Discussion
I'm not sure if it's related to the lockdown and people having more time to kill, or that maybe they're losing their minds, but more and more people I know appear to believe that Bill Gates is planning population control. Along with this he plans of tracking us all with micro chips and this is all combined with the Coronavirus, which isn't actually real anyway! This is all entwined with the 'deep state' and evidently I am a sheep for not believing all this stuff? I'm being told to WAKE UP! on an almost daily basis!
Now I know conspiracy theories are nothing new, but some of these people are not what I would have usually considered lunatics. Many appeared intelligent and articulate, which I guess is what makes this all the more strange?
Now I absolutely do not believe in these theories but simply wondered if others have friends and family where you're questioning their sanity and I'm looking toDad's Net Pistonheads to be the voices of reason here.
Or am I wrong and the 'deep state' will be coming for me?
Now I know conspiracy theories are nothing new, but some of these people are not what I would have usually considered lunatics. Many appeared intelligent and articulate, which I guess is what makes this all the more strange?
Now I absolutely do not believe in these theories but simply wondered if others have friends and family where you're questioning their sanity and I'm looking to
Or am I wrong and the 'deep state' will be coming for me?
I feel the same, it's all absolutely bonkers and people who I normally think are intelligent are getting sucked into this bull crap.
I told them to get a proper hobby, I've been off work for a few weeks so I played with the cars, went out on my bike, did some decorating, sold some stuff on eBay. Others it seems have spent weeks on the weirdest parts of the Internet filling their heads with nonsense.
I told them to get a proper hobby, I've been off work for a few weeks so I played with the cars, went out on my bike, did some decorating, sold some stuff on eBay. Others it seems have spent weeks on the weirdest parts of the Internet filling their heads with nonsense.
Same here. One of my mates who I thought a fairly level headed and sensible chap is posting all the Bill Gates stuff. I wondered if it he was joking but his comments support that he is a believer now!
He posted on FB the other day that Gates cant go to India because he wanted for murdering thousands of children with his vaccines. I give up
He posted on FB the other day that Gates cant go to India because he wanted for murdering thousands of children with his vaccines. I give up
What I've noticed (for a long time before Covid) is that it's generally the older generation that gets suckered into these things which I find odd because the general rub of things is that with age comes wisdom. I think they are of a generation that believe anything 'published' is the truth.
StevieBee said:
What I've noticed (for a long time before Covid) is that it's generally the older generation that gets suckered into these things which I find odd because the general rub of things is that with age comes wisdom. I think they are of a generation that believe anything 'published' is the truth.
I think that is true of traditional media. My parents have always read the Daily Express, what it tells them they believe. They never seemed to have developed any critical thinking to question what they are told. The younger generation I think get sucked into social media and what their friends are saying, again not much critical thinking, but its these platforms that allow the un-fact checked nonsense to spread .I try and avoid social media (apart from car related stuff) but it's not like much of this stuff can't be debunked with just a few clicks and fact checks. Even then though, their beliefs just appear so deep seated. I've just started deleting the contacts now
The backlash against people like Dr Fauci and Bill Gates is incredible.
The backlash against people like Dr Fauci and Bill Gates is incredible.
Social media makes it far easier to spread such conspiracies, and for a minority to shout loudly and give the impression It is an interesting insight into the human mind though, how people want to see themselves as the hero as the only one who can see the real truth, like Roddy Piper in They Live. But the believability of any conspiracy can be directly tied to the number of people who would be required to be in on it, and also taking into account the general incompetence of governments around the world. We can't build a railway line without going massively over budget, I don't think the same people could successfully hide the earth is flat, we never landed on the moon, vaccines cause autism and Bill Gates assassinated JFK.
Stopped to gawp at posters in someone's window yesterday . . . Bill Gates, vaccine, yabba yabba. Sort of hoped they'd open their front door . . . .
(Good news I suppose - when they do develop a vaccine, it's going to be in short supply. So if you don't want your's . . . .).
Reported a couple of "It's all Bill Gates and the Jews" posts on Facebook.
Separate from the current conspiracy loonies, I've been puzzled for a while about a groundswell of antipathy towards Bill Gates from some Americans. Surely he'll go down with Edison, Morse, Samuel Colt, Henry Ford, as an all-time colossus of American ingenuity? And he was right to forsee the dangers of a pandemic!
(Good news I suppose - when they do develop a vaccine, it's going to be in short supply. So if you don't want your's . . . .).
Reported a couple of "It's all Bill Gates and the Jews" posts on Facebook.
