discuss Are Conspiracy Theories Harmless or Dangerous?

[Apsara]

Some see them as thought-provoking, while others believe they spread misinformation and distrust. Do conspiracy theories serve as necessary skepticism, or do they cause more harm than good? Have you ever been convinced by a conspiracy theory?

 

[Harsh World]

while others believe they spread misinformation

Who are the others to determine what is misinformation? All information needs to be disseminated so that anyone can make up their mind about what is the truth and what isn't the truth.

Have you ever been convinced by a conspiracy theory?

Yes, but I'm glad that the people labeling them as such were wrong. I made up my own opinion based on the narrative and counter-narrative and the facts that were present. I don't know of a single person who regrets "not following the science", as one conspiracy theory example, spread by those who had information versus the conspiracy theorists who only had "misinformation".

 

[Alamson]

One of the reasons why people come up with these theories is mistrust-people come up with alternative explanations for events because they feel the official explanations are false. It is really difficult to verify the authethencity of their claims. Some conspiracy theories can be harmful as they spread false information. For example, there were conspiracy theories about the cause of Covid 19 and its vaccines. Some people were made to believe that the virus was intentionally introduced and that the vaccines were meant to depopulate the world.

Another conspiracy theory was that Tupac Shakur did not really die; there was a time I heard that he was seen in a strange country living a humble life. But it was in 2023 that the mystery surrounding his death was unravelled by the arrest of a key suspect.

 

[Oshawott]

From what I understand, every revolutionary idea was once a conspiracy theory only!

Infact, it would be good if we are able to cultivate a culture of people being able to access and verify their information and making a informed opinion on social issues.

 

[Jason]

It wasn't as big a deal in the past, but now people like Bill Gates, Fauci and the like have given a lot of fire to anti-globalists who pretty much don't believe in democracy because they believe it's a surrender to globalists who will take away democracy

How has this stuff been given fire? Well, look at Covid, for instance. Look at the over-the-top repression of free speech under Biden. I mean, you may not like what people like Alex Jones say, but they have a right to free speech.

Note: I was in my 20s in the 90s and I've always heard this stuff, but it was so laughable back in those days. It was even that way as recent as Obama's presidency.

 

[Harsh World]

I mean, you may not like what people like Alex Jones say, but they have a right to free speech.

He was right about one thing, just the way he said it made it laughably dismissive.

"I don't like them putting chemicals in the water that turn the friggin' frogs gay!!!!"

This was readily available information for anyone to find, dating back to 2010, and maybe further.

Atrazine induces complete feminization and chemical castration in male African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) - PMC

The herbicide atrazine is one of the most commonly applied pesticides in the world. As a result, atrazine is the most commonly detected pesticide contaminant of ground, surface, and drinking water. Atrazine is also a potent endocrine disruptor that ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

It's the way he presented it that made him a "conspiracy theorist" and relentlessly mocked for speaking somewhat the truth (not turning them gay, but feminizing them).

Alex Jones has been right about many things, but people will not listen to him because of one mistake: Sandy Hook.

Now critically think for yourself:

If atrazine can feminize frogs, and in some findings, change their sex from male to female, is it really a bad thing to dismiss and not something to worry about? Could that be the cause of declining testosterone levels in males over the past couple of decades, as well as the physical deformity that is moving the male anus closer to the scrotum? What would happen to a male's body when, finally, it doesn't get the appropriate levels of testosterone to develop through puberty?

 

[Shawn]

I think "conspiracy theory" is being used too loosely, these days.

I think if the left doesn't agree with the right's view, they'll cry conspiracy. I think if the right doesn't agree with the left's view, they'll cry conspiracy.

Meanwhile, these guys:

Are just trying to find the truth and wishing the crazy politicians would have found a different word to call each other when they don't get along in their big sandbox we call democracy.

 

[Jason]

He was right about one thing, just the way he said it made it laughably dismissive.

"I don't like them putting chemicals in the water that turn the friggin' frogs gay!!!!"

This was readily available information for anyone to find, dating back to 2010, and maybe further.

Atrazine induces complete feminization and chemical castration in male African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) - PMC

The herbicide atrazine is one of the most commonly applied pesticides in the world. As a result, atrazine is the most commonly detected pesticide contaminant of ground, surface, and drinking water. Atrazine is also a potent endocrine disruptor that ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

It's the way he presented it that made him a "conspiracy theorist" and relentlessly mocked for speaking somewhat the truth (not turning them gay, but feminizing them).

Alex Jones has been right about many things, but people will not listen to him because of one mistake: Sandy Hook.

Now critically think for yourself:

If atrazine can feminize frogs, and in some findings, change their sex from male to female, is it really a bad thing to dismiss and not something to worry about? Could that be the cause of declining testosterone levels in males over the past couple of decades, as well as the physical deformity that is moving the male anus closer to the scrotum? What would happen to a male's body when, finally, it doesn't get the appropriate levels of testosterone to develop through puberty?

Yeah, I really believe people who are gay probably are not by choice.

 

[Kross]

Conspiracy theories are the easiest way to propagate a single story about a thing or person. And that is very dangerous. I have held an opinion about a particular set of people and erroneously define them with that simply because I believed a conspiracy theory.

 

[Shortie]

I have researched conspiracy theories in the past and will admit, some can be harmless, whilst others, especially when they are not researched and do not provide enough information to prove what they are saying, can be very dangerous.

I see conspiracy theories thrown around a lot now, more so than I ever did, and it seems to be used a lot by those who are not happy with your opinion because it is not their opinion, and I find that to be quite dangerous.

 

[Oshawott]

Conspiracy theories are the easiest way to propagate a single story about a thing or person. And that is very dangerous. I have held an opinion about a particular set of people and erroneously define them with that simply because I believed a conspiracy theory.

This I should tiotally agree with.

The worlds biggest propoganda was based on conspiracy theories and its so common that we all believe in something or the other. I remember the saying, by the time truth wears its slippers, the false information would have travelled twice around the world.

 

[Jason]

It's important to remember that The Holocaust arose out of "conspiracy theory" culture stoked by Car Mogul Henry Ford. Hitler even had a picture of Ford in his office.

 

[King Belieal]

Most conspiracy theories always paint a particular people or region in negative light. That alone can sponsor hatred and violence towards a particular group of people. I always try to avoid conspiracy theories or take them too seriously.

 

[Maina]

Conspiracy theories can seem harmless at first, just speculative ideas or alternative explanations. But they often become dangerous when they spread misinformation, erode trust in institutions, or influence people to reject science and facts. In extreme cases, they’ve led to real-world violence and public health crises. For example, theories around vaccines or elections have deeply impacted societies. While some stem from genuine skepticism, unchecked conspiracy theories can exploit fear and divide communities. So, they aren’t always harmless, they carry real risks when taken too far or used manipulatively.

 

[Yama]

They are dangerous. They spread misinformation. Interestingly, some conspiracy theory also seem to have some level of "truth." For instance, one theory about Corona Virus tells that China produced it in a lab and it got leaked. There are a lot of facts that point towards this, however, mainstream media continues to tell us that it was not lab manufactured.

 

[strongdude]

Conspiracy theories could be harmless. This depends a lot on the conspiracy theory. Some conspiracy theories are not directly related to you, so those conspiracy theories could be harmless in a general sense. However, in some cases conspiracy theories could be harmful.