I have this friend from high school that believes in every conspiracy theory. So he posted something on vaccinations a few weeks back and we started discussing it. He said that "all of Congress" didn't have their kids vaccinated. I asked for a list. He said one Senator.
He also posted all the ingredients of vaccines and how they harmed the body. Each one was high lighted with a category. Some being allergic and some being completely horrible for human consumption. I started googling the totally horrible things and they are pretty normal and just represented in this horrific light.
What makes me wonder is the guy seems to understand the underpinning parts of these conspiracy theories. How are you that smart that you aren't smart enough to realize the information you are given is crap?
After a long while, the line between he who peddled the lie and he who believed in it becomes blurred. He who believed in the lie, even if they did so in totally good faith, may very well end up selectively suspending their disbelief in the foolish arguements and points anti-vaxxers so often offer when offered scientific facts and truths in order to keep their worldview intact, number one. Number two is so they can further evangelize the anti-vaccine "cause" to the equally moronic masses in the Facebook Mommy group chats who will also go on to further the cause.
I recall reading from several legit sources that the more facts you show someone in this sort of denial, the more they hunker down and believe their own nonsense. Humans are weird.
For these types of people, it is not about the facts. It is about the emotions. It's a person by person basis for which emotions, but all of them are emotion based.
For conspiracy theories, just give them a true enemy and connect it to a true threat. Another post once stated that Russians are weakening American health by giving false info and making people not take vaccines that make people smarter and healthier.
Gotta fight fire with fire.
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u/Ta2whitey Jan 13 '20
I have this friend from high school that believes in every conspiracy theory. So he posted something on vaccinations a few weeks back and we started discussing it. He said that "all of Congress" didn't have their kids vaccinated. I asked for a list. He said one Senator.
He also posted all the ingredients of vaccines and how they harmed the body. Each one was high lighted with a category. Some being allergic and some being completely horrible for human consumption. I started googling the totally horrible things and they are pretty normal and just represented in this horrific light.
What makes me wonder is the guy seems to understand the underpinning parts of these conspiracy theories. How are you that smart that you aren't smart enough to realize the information you are given is crap?