Separate from the current conspiracy loonies, I've been puzzled for a while about a groundswell of antipathy towards Bill Gates from some Americans. Surely he'll go down with Edison, Morse, Samuel Colt, Henry Ford, as an all-time colossus of American ingenuity? And he was right to forsee the dangers of a pandemic!
StevieBee said:
What I've noticed (for a long time before Covid) is that it's generally the older generation that gets suckered into these things which I find odd because the general rub of things is that with age comes wisdom. I think they are of a generation that believe anything 'published' is the truth.
Oh believe me, there's plenty of feckless youths out there who believe the Conservatives are out to deliberately kill old / poor / disabled / lazy people.Is there a concerted plan to get us to some sort of dystopian future, no.
But also there does seem to be a gradual curtailment of our freedoms.
Since after the second world war up until probably the mid 80's there was an explosion in freedoms (travel, jobs, technology, clothing etc)
But more recently these freedoms are slowly being eroded
speed cameras, surveillance cameras, increasing taxes on travel, censoring of internet, green taxes, even to the latest push to try to get us to stop eating meat etc
But also there does seem to be a gradual curtailment of our freedoms.
Since after the second world war up until probably the mid 80's there was an explosion in freedoms (travel, jobs, technology, clothing etc)
But more recently these freedoms are slowly being eroded
speed cameras, surveillance cameras, increasing taxes on travel, censoring of internet, green taxes, even to the latest push to try to get us to stop eating meat etc
k all Yuou ROUND EARTHERS!!!
I tend to stay clear of most news/politics/etc on social media, just stick to more social/hobby stuff so luckily I don't seem to get much of this crap.
The only one I know is my brother in law, who despite being well educated, is firmly in the "anti-vaxxer" camp. Neither of his 2 daughters have had any immunisations. I'm not sure what his feelings are these days about a potential vaccine for Coronavirus (if one ever happens), but a few months back he said they'll just take extra vitamin supplements so they'll be ok
The only one I know is my brother in law, who despite being well educated, is firmly in the "anti-vaxxer" camp. Neither of his 2 daughters have had any immunisations. I'm not sure what his feelings are these days about a potential vaccine for Coronavirus (if one ever happens), but a few months back he said they'll just take extra vitamin supplements so they'll be ok
Social Media (which in this context we can include Pistonheads) has revealed a number of interesting psychological conditions that influence how the fake news issue spreads. This is something I have a modicum of insight on so let me give you an example.
Someone will develop an opinion on something based upon nothing other than other people’s opinions and snippets of real news. However, they lack the capacity to properly explain or articulate the basis of that opinion but not wanting to be left out of the debate, will post their opinion but in a way that deflects it as someone else’s. This is manifested in posts that include phrases along the lines of “A friend of mine works in….” or “I know some people who…” or other sources, none of which exist or if they do, have zero relevance to the subject matter. This way, if their opinion is debunked, they can deflect the origin of that opinion to others claiming them to only be the messenger.
When it comes to spreading conspiracy theories, the same type of people will see something and instantly share it without giving the subject proper consideration. The motivation behind this is normally a case of wishing to be seen as more ‘worldly-wise’ as they might be. Recognition of this is more apparent these days as one can see their various friends and associates who are worldly-wise so the baseline is more apparent.
It’s not as simple as these people being thick. In fact, I find it odd just how many otherwise intelligent people follow this behaviour. My theory on this is that as a general rule of thumb, naivety rises in proportion to intelligence.
I know all this coz a bloke in my local pub ..’s sister is married to a shrink!
Someone will develop an opinion on something based upon nothing other than other people’s opinions and snippets of real news. However, they lack the capacity to properly explain or articulate the basis of that opinion but not wanting to be left out of the debate, will post their opinion but in a way that deflects it as someone else’s. This is manifested in posts that include phrases along the lines of “A friend of mine works in….” or “I know some people who…” or other sources, none of which exist or if they do, have zero relevance to the subject matter. This way, if their opinion is debunked, they can deflect the origin of that opinion to others claiming them to only be the messenger.
When it comes to spreading conspiracy theories, the same type of people will see something and instantly share it without giving the subject proper consideration. The motivation behind this is normally a case of wishing to be seen as more ‘worldly-wise’ as they might be. Recognition of this is more apparent these days as one can see their various friends and associates who are worldly-wise so the baseline is more apparent.
It’s not as simple as these people being thick. In fact, I find it odd just how many otherwise intelligent people follow this behaviour. My theory on this is that as a general rule of thumb, naivety rises in proportion to intelligence.
I know all this coz a bloke in my local pub ..’s sister is married to a shrink!
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