S. Lott
#climateChangeDenial Approached by a government weather control nutcase (I wanted to ask about chemtrails and flat earth). They had photocopies of an old newspaper article (which tabloid? I wanted to ask) that was too small to read. On the flip side, parts of the story were reproduced larger so one could — my partner stopped them there and sent them packing.
Oct 14, 2024 at 5:10pmWeb
Show threadS. LottOct 14, 2024

I noticed them because they had a 30” monitor on the table in a booth.

Afterwords, we wondered if anything we might say would be more cutting than simply telling them to get lost.

Maybe. “Have you considered that it’s Exxon-Mobil not the government?” But. Engaging is risky.

Show threadMatthew ReinboldOct 14, 2024

@slott56 I am fascinated about the mentality that seizes on a singular piece of information, regardless of the source, and repeats it as gospel because it validates a personal belief.

"Do your own research," should be empowering statement but it has been twisted into something dark: an encouragement to cherry pick whatever one can find in an infinite internet of content, to never be forced to reconcile with being wrong or go through the discomfort of growing. Feelings over facts.

Show threadMatthew ReinboldOct 14, 2024
@slott56 I retooted this to my main timeline, but I'm including it here as well just to complete the thought: https://www.threads.net/@randderuiter/post/DBHjCfYTDNy
Rand Fishkin (@randderuiter) on Threads

“The primary use of ‘misinformation’ is not to change the beliefs of other people at all. Instead, the vast majority of misinformation is offered as a service for people to maintain their beliefs in face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary." - Michael Caulfield, Univ. of WA researcher Makes a lot of sense. No one's trying to persuade with this stuff. They're just creating it to insulate and maintain the base.

Threads
Show threadS. LottOct 15, 2024

@matthew I was curious what nonsense they were going to spew.

I knew a Chemtrails person, once upon a time. For them, it seemed to be a generic anti-government grievance cloaked in pseudo-scientific bafflegab. They were part of a network of like-minded folks who (a) were sure chemtrails were a thing and (b) didn't wear foul-weather gear at all times.

Did they really *believe* it? Or. Did they merely repeat it?