I have two papas I’m close with, and they’re completely convinced by conspiracy theories, mainly about history. They just go on and on trying to persuade me.
Both dinner and pillow talk are entirely about conspiracy theories. Last week, they kept going on about conspiracy theories surrounding the invasion of Ukraine, claiming that Putin had done nothing wrong and that some billionaire from the shadowy underworld was really pulling the strings behind the scenes (lol).
There are plenty of other things where I’m smiling and listening while thinking, “There’s no way that’s true lol.” If I point out contradictions, they start stumbling over their words and look annoyed, so I just let it go.
Why do grown men become so deeply convinced by conspiracy theories?
The one thing these papas have in common is that one only graduated from high school, while the other went to college but graduated from a low-ranking local university.
Still, they’re reasonably well-off, so I don’t think they’re unintelligent. If anything, I feel like they have pretty good natural instincts and are fairly sharp...
If they just did a little research or thought things through for themselves, they should notice the contradictions, but their eyes look completely glazed over.
👤Asked byGuest👩GenderFemale🎂20s👑Universe female member
I think he may be on the autism spectrum.
Because his thinking and behavior are extreme and he has strong fixations, he may be the type who achieves social success and becomes wealthy.
However, he lacks balance, so if he gets caught up in an unusually narrow way of thinking, he can become completely absorbed in it.
(3 replies left)
(3 replies left)
💡 This question has no password registered, so the reply feature is unavailable.
If you access from the device/browser used to post the question, you may be able to set a password later.
I’m not sure what kind of conspiracy theory you mean, but there are so many strange aspects to this situation that I can understand why people might be tempted to come up with one.
For example, in 1991, Ukraine had 1,240 nuclear warheads—apparently more than twice the number of nuclear weapons Britain possessed during the Cold War.
Concerned about nuclear proliferation, the United States, Britain, and Russia demanded that Ukraine give them up. In 1994, at a summit of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, the three countries signed a memorandum assuring Ukraine’s territorial integrity and the inviolability of its borders. Ukraine then reportedly transferred all of its nuclear weapons to Russia.
Now Russia, which signed that memorandum, has broken its promise and started a war. Britain and the United States were supposed to guarantee Ukraine’s security, yet they haven’t gone to its aid directly.
In the end, it seems to come down to the idea that a small country without nuclear weapons can be invaded so easily.
But if that’s the case, then what was the point of the memorandum? And what happened to the claim that countries other than the major powers shouldn’t possess nuclear weapons?
There are a lot of puzzling aspects to the whole situation.
And when you fill in those gaps with conspiracy theories, things can start to seem somewhat explainable.
So I sometimes wonder whether some people end up believing those theories even if they’re ultimately untrue.
Why do you think the United States, Russia, and Britain colluded to have Ukraine transfer its nuclear weapons to Russia?
(3 replies left)
(3 replies left)
💡 This question has no password registered, so the reply feature is unavailable.
If you access from the device/browser used to post the question, you may be able to set a password later.
Why not just hear them out and say it’s an interesting idea?
Even if it sounds plausible, the truth remains unknown. It’s entirely possible that history was actually very different from what we believe.
I think the questioner lacks a sense of romance.
No one can say for certain that Minamoto no Yoshitsune didn’t become Kublai Khan, or that Akechi Mitsuhide didn’t become Nankōbō Tenkai. Of course, they’re highly dubious claims, though…
(3 replies left)
(3 replies left)
💡 This question has no password registered, so the reply feature is unavailable.
If you access from the device/browser used to post the question, you may be able to set a password later.
Honestly, the problem is that you’re taking it seriously in the first place.
Conspiracy theories are entertainment.
Once you see them that way, you’ll come up with all kinds of questions to keep the conversation lively—and the other person will enjoy it. It’s that simple.
(3 replies left)
(3 replies left)
💡 This question has no password registered, so the reply feature is unavailable.
If you access from the device/browser used to post the question, you may be able to set a password later.
While your papa is talking:
Look them in the eye and nod along, but are you also communicating with aliens? (lol)
Just let it go in one ear and out the other.
Don’t force yourself to listen or try to understand.
“Wow...”
“Oh, really?”
“That’s amazing!”
Just keep repeating those, haha.
(3 replies left)
(3 replies left)
💡 This question has no password registered, so the reply feature is unavailable.
If you access from the device/browser used to post the question, you may be able to set a password later.
Even Aum Shinrikyo had a bogus worldview, yet elite science and engineering graduates from top national universities kept getting drawn in, with some even rising to leadership positions.
Of course, Aum and today’s conspiracy theories may be different things, but I get the impression that people who are dissatisfied with society or with their own circumstances are more likely to fall for them.
(3 replies left)
(3 replies left)
💡 This question has no password registered, so the reply feature is unavailable.
If you access from the device/browser used to post the question, you may be able to set a password later.
I’ve met a man like that too!!
What is it with them?
He went on at length about conspiracy theories surrounding COVID-19 and vaccines, which were especially timely at the time. He’d believe anything he read on some weird website and passionately lecture me about it lol.
Going, “Oh wow, really? That’s amazing!” gets exhausting, and I honestly felt like I was going crazy too, so there definitely won’t be a next time.
I think he graduated from a national university, though I’m not entirely sure.
Marika
(3 replies left)
(3 replies left)
💡 This question has no password registered, so the reply feature is unavailable.
If you access from the device/browser used to post the question, you may be able to set a password later.
I’m back!
There’s a woman at my workplace who tells me about conspiracy theories (๑>◡<๑)
Whether you believe them or not is up to you, but I like urban legends, so she sends me YouTube links every day and I watch them pretty often（笑）. I consider them urban legends, though.
It’s best to make sure you choose reliable information for yourself!
Oh, and I’m not a conspiracy theory believer（笑）
(3 replies left)
(3 replies left)
💡 This question has no password registered, so the reply feature is unavailable.
If you access from the device/browser used to post the question, you may be able to set a password later.
Intelligence, like IQ, doesn’t have much to do with how much someone earns.
Also, I think people who blindly believe in something often have mental health issues.
(3 replies left)
(3 replies left)
💡 This question has no password registered, so the reply feature is unavailable.
If you access from the device/browser used to post the question, you may be able to set a password later.
