this post was submitted on 27 Nov 2023
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Starts to make sense how some conspiracies come out when you get examples like this of people being blatantly ignorant of evidence right in front of their noses
In my experience it has less to do with stuff like this where people are just not looking close enough or are mistaken and more to do with the idea of them being wrong being impossible. Conspiracies that I interact with don’t even discuss evidence. Because they can’t be wrong and there’s no way to falsify their worldview.
A lot of it has to do with wanting to be superior. They have feelings of not having control so they tell themselves and each other that everyone else is stupid and being fooled but not them, they are the smart few, they know the truth, they are the in crowd.
I have wondered if there is just a tolerance people have for feeling dumb. How much can you endure? If you can handle a lot you can continue to learn, doesn't mean you will means you can. If you can't handle a lot you make your life in such a way as you don't have to feel that way. Like someone with a phobia who just always finds ways to not be around it. If I am right conspiracy theories are a coping mechanism to avoid the feeling of inadequacy.
For myself my work is willing to pay for me to go back to school part time and I admit there is a part of me afraid of feeling stupid around all those kids fresh out of high school.
This sounds well thought out. I would say inadequacy and superiority are two sides of the same coin. If it helps you probably will be stupid around those other kids but not forever. You’ll get through it and be better for it. It sounds like you already know that
This, in the post truth era, evidence is only useful to educated people that are willing. For most victims, we have to de program them first.
Every single discussion I have about climate ends with "yes, that's one side of the argument, but who really knows what's the truth".
Motherfucker, you said something that's false. I showed you you were wrong by a factor of several million. Where ever the exact truth lies, it's way on the other side of the fucking moon from your standpoint.
You can't prove what's on the other side of the moon!
Yes I can! It's mostly tacos!