [[God Concept\|god concept]], so it is imperative that [[culture]] present one that can be more readily accepted than conspiracy theories or [[scriptural]] [[literalism]].		In [[metaculture]], the master [[meme]] that connects all of the facts that you know about [[reality]] is referred to as the [[God Concept\|god concept]]. The [[brain]] naturally [[Self-organization\|self-organizes]] a [[God Concept\|god concept]], so it is imperative that [[culture]] present one that can be more readily accepted than conspiracy theories or [[scriptural]] [[literalism]].

	=== The [[wikipedia:Apophenia\|Apophenia]] is Real ===		=== The [[wikipedia:Apophenia\|Apophenia]] is Real ===
	[[wikipedia:Apophenia\|Apophenia]] is the tendency to perceive meaningful connections between unrelated things. Conspiracy theory is a by-product of this, as are all forms of [[superstition]] and [[quantum woo]]. It is a by-product of how our [[brains]] learn naturally by forming associations with existing [[concepts]] and [[memories]].		[[wikipedia:Apophenia\|Apophenia]] is the tendency to perceive meaningful [[connections]] between unrelated things. Conspiracy theory is a by-product of this, as are all forms of [[superstition]] and [[quantum woo]]. It is a by-product of how our [[brains]] learn naturally by forming [[associations]] with existing [[concepts]] and [[memories]].

	When the [[brain]] is not given a productive way to incorporate the [[information overload]] that [[life]] throws at you, it has a tendency to make unproductive connections. Because it ''has to make some connection no matter what''. It's just what the [[brain]] does.		When the [[brain]] is not given a productive way to incorporate the [[information overload]] that [[life]] throws at you, it has a tendency to make unproductive [[connections]]. Because it ''has to make some connection no matter what''. It's just what the [[brain]] does.

	[[wikipedia:Frequency_illusion\|The Baader-Meinhof phenomenon]] is real too, as this author just learned the word [[wikipedia:Apophenia\|Apophenia]], though the general [[concept]] was already a familiar one.

	=== Productive Apophenia ===		=== Productive Apophenia ===

Fractalguy: musical conspiracy

2025-01-25T11:54:39Z

musical conspiracy

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	{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnypvCOSDt8\|\|center\|Church of the SubGenuis\|frame}}		{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnypvCOSDt8\|\|center\|Church of the SubGenuis\|frame}}
	~~<br>~~
	{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LDOUFJVNmg\|\|center\|Paramore - Conspiracy\|frame}}		== Musical Conspiracies ==
			Music and musicians have been the subject of many great conspiracy theories. From [[wikipedia:Paul_is_dead\|Paul is Dead]] to [[wikipedia:Elvis_sightings\|Elvis is Alive]], many pop stars have been the subjects of apophenia gone awry. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3L81VM3BPSHW9L3KTsRnm6K/the-strangest-musical-conspiracy-theories][https://indiemono.com/the-craziest-music-conspiracy-theories/][https://ultimateclassicrock.com/music-conspiracy-theories/][https://www.rollingstone.com/playlist/musics-most-wtf-conspiracy-theories/]{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LDOUFJVNmg\|\|center\|Paramore - Conspiracy\|frame}}
	<br>		<br>
	{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zH9Zca1vRM\|\|center\|KNOWER - The Government Knows\|frame}}		{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zH9Zca1vRM\|\|center\|KNOWER - The Government Knows\|frame}}
	<br>		<br>
	{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urglg3WimHA\|\|center\|"Weird Al" Yankovic - Foil\|frame}}		{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urglg3WimHA\|\|center\|"Weird Al" Yankovic - Foil\|frame}}

Fractalguy at 17:56, 24 January 2025

2025-01-24T17:56:09Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:56, 24 January 2025
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	The proliferation of [[wikipedia:Conspiracy_theory\|conspiracy theories]] on [[social media]] has gone hand-in-hand with the spread of [[misinformation]] and [[outrage]].		The proliferation of [[wikipedia:Conspiracy_theory\|conspiracy theories]] on [[social media]] has gone hand-in-hand with the spread of [[misinformation]] and [[outrage]].

	When people lose [[trust]] in [[institutions]], there is a tendency to imagine nefarious villains puling strings behind the scenes, rather than the [[wikipedia:Manufacturing_Consent\|manufactured consent]] of established [[cultures]] within those [[institutions]] that cause bureaucratic rigidity, perverse [[incentives]], and [[authoritarian]] mindsets.<blockquote>''"It's easy to make everything a conspiracy when you don't know how anything works."'' -[https://absentofi.org/2021/11/brandon-bradford-its-easy-to-make-everything-into-a-conspiracy-when-you-dont-know-how-anything-works/ Brandon L. Bradford]</blockquote>[[wikipedia:Conspiracy_theories_in_United_States_politics\|Conspiracy theories]] distract us from addressing the real problems in [[society]] by substituting imagined ones. They need to become [[taboo]] again, so that discussing them on [[social media]] will get you shunned, even within your own [[in-group]].		When people lose [[trust]] in [[institutions]], there is a tendency to imagine nefarious villains puling strings behind the scenes, rather than the [[wikipedia:Manufacturing_Consent\|manufactured consent]] of established [[cultures]] within those [[institutions]] that cause bureaucratic rigidity, perverse [[incentives]], and [[authoritarian]] mindsets.

			It represents a modern myth-making, where [[complex]] systems of [[society]] are given simple [[Metanarrative\|metanarratives]], so that those without the [[necessary]] [[education]] can [[believe]] they understand how things work.<blockquote>''"It's easy to make everything a conspiracy when you don't know how anything works."'' -[https://absentofi.org/2021/11/brandon-bradford-its-easy-to-make-everything-into-a-conspiracy-when-you-dont-know-how-anything-works/ Brandon L. Bradford]</blockquote>[[wikipedia:Conspiracy_theories_in_United_States_politics\|Conspiracy theories]] distract us from addressing the real problems in [[society]] by substituting imagined ones. They need to become [[taboo]] again, so that discussing them on [[social media]] will get you shunned, even within your own [[in-group]].

	== Religion Abhors a Vacuum ==		== Religion Abhors a Vacuum ==

Fractalguy at 17:44, 24 January 2025

2025-01-24T17:44:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:44, 24 January 2025
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	The proliferation of [[wikipedia:Conspiracy_theory\|conspiracy theories]] on [[social media]] has gone hand-in-hand with the spread of [[misinformation]] and [[outrage]].		The proliferation of [[wikipedia:Conspiracy_theory\|conspiracy theories]] on [[social media]] has gone hand-in-hand with the spread of [[misinformation]] and [[outrage]].

	When people lose [[trust]] in [[institutions]], there is a tendency to imagine nefarious villains puling strings behind the scenes, rather than the [[wikipedia:Manufacturing_Consent\|manufactured consent]] of established [[cultures]] within those [[institutions]] that cause bureaucratic rigidity, perverse [[incentives]], and [[authoritarian]] mindsets.		When people lose [[trust]] in [[institutions]], there is a tendency to imagine nefarious villains puling strings behind the scenes, rather than the [[wikipedia:Manufacturing_Consent\|manufactured consent]] of established [[cultures]] within those [[institutions]] that cause bureaucratic rigidity, perverse [[incentives]], and [[authoritarian]] mindsets.<blockquote>''"It's easy to make everything a conspiracy when you don't know how anything works."'' -[https://absentofi.org/2021/11/brandon-bradford-its-easy-to-make-everything-into-a-conspiracy-when-you-dont-know-how-anything-works/ Brandon L. Bradford]</blockquote>[[wikipedia:Conspiracy_theories_in_United_States_politics\|Conspiracy theories]] distract us from addressing the real problems in [[society]] by substituting imagined ones. They need to become [[taboo]] again, so that discussing them on [[social media]] will get you shunned, even within your own [[in-group]].

	[[wikipedia:Conspiracy_theories_in_United_States_politics\|Conspiracy theories]] distract us from addressing the real problems in [[society]] by substituting imagined ones. They need to become [[taboo]] again, so that discussing them on [[social media]] will get you shunned, even within your own [[in-group]].

	== Religion Abhors a Vacuum ==		== Religion Abhors a Vacuum ==

Fractalguy: /* YouTube Conspiracy */

2025-01-13T02:47:00Z

YouTube Conspiracy

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:47, 13 January 2025
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	<br>		<br>
	{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zH9Zca1vRM\|\|center\|KNOWER - The Government Knows\|frame}}		{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zH9Zca1vRM\|\|center\|KNOWER - The Government Knows\|frame}}
			<br>
			{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urglg3WimHA\|\|center\|"Weird Al" Yankovic - Foil\|frame}}

Fractalguy: /* Religion Abhors a Vacuum */

2025-01-13T02:30:13Z

Religion Abhors a Vacuum

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:30, 13 January 2025
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	== Religion Abhors a Vacuum ==		== Religion Abhors a Vacuum ==
	As participation in organized religion decreases, the number of people who exist without a [[meaningful]] [[Theory of everything\|metanarrative about the nature of reality]] increases. This creates a vacuum, often described as a "[https://www.shapedbyfaith.com/god-shaped-hole/ god shaped hole]" that ends up getting filled with something. For many, the hole is filled with [[addiction]], but even the [[Drugs\|drug]] [[addicted]] have a desire to understand how the [[universe]] works. People who lack a shared [[metanarrative]] that they identify with and have strong [[Ethics\|convictions]] about make fertile ground for alternative explanations to take root. Conspiracy theories proliferate in this [[environment]].		As participation in organized [[religion]] decreases, the number of people who exist without a [[meaningful]] [[Theory of everything\|metanarrative about the nature of reality]] increases. This creates a vacuum, often described as a "[https://www.shapedbyfaith.com/god-shaped-hole/ god shaped hole]" that ends up getting filled with something. For many, the hole is filled with [[addiction]], but even the [[Drugs\|drug]] [[addicted]] have a desire to understand how the [[universe]] works. People who lack a shared [[metanarrative]] that they identify with and have strong [[Ethics\|convictions]] about make fertile ground for alternative explanations to take root. Conspiracy theories proliferate in this [[environment]].

	Many think that [[religion]] primes the [[brain]] for [[misinformation]] and conspiracy theories by prioritizing [[faith]] and [[dogma]] over [[science]] and [[reason]]. They neglect to account for how [[religion]] provides a framework for understanding how the world works, and how that can serve as a bulwark against alternative theories that are often much worse. The fact that so many conspiracy theories proliferate in modern [[fundamentalist]] churches is more a factor of how far these churches have strayed from their core [[doctrine]] rather than proof that those doctrines lead to conspiratorial thinking. Anyone who thinks that the Jesus who preached the [[wikipedia:Sermon_on_the_Mount\|Sermon on the Mount]] would support [[libertarian]] [[capitalism]] is already untethered from [[doctrine]], even if they still practice [[religion]].		Many think that [[religion]] primes the [[brain]] for [[misinformation]] and conspiracy theories by prioritizing [[faith]] and [[dogma]] over [[science]] and [[reason]]. They neglect to account for how [[religion]] provides a framework for understanding how the world works, and how that can serve as a bulwark against alternative theories that are often much worse. The fact that so many conspiracy theories proliferate in modern [[fundamentalist]] churches is more a factor of how far these churches have strayed from their core [[doctrine]] rather than proof that those doctrines lead to conspiratorial thinking. Anyone who thinks that the Jesus who preached the [[wikipedia:Sermon_on_the_Mount\|Sermon on the Mount]] would support [[libertarian]] [[capitalism]] is already untethered from [[doctrine]], even if they still practice [[religion]].

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:34, 30 November 2025
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	[[File:Conspiracy-theory-misinformation-qanon-illuminati-deep-state-foolishness.jpg\|thumb\|Apparently "JFK playing cards with the Qanon Shaman" is "against the DALL-E content policy"]]		[[File:Conspiracy-theory-misinformation-qanon-illuminati-deep-state-foolishness.jpg\|thumb\|Apparently "JFK playing cards with the Qanon Shaman" is "against the DALL-E content policy"]]
	The proliferation of [[wikipedia:Conspiracy_theory\|conspiracy theories]] on [[social media]] has gone hand-in-hand with the spread of [[misinformation]] and [[outrage]].<blockquote>''"It's easy to make everything a conspiracy when you don't know how anything works."'' -[https://absentofi.org/2021/11/brandon-bradford-its-easy-to-make-everything-into-a-conspiracy-when-you-dont-know-how-anything-works/ Brandon L. Bradford]</blockquote>When people lose [[trust]] in [[institutions]], there is a tendency to imagine nefarious villains puling strings behind the scenes, rather than the [[wikipedia:Manufacturing_Consent\|manufactured consent]] of established [[cultures]] within those [[institutions]] that cause bureaucratic rigidity, perverse [[incentives]], and [[authoritarian]] mindsets.		The proliferation of [[wikipedia:Conspiracy_theory\|conspiracy theories]] on [[social media]] has gone hand-in-hand with the spread of [[misinformation]] and [[outrage]].<blockquote>''"It's easy to make everything a conspiracy when you don't know how anything works."'' -[https://absentofi.org/2021/11/brandon-bradford-its-easy-to-make-everything-into-a-conspiracy-when-you-dont-know-how-anything-works/ Brandon L. Bradford]</blockquote>When people lose [[trust]] in [[institutions]], there is a tendency to imagine nefarious villains puling strings behind the scenes, rather than the [[wikipedia:Manufacturing_Consent\|manufactured consent]] of established [[cultures]] within those [[institutions]] that cause bureaucratic rigidity, perverse [[incentives]], and [[authoritarian]] mindsets.
			[[File:Conspiracy-theory-conspiracy.jpeg\|right\|frameless\|300x300px]]
	It represents a modern myth-making, where [[complex]] systems of [[society]] are given simple [[Metanarrative\|metanarratives]], so that those without the [[necessary]] [[education]] can [[believe]] they understand how things work.		It represents a modern myth-making, where [[complex]] systems of [[society]] are given simple [[Metanarrative\|metanarratives]], so that those without the [[necessary]] [[education]] can [[believe]] they understand how things work.

