Conspiracy Theories

[Rev. Mondo Anvil]

I have my own crazy idