@RickiTarr I don't think they can handle being right. They're confronted with a real, actual conspiracy and they're like:
Wha? ????
Potatoes!!
Potatoes contain microchips!
They're controlled by the lizard people!
They're coming for us all!!!!!
@RickiTarr @lydiaconwell a conspiracy theorist being proven right is actually the worst thing, because then they no longer have special knowledge that insulates them and makes them powerful, and also they might have to actually do something.
A belief that makes you feel powerful and safe, and also requires nothing from you except belief (and maybe watching/reading a bunch of stuff) is a potent thing indeed...
@wilbr @lydiaconwell Yes, this is interesting to me.
1. The idea that knowledge is only valuable if they and only a few others hold it.
2. That they think rich and powerful people being corrupt is in fact a conspiracy theory and not a universal truth.
@RickiTarr @wilbr @lydiaconwell
Thing is, accepting the truth means having to question whether or not there is a benevolent god. People are so desperate to believe in prosperity gospel and blame victims, because if bad things really are happening to good people and good things are happening to bad people, how are we supposed to make sense of the universe and omg who is even driving this thing-- total existential crisis.
That's why the denial and hostility is so intense.
@lydiaconwell @RickiTarr like if Fauci actually said "yeah ivermectin is good, take as much of it as you can, here's Biden Bucks to redeem for free ivermectin" they would feel vindicated for two seconds and then start on the next thing (it's obviously too good to be true, Biden ivermectin is laced with 5G chips, that's how they getcha)
I'm guilty of this in terms of surviving this fascism: oh I've been right all along, huh? So where's my fortified antifa compound and leftist resistance army?
@lydiaconwell @RickiTarr kinda like the opposite of doomsday cults: when the prophecy doesn't actually come true, the cultists have come to need the cult (or mindset) so deeply that it spurs true believers (or true grifters) on to even deeper levels of belief. Save us from this anguish, prophet! Oh good, it was just a test of our faith and we passed, phew! What's next?
Extremely related: https://theconversation.com/how-conspiracy-theories-help-to-maintain-vladimir-putins-grip-on-power-in-russia-225703
@lydiaconwell @RickiTarr and of course we're in the thick of it... basically everything QAnon believed is now almost literally true, but about the opposite political party. And there's a chance that the very people posting the "Q" dumps were the ones at the center of the evildoing. Like one big DARVO / getting out in front of news.
Related:
Ricki Yasha Tarr
Lydia Conwell
wb x64
Violet Madder