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:45, 13 February 2025
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	[[File:Conspiracy-theory-misinformation-qanon-illuminati-deep-state-foolishness.jpg\|thumb\|Apparently "JFK playing cards with the Qanon Shaman" is "against the DALL-E content policy"]]		[[File:Conspiracy-theory-misinformation-qanon-illuminati-deep-state-foolishness.jpg\|thumb\|Apparently "JFK playing cards with the Qanon Shaman" is "against the DALL-E content policy"]]
	The proliferation of [[wikipedia:Conspiracy_theory\|conspiracy theories]] on [[social media]] has gone hand-in-hand with the spread of [[misinformation]] and [[outrage]].		The proliferation of [[wikipedia:Conspiracy_theory\|conspiracy theories]] on [[social media]] has gone hand-in-hand with the spread of [[misinformation]] and [[outrage]].<blockquote>''"It's easy to make everything a conspiracy when you don't know how anything works."'' -[https://absentofi.org/2021/11/brandon-bradford-its-easy-to-make-everything-into-a-conspiracy-when-you-dont-know-how-anything-works/ Brandon L. Bradford]</blockquote>When people lose [[trust]] in [[institutions]], there is a tendency to imagine nefarious villains puling strings behind the scenes, rather than the [[wikipedia:Manufacturing_Consent\|manufactured consent]] of established [[cultures]] within those [[institutions]] that cause bureaucratic rigidity, perverse [[incentives]], and [[authoritarian]] mindsets.

	~~When people lose~~ [[~~trust~~]] in [[~~institutions~~]]~~, there is a tendency to imagine nefarious villains puling strings behind the scenes, rather than the~~ [[~~wikipedia:Manufacturing_Consent~~\|~~manufactured consent~~]] ~~of established [[cultures]] within~~ those [[~~institutions~~]] ~~that cause bureaucratic rigidity, perverse~~ [[~~incentives~~]]~~, and~~ [[~~authoritarian~~]] ~~mindsets~~.		It represents a modern myth-making, where [[complex]] systems of [[society]] are given simple [[Metanarrative\|metanarratives]], so that those without the [[necessary]] [[education]] can [[believe]] they understand how things work.

	It represents a modern myth-making, where [[complex]] systems of [[society]] are given simple [[Metanarrative\|metanarratives]], so that those without the [[necessary]] [[education]] can [[believe]] they understand how things work.<blockquote>''"It's easy to make everything a conspiracy when you don't know how anything works."'' -[https://absentofi.org/2021/11/brandon-bradford-its-easy-to-make-everything-into-a-conspiracy-when-you-dont-know-how-anything-works/ Brandon L. Bradford]</blockquote>[[wikipedia:Conspiracy_theories_in_United_States_politics\|Conspiracy theories]] distract us from addressing the real problems in [[society]] by substituting imagined ones. They need to become [[taboo]] again, so that discussing them on [[social media]] will get you shunned, even within your own [[in-group]].		[[wikipedia:Conspiracy_theories_in_United_States_politics\|Conspiracy theories]] distract us from addressing the real problems in [[society]] by substituting imagined ones. They need to become [[taboo]] again, so that discussing them on [[social media]] will get you shunned, even within your own [[in-group]].<blockquote>''"Three can keep a secret, if two of them are dead."'' -[[wikipedia:Benjamin_Franklin\|Benjamin Franklin]]</blockquote>If you need a simple, [[universal]] argument that debunks most conspiracy theories, simply consider the number of people who must keep the proposed secret. If that doesn't immediately discredit the conspiracy, study [[game theory]] and [[wikipedia:Prisoner's_dilemma\|the prisoner's dilemma]] and then think about it again.

	== Religion Abhors a Vacuum ==		== Religion Abhors a Vacuum ==