How to deal with a conspiracy theory posting relative?

[gmaz]

One of my close relatives on facebook is frequently posting all kinds of crap about anti-vax, Bill Gates, 5G, new world orders etc, i.e. all the stuff promoted by Piers Corbyn, David Icke and their ilk.

She always has been a follower of homeopathy, healing crystals, auras

I'd like her to understand critical thinking but she's actively anti-science, and considering she has a responsible job in a government agency, I wonder at what point it's going to affect her life more seriously than just reporting facebook nonsense.

How would you deal with this? Call them an imbecile? Spend ages debunking each bit of nonsense? Blocking & reporting?

[Taita]

Ignore them and let them crack on in their bubble of wibble.

[Unexpected Item In The Bagging Area]

Just leave her to it, it doesn’t impact anyone but her. Have you tried ignoring her nonsense, or do you actively seek it out?

[The Mad Monk]

Well, as Facebook is a load of junk anyway. I would probably.....
1. Remove myself from Facebook.
2. Have as little to do with them as possible.

This would have the benefit that...
3. You wouldn't know what they are doing.

[KrazyIvan]

Unexpected Item In The Bagging Area said:

Just leave her to it, it doesn’t impact anyone but her. Have you tried ignoring her nonsense, or do you actively seek it out?

This, unless it effects you directly, just leave her to it. There is no law that say we all have to believe the same thing.

[Captain Raymond Holt]

Ignore all the advice above.

You should encourage her, feed her theories which are more and more outlandish.

[JulianHJ]

I have one of these. She gets very angry when I calmly and politely post links to fact-check whatever mindless insanity is her flavour of the week. It can be quite entertaining, but is often a little worrying to think that these ideas find a home so readily.

[The Mad Monk]

Captain Raymond Holt said:

Ignore all the advice above.

You should encourage her, feed her theories which are more and more outlandish.

I think this is probably the best answer - if you have the time.

Don't forget the one about Philip murdering Diana.

Oh, and the one about a royal prince being Jack the Ripper.

[Evoluzione]

'Unfollow this person?' Click 'yes'.

[Captain Raymond Holt]

COVID was released by the Cornish National Liberation Army who have resurfaced, sick to the back teeth of the dirty English cluttering up their blissful land in summertime.

[Johnnytheboy]

Laugh smiley on every post.

[Gary29]

My mum used to have a good saying for stuff like this when I was younger, it went something along the lines of "Mind your own business"

[bigandclever]

Captain Raymond Holt said:

Ignore all the advice above.

You should encourage her, feed her theories which are more and more outlandish.

Agree. Lob a few others in from the ‘organised collection of irrational nonsense’ Vern diagram you’ll find with a quick googly...

[whitesocks]

An old work mate of mine went absolutely mental when Icke got banned from FB and his forum shut down.

[mike74]

I honestly don't see any difference between the mental state and gullibility of the most outlandish of conspiracy theorists and those people who genuinely believe that the government and pretty much all Lib/Lab/Con politicians are in place to serve the common people and aren't just puppets of the Banks, the Corporatists, the globalists and the wealthy elite.

[SturdyHSV]

Tell her the illuminati are threatening to make you lose your job and take away your home unless she stops posting on facebook about conspiracy theories.

[PurpleTurtle]

Buy her a big roll of tin foil for Christmas?

[CanAm]

Evoluzione said:

'Unfollow this person?' Click 'yes'.

This. She won’t be aware of what you’ve done, and you won’t have to suffer the drivel she posts. I’ve “unfollowed” a few of my Facebook ‘friends’.

[LetsTryAgain]

mike74 said:

I honestly don't see any difference between the mental state and gullibility of the most outlandish of conspiracy theorists and those people who genuinely believe that the government and pretty much all Lib/Lab/Con politicians are in place to serve the common people and aren't just puppets of the Banks, the Corporatists, the globalists and the wealthy elite.

I do.
One is hilariously naive, the other is right.
In that order.

[mike74]

LetsTryAgain said:

mike74 said:

I honestly don't see any difference between the mental state and gullibility of the most outlandish of conspiracy theorists and those people who genuinely believe that the government and pretty much all Lib/Lab/Con politicians are in place to serve the common people and aren't just puppets of the Banks, the Corporatists, the globalists and the wealthy elite.

I do.
One is hilariously naive, the other is right.
In that order.

Awww bless.

Still, it must be nice living a life of such simple, child like innocence and naivety.