How to quelch political conspiracy theories

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Paywalls are a major issue. People get free “news” at Fox and InfoWars. High quality news costs money.

NPR, Reuters, AP.. all free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GOP folks, anyone here to comment or you just believe the BS?

NYT seems to think it's not just a GOP phenomenon. Who knew...

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/15/upshot/why-more-democrats-are-now-embracing-conspiracy-theories.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It requires serious people to take the problem seriously.

As long as the GOP nurtures it (because they are benefiting) and journalists laugh at it (because it generates clicks) we are screwed.

I guess a question is, is there a point at which GOP will start to see diminishing returns from nurturing conspiracy theories because doing so does alienate potential voters?

The conspiracy that Dems are stealing elections will always serve them. Why? Because they are instilling hundreds of election deniers this election cycle. They will continue deny elections and make it harder for Dems to vote. So, there will be no reason for them to curtail this genie because there are fewer GOP voters. They need to cheat to win. It's the only way.

And, OP that your family member knew a family who lost a child in Sandy Hook and perpetrated conspiracy theories is depressing.

It's very depressing. I also had a tough experience convincing a few of those family members who were high risk for COVID (late 60s, cardiac issues, overweight) to get vaccinated. At least one of the family members devoutly believed the vaccines made you metallic, were more dangerous than COVID even for older/high risk were a way to provide population control. I work in healthcare in a major hospital in a way that I was very familiar in a direct way with COVID stats, and basically went head to head about the data. Eventually some did get vaccinated, but one barely talks to me now because, I guess, he feels I harmed his family though I don't even know that it was me that convinced them vs that the delta wave did freak them out.

[Anonymous]

Shutting down conversations about people's legitimate concerns is not helpful.

[Anonymous]

When people feel a lack of control or agency in their decision-making process, that is also not helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GOP folks, anyone here to comment or you just believe the BS?

NYT seems to think it's not just a GOP phenomenon. Who knew...

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/15/upshot/why-more-democrats-are-now-embracing-conspiracy-theories.html

Don’t hurt your shoulder reaching back five and a half years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shutting down conversations about people's legitimate concerns is not helpful.

Sure, but concerns that the state is staging school shootings of kids? There's legitimate concerns about whether a nee vaccine is safe, but concerns that it's going to microchip you? It's a huge plot to reduce the world population?

I can talk back and forth about pros/cons of gun control laws, about realistic concerns of vaccine safety. But how does one engage when folks have really extreme devout beliefs?

It's sad and also hardens me against the GOP when I see their leaders indulge extremist beliefs.

[Anonymous]

When there is robust conversation and facts are dragged into the sunlight and subject to scrutiny and debate, the truth rises to the top. I have a high degree of respect for our citizenry to (eventually) to arrive at reasonable conclusions when presented with enough convincing evidence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GOP folks, anyone here to comment or you just believe the BS?

NYT seems to think it's not just a GOP phenomenon. Who knew...

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/15/upshot/why-more-democrats-are-now-embracing-conspiracy-theories.html

Don’t hurt your shoulder reaching back five and a half years.

Clearly didn't read.

[Anonymous]

A lot of people believe the Trump Russia conspiracy theory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GOP folks, anyone here to comment or you just believe the BS?

NYT seems to think it's not just a GOP phenomenon. Who knew...

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/15/upshot/why-more-democrats-are-now-embracing-conspiracy-theories.html

Don’t hurt your shoulder reaching back five and a half years.

Clearly didn't read.

I read it in 2017.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of people believe the Trump Russia conspiracy theory.

A lot of people didn’t read the Mueller indictments that laid out in incredibly specific detail how there were Russians helping Trump.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shutting down conversations about people's legitimate concerns is not helpful.

Sure, but concerns that the state is staging school shootings of kids? There's legitimate concerns about whether a nee vaccine is safe, but concerns that it's going to microchip you? It's a huge plot to reduce the world population?

I can talk back and forth about pros/cons of gun control laws, about realistic concerns of vaccine safety. But how does one engage when folks have really extreme devout beliefs?

It's sad and also hardens me against the GOP when I see their leaders indulge extremist beliefs.

People were banned from various sites for expressing concerns of vaccine safety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shutting down conversations about people's legitimate concerns is not helpful.

Sure, but concerns that the state is staging school shootings of kids? There's legitimate concerns about whether a nee vaccine is safe, but concerns that it's going to microchip you? It's a huge plot to reduce the world population?

I can talk back and forth about pros/cons of gun control laws, about realistic concerns of vaccine safety. But how does one engage when folks have really extreme devout beliefs?

It's sad and also hardens me against the GOP when I see their leaders indulge extremist beliefs.

People were banned from various sites for expressing concerns of vaccine safety.

If you come to my lawn and put a “vAcCiNeS aReN’t sAfe” sign on it, I will bam you from doing that, yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shutting down conversations about people's legitimate concerns is not helpful.

Sure, but concerns that the state is staging school shootings of kids? There's legitimate concerns about whether a nee vaccine is safe, but concerns that it's going to microchip you? It's a huge plot to reduce the world population?

I can talk back and forth about pros/cons of gun control laws, about realistic concerns of vaccine safety. But how does one engage when folks have really extreme devout beliefs?

It's sad and also hardens me against the GOP when I see their leaders indulge extremist beliefs.

People were banned from various sites for expressing concerns of vaccine safety.

Lies about vaccines having microchips in them is not 'expressing concern'.