Peter Knight, professor of American studies at the University of Manchester, who has studied conspiracy theories and their history, notes that the link between alternative therapies and conspiracy is at least a century old, and has been much ignored. “New age and conspiracy theories both see themselves as counter-knowledges that challenge what they see as received wisdom,” he says. “Conspiracy theories provide the missing link, turbo-charging an existing account of what’s happening by claiming that it is not just the result of chance or the unintended consequences of policy choices, but the result of a deliberate, secret plan, whether by big pharma, corrupt scientists, the military-industrial complex or big tech.”
Some people who haven't studied science may feel that scientists are an "in" crowd who share knowledge that they, the scientists, have arrived at through the scientific method.
ReplyDeleteThese people who feel that way may want to experience that same "in" feeling on the cheap. So they come up with conspiracy theories and other knowledge which is just made up and wrapped it in a veneer of pseudo-scientific language and "studies."
When confronted by people who challenge the validity of what these people purpotedly believe in, they, the conspiracists, may slyly respond, "I know you don't get it," implying that they, and they alone, have the inside scoop on what's really going on (and don't you just wish you were in on it too!)
Hypocrisy.
ReplyDeleteHere's the big conspiracy theories - gender is just a social construct. It's normal not to be exclusively heterosexual. Only Whites are racist.
Wow so if leftist have the biggest conspiracy theory that means all other nonsense views are insignificant?!
ReplyDeleteNever said that. Said that conspiracy theories are rampant on both sides so it's hypocrisy for the left to claim it's a problem just for the right while their own nutso thoughts are treated as legitimate.
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