What is comforting about conspiracy theories and even lies, and why are they so common and persistent?

[msc545]

Conspiracy theories and lies provide a resolution of uncertainty and unknowing for many people, since they always provide answers. Even incorrect answers are more satisfactory for that group of people who cannot tolerate ambiguity or uncertainty regarding some matters.

This explains why some people get so defensive and angry when their beliefs are challenged or refuted, even if they are obviously false, and why they will resort to lying to prop up their beliefs.

[BoopBoopBeep]

I think some of it is power. Well..."power". One of the races I did last weekend had a lady on a bike that was pacing me. She was... I dunno... traffic guard or something. She ended up explaining to me that income taxes are voluntary because something something sovereign citizen. Now normally I make my distaste for S. C. pretty well known, but I'm focused on this 3 mile long MF of a hill and the 5 miles that comes after it. Figure she'll pull off and go back to... whatever. No such luck. So she is explaining to me how nobody has to pay taxes, they just lie to you and make you believe that you do. I explain it's a hell of a convincing argument with the whole "going to jail" thing that comes afterwards if you don't. She said that's never happened, those are just actors who say they had to go to prison to make people comply. I think she felt empowered that she knew "how things really are" and as such, she was a member of some sort of elite club. I'm willing to bet she doesn't feel like that in a great many other opportunities in life. No offense intended to her, of course.

[msc545]

It might be that being able to maintain your belief in false things like this depends a lot on being able to persuade others that they are true. In other words, proselytizing strengthens core beliefs like these. I'm not sure if this is the case or not but it's what occurred to me at 5:40 this morning when I couldn't sleep.

[BoopBoopBeep]

I could see that. Most of the conspiracy theorists I know are super keen to "convince you". I think you are onto something.

[msc545]

I am trying to figure out the logical extrapolations now... and getting a headache...

[msc545]

Ok perhaps this is sort of the creation of the "appeal to the mob fallacy where in if you get people to agree with you, then after a while, with enough people agreeing, the idea becomes "true". You have to create the mob to obtain agreement.

The appeal to the mob fallacy is based on the idea that widespread opinions, values, or prejudices are a good reason to accept a conclusion.

[BoopBoopBeep]

Sure. That's the problem with pure democracy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AeO-dKGBLs&t=56s

"A lie repeated becomes the truth" - Ol' Joey Goebbels... certainly a man who knew about propaganda

[BetaBucks]

I think people start to recognize how much they are lied to, and instead of embracing skepticism, they cope by embracing opposing faith-based beliefs. I think it's comforting because humans have an inherent need to go through life with a faith-based collecting of beliefs about the world. It's anxiety inducing to realize that nearly everything you believe, is believe based on trust. Almost no one has seen actual proof of the overwhelming majority of the things they believe are true. They just place faith in the rulers they like and the "preachers" that the rulers have told them to trust.

[msc545]

Thanks - well said.

[BetaBucks]

Thank you too 🤝

[exitseven]

A lot of people see that their opinions and beliefs are not based in reality and do not want to admit that they were manipulated by the media or were lied to and believed the lies. they have to blame a conspiracy instead of admitting their gullibility.

[goaded]

Oh, the irony!

[msc545]

Right!

[exitseven]

@goaded yes, indeed

[goaded]

Tell me, is $750 the full amount anyone will get in aid for hurricane damages?

Will people's land be taken from them if they accept FEMA aid?

Will people's supplies be confiscated by FEMA?

Were the fake electors legal?

Did Trump mishandle government documents?

[exitseven]

@goaded 750 is the amount Harris said. it will be less because of taxes.
I do not know where the story came from that said anything about seizing property. I think democrats made it up.
Alternative electors are not illegal
Trump did not mishandle any documents.

[goaded]

1. It's a grant for immediate necessities, it's not all people will get.
2. No, they didn't, and Trump supporters are refusing aid because of the lie.
3. Trump's fake electors were fake and illegal. From the court filing:

"I just talked to the gentleman who did that memo, (CC5) . His idea is basically that all of us (GA, WI, AZ, PA, etc.) have our electors send in their votes (even though the votes aren’t legal under federal law — because they’re not signed by Governor); so that members of Congress can fight about whether they should be counted on January 6". (They could potentially argue that they’re not bound by federal law because they’re Congress and make the law, etc.) Kind of wild/creative — I'm happy to discuss."

*** even though the votes aren’t legal under federal law ***

4. He showed random journalists plans to attack Iran; it's on tape!
www.cnn.com/.../20230626-trump_audio.mp3
"Let me show you an example... Look... This is off the record... Pages long, look... Except it is highly classified... As president, I could have declassified it, now I can't..."

[msc545]

@exitseven And... you are just lying... AGAIN. What the hell?

[exitseven]

@goaded there were alternate electors in the Bush Gore election and nobody went to jail. The democrats just wanted to interfere on the 2024 election There are already democrats who say they will not certify Trump. If he does end up in the White House there are already plans to start impeachment proceedings.

[goaded]

If the people conspiring to steal the election said they weren't legal, why do you think they might have been?

The Bush Gore election came down to about 500 votes in a state of 20 million, there were genuine, provable, problems with the voting machines ("hanging chads"), and various counts had decided both ways; the governor hadn't signed anything. And, guess what, Roger Stone started a riot back then, as well.

I don't even know if there were alternate electors in that case, but if there were, they included a disclaimer about whether their candidate was found to win.

In 2020, Trump would have to have switched multiple states with over 10,000 votes.

[Anonymous]

Well, they figure to cheat and make up lies will get them elected.