Adam, it's obvious that you care about these people
11/29/2020 at 1:39 PM
I need to state that I will not be coming back onto this thread to post additional comments because I realize what I will state here may (no, it will) inflame both sides. That is not my intention, even though I expect it to happen. These are emotional reactions that are to be expected. My intention is to encourage people be careful of what they believe and examine it *all*. I just really don't have the energy to fight and I really don't have any more to say on this topic anyway. Just be careful. Remember, respect & kindness are your allies.
I know those types of conspiracy folks too. The man I talk about below says that as much as you try, you will never convince some of them otherwise. They are addicted to sensationalism. They have always existed & will continue to do so. It is too bad.
I continue to battle the theories (but less all the time) on the forum that I moderate, but it has also become a place of calm & safety from the chaos for many who are of either extreme & those in the middle. It can be made to happen.
This past spring, I watched a cold case detective of many years give his take on conspiracy theories. Working as one of those, he says he constantly sees them. He says that there is generally a measure of truth in all of them to help them take hold, but it doesn't make the full conspiracy story true. He says that a successful conspiracy cannot have many people working together. There is too much risk of exposure, which defeats the purpose of working secretly. Each has a driving force...sex, power or money, sometimes all. He says that time reveals the truth. Observation & considering available evidence (there are many types of evidence) is always key. Of course, credibility is important. What drives them certainly should be considered as possibly affecting credibility as well.
I read as well that all conspiracy theories have politics involved. Looking back at all that I have come across, especially since January, show that this observation appears to hold water.
I personally wonder about the propaganda that whirled around the time of WW2 (as any major political event...these my own thoughts...not conspiracy based if anyone is assuming & taking my statement down that path). There would have been stories about govt. Some will have been false, for sure, but some, unfortunately were most possibly extremely accurate. Some would have been in the middle & could have never been proven true or false. Time will have revealed the truth in most of whatever may have circulated at that time. At some point, some theories may have become frightenly obvious & normal with some people no longer questioning anything, but going with the popular trends. On the other hand, some theories will have been proven blatantly false. This type of event tells me that caution & observing is important and bad things can & do happen & can happen when one stops asking pointed questions. Questions are important & gossip (I believe this is at the heart of many conspiracy theories) is not good. Assumptions are dangerous too. Also, if there is nothing to hide, answers to simple questions should come easy, wouldn't you think?
I think observation, leaving emotion out of the equation if possible, is important. I think all of the easily proven/provable (especially officially publically documented) facts are important to observe & take into consideration...even if they don't agree with your bias. Just the same, is *it* biased? Govt. is politics. Politics always has something to gain. So does the medical system...power & money as well, and they continuously want more of both. Studies are often flawed. Stats are often skewed. Look at what history reveals about these things. That is why it should be taken into consideration, not just taken in as truth. Keep an open mind.
If you consider that all information should be examined carefully, NO media is fully trustworthy as each type/media group has something to gain. Ratings, power, money are what drives them as do sensational stories. It's always been this way. Take it all with a grain of salt.
All information, whether given by media, the medical system, govt, friends, family, etc. should always be questioned for validity and not just take their word for it because they say its true. Each of these have something to gain, and so we need to be careful. Even the most credible can be wrong sometimes.
I have never trusted hype & popularity. I hate both. They are both red flags and are, at their core, emotionally driven. Emotion is never a stable foundation & causes people to say & do things they might not do otherwise. Seeing either or both of these things, tells me to be very careful moving forward. I have been seeing these things on both sides, and as we have all seen, words & actions on both sides have not been pleasant for anyone.
What I presently see (and this historically holds true) is that there are the two extremes (remember that neither are likely fully correct, as anything with two extremes) and neither wishes to listen to the other or carefully consider what the other might have to say. Usually, as with anything, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. It is important to respect, be willing to listen & learn. Balance is always important.
Anyway, I am not convinced that either extreme is fully correct in their chosen propaganda. I am watching, hearing, learning as we go. I am adapting as needed to developments and not breaking laws, but I am also never going to stop questioning, nor observing. It is important.