Analytic thinking reduces belief in conspiracy theories

[Javaman]

8. there is someone in my life that goes on and on regarding "conspiracy theories"

recently he prattled on and on about one crazy harebrained idea after another.

finally I said, "okay, with all this information about lizards and what not trying to eat our young for electrical power generation, what are you going to do with this insightful information"?"

He paused and asked what I meant.

I said, "you spew on and on about these supposed theories, but with all this information and knowledge, what are you going to do with it?"

he sort of sputtered and searched for an answer.

I said quite gently to him, because I didn't want to set he off again, "there are so many truly fucked up things in this world that don't require "conspiracy theories" to understand them that need our attention desperately. Wars, poverty, child slavery, horrible horrible things, why not devote your energy and will to trying solve one of those problems?"

But then he shot back with the circular logic of the conspiracy theorist, "none of that matters as long as those in power (name your favorite popular conspiracy overlord group or individual) are controlling things!!"

I shook my head and finally said, "so in other words, give up and don't do anything at all, right?"

He sat back and looked smug, "Yup, what's the point!"

--------------------------------

that's the very simple problem with conspiracy theorists, it's the easy out for them as someone who doesn't actually give a damn about society or trying to find a real solution to actual problems. They just blame all the problems of the world on some imaginary entity thus relieving themselves of being part of the worlds or societies problems.