I try to remember that people are scared and that's why they have conspiracy theories. I'm not on board with their conspiracy theories, but knowing the reason why people come up with them (they are scared/want control/want a reason why things are happening) and it makes me a little less angry at them. I have my moments where I do get angry, but I try to remind myself that we're all fearful and we're all human. Also, Jason Momoa was in the Stargate Atlantis show 😍
Anecdotally, the people in my life that have shared the conspiracy theories have been exactly what Sonny said; people who are scared and want an easily packaged response to the things that scare them. They also all share the overlap of being extremely religious, which makes sense.
It’s a shame that education has been defunded so much in the US, we could really use people with critical thinking skills right now.
I have a friend who does not meet the criteria but believes it all. Nor do I. But in pretend allowing them to engage me I have felt even I could get recruited. That's what scares me. I even have another friend watching for signs that I have been turned so he can pull me out by my feet. Some of these recruiters are very very good at what they do. They will appeal to whatever you care about first. Eg Animal rights, health, freedom etc. Then slowly get more and more extreme. They will never start by telling you that Trump is saving trafficked children from tunnels or that the Queen is a reptile. That's for later. Scary stuff!
David, not to uhhhh stroke your ego, but I find it quite admirable and kind of you to present content of yours for free exclusively to share to people that it might help or change directly. I think this has since become my *favorite* part of the entirety of your topics. I may be a paid subscriber, but knowing that there is multiple articles you share exclusively for spread of information just reminds me how much of a real journalist you are (which is VERY refreshing for once! Recently I’ve had a massive scuffle with local “journalist”.)
Writing may be an outlet (emotionally, or for information), but I can acknowledge how it can take a toll on a person and I’d like to say this: thanks. Thank you for taking the time to acknowledge the sane lot here and giving us a little help with the process. I hope you are doing well (as well as you can), AND, I’m glad you took the *extra* self help of getting the absolute fuck off of social media. Fuck that place.
Thanks for that, really. Thanks for getting it, and the support. I just drafted up a members-only post that goes behind the scenes on the design process for our Tickled poster from 2016. Hopefully a visual feast, and fun. Thanks again Eri
I was honestly baffled that people confuse science fiction books with reality. Perhaps they didn’t have English teachers and/or librarians properly explain fiction = fake?
I mean, I’d love to have a hot vampire who sparkles like diamonds when in the sun to come and save me from my awkward existence but....you know....I have half a brain and know it’s not true.
As an atheist I’m not afraid of ghosts or demons, but I’ll admit the idea of aliens slightly terrifies me. Even so, I know enough that if they’re real, I’m not going to end up reading about them in the sci-fi sector my local bookstore or library.
I say this knowing full well I’m a pretty gullible person too! Perhaps I’m smarter than I think 😂
I find myself getting so angry. Due to this pandemic (and I guess the cynicism that comes with life experience), I’ve gone from an idealistic person who did a masters in human rights and believed everyone deserved to be treated equally... to being angry, feeling betrayed by so many people who can’t just wear a freaking mask or stay on their comfy couch for 2 weeks, instead going out for butter chicken and spreading this god damn disease that they think doesn’t exist.
It does make me feel slightly less angry, and more just sad, to think about *why* people latch onto these insane ideas. I don’t know what the solution is.. education? But what kind? It seems like some people are just built to be in denial about the facts and will always jump onto a more convenient, easy theory that allows them to continue their way of life with the least disruption possible.
This is about Finland teaching its citizens to recognise fake news (aka critical thinking), which they started in 2014 to combat Russian trolls https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2019/05/europe/finland-fake-news-intl/ The article also points out Finland has other advantages that make it harder for misinformation campaigns to take root.
I feel your pain. My solution is to engage with these people. Using skills I learned about having "courageous conersations". Trying to find out how people get recruited and the techniques they use. That way hopefully we can create advice on ways to protect ourselves from them. It gives me an outlet for my concern.
Oh no, it is very frustrating at times. Although engaging to understand, rather than engaging to win an argument helps. I'm doing it on a semi professional basis. Toying with using it for a freelance piece or podcast episode. But hanging onto the idea that I may learn something helpful for others is my main motivation. I don't see "chatting with conspiracy theorists" catching on as a fun new hobby. 😜 For starters they never sleep!
Hey David, from a subscriber feedback point of view (because you asked for it at the start of webworm) I think you might need to work on not stepping on your own feet in terms of covering stuff in both audio and writing. If that's because one was paid and one was free though, then just ignore me!
That said, I really loved the interview with Sonny. Their points on why people are grabbing onto misinformation really crystallised it for me how much it comes from a desire to find clear answers about what is going on when the scientific answer right now is "we dont know yet, but we're trying to find out."
Hey! Yes I am definitely still figuring this out. The podcast was a bonus for paid members — and the written piece was free as I think it’s important during this pandemic for things to go wide.
Oh I feel the opposite. I'm someone who prefers to read because I read faster, but I listen to podcast when I'm walking. So it's nice to get the same content but with different mediums.
Yeah man, you nailed it. It's why the fucking DaVinci Code did so well. And before that Holy Blood Holy Grail (kiwi author!). We love a great big fun answer, don't we?
I try to remember that people are scared and that's why they have conspiracy theories. I'm not on board with their conspiracy theories, but knowing the reason why people come up with them (they are scared/want control/want a reason why things are happening) and it makes me a little less angry at them. I have my moments where I do get angry, but I try to remind myself that we're all fearful and we're all human. Also, Jason Momoa was in the Stargate Atlantis show 😍
Was he?! Holy mack I didn't remember that.
He played Ronon Dex :]
Anecdotally, the people in my life that have shared the conspiracy theories have been exactly what Sonny said; people who are scared and want an easily packaged response to the things that scare them. They also all share the overlap of being extremely religious, which makes sense.
It’s a shame that education has been defunded so much in the US, we could really use people with critical thinking skills right now.
I think they kinda nailed it, huh. Sorry you are having to deal with this stuff in your own life. It sucks, eh. As Trump would say: Sad!
I have a friend who does not meet the criteria but believes it all. Nor do I. But in pretend allowing them to engage me I have felt even I could get recruited. That's what scares me. I even have another friend watching for signs that I have been turned so he can pull me out by my feet. Some of these recruiters are very very good at what they do. They will appeal to whatever you care about first. Eg Animal rights, health, freedom etc. Then slowly get more and more extreme. They will never start by telling you that Trump is saving trafficked children from tunnels or that the Queen is a reptile. That's for later. Scary stuff!
David, not to uhhhh stroke your ego, but I find it quite admirable and kind of you to present content of yours for free exclusively to share to people that it might help or change directly. I think this has since become my *favorite* part of the entirety of your topics. I may be a paid subscriber, but knowing that there is multiple articles you share exclusively for spread of information just reminds me how much of a real journalist you are (which is VERY refreshing for once! Recently I’ve had a massive scuffle with local “journalist”.)
Writing may be an outlet (emotionally, or for information), but I can acknowledge how it can take a toll on a person and I’d like to say this: thanks. Thank you for taking the time to acknowledge the sane lot here and giving us a little help with the process. I hope you are doing well (as well as you can), AND, I’m glad you took the *extra* self help of getting the absolute fuck off of social media. Fuck that place.
Thanks for that, really. Thanks for getting it, and the support. I just drafted up a members-only post that goes behind the scenes on the design process for our Tickled poster from 2016. Hopefully a visual feast, and fun. Thanks again Eri
I was honestly baffled that people confuse science fiction books with reality. Perhaps they didn’t have English teachers and/or librarians properly explain fiction = fake?
I mean, I’d love to have a hot vampire who sparkles like diamonds when in the sun to come and save me from my awkward existence but....you know....I have half a brain and know it’s not true.
As an atheist I’m not afraid of ghosts or demons, but I’ll admit the idea of aliens slightly terrifies me. Even so, I know enough that if they’re real, I’m not going to end up reading about them in the sci-fi sector my local bookstore or library.
I say this knowing full well I’m a pretty gullible person too! Perhaps I’m smarter than I think 😂
I find myself getting so angry. Due to this pandemic (and I guess the cynicism that comes with life experience), I’ve gone from an idealistic person who did a masters in human rights and believed everyone deserved to be treated equally... to being angry, feeling betrayed by so many people who can’t just wear a freaking mask or stay on their comfy couch for 2 weeks, instead going out for butter chicken and spreading this god damn disease that they think doesn’t exist.
It does make me feel slightly less angry, and more just sad, to think about *why* people latch onto these insane ideas. I don’t know what the solution is.. education? But what kind? It seems like some people are just built to be in denial about the facts and will always jump onto a more convenient, easy theory that allows them to continue their way of life with the least disruption possible.
I flutter between sadness and anger. Sometimes within seconds.
This is about Finland teaching its citizens to recognise fake news (aka critical thinking), which they started in 2014 to combat Russian trolls https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2019/05/europe/finland-fake-news-intl/ The article also points out Finland has other advantages that make it harder for misinformation campaigns to take root.
I feel your pain. My solution is to engage with these people. Using skills I learned about having "courageous conersations". Trying to find out how people get recruited and the techniques they use. That way hopefully we can create advice on ways to protect ourselves from them. It gives me an outlet for my concern.
I find when I engage I just get more frustrated - but that probably says more about me than them.
Oh no, it is very frustrating at times. Although engaging to understand, rather than engaging to win an argument helps. I'm doing it on a semi professional basis. Toying with using it for a freelance piece or podcast episode. But hanging onto the idea that I may learn something helpful for others is my main motivation. I don't see "chatting with conspiracy theorists" catching on as a fun new hobby. 😜 For starters they never sleep!
Hey David, from a subscriber feedback point of view (because you asked for it at the start of webworm) I think you might need to work on not stepping on your own feet in terms of covering stuff in both audio and writing. If that's because one was paid and one was free though, then just ignore me!
That said, I really loved the interview with Sonny. Their points on why people are grabbing onto misinformation really crystallised it for me how much it comes from a desire to find clear answers about what is going on when the scientific answer right now is "we dont know yet, but we're trying to find out."
Hey! Yes I am definitely still figuring this out. The podcast was a bonus for paid members — and the written piece was free as I think it’s important during this pandemic for things to go wide.
Oh I feel the opposite. I'm someone who prefers to read because I read faster, but I listen to podcast when I'm walking. So it's nice to get the same content but with different mediums.
Yeah man, you nailed it. It's why the fucking DaVinci Code did so well. And before that Holy Blood Holy Grail (kiwi author!). We love a great big fun answer, don't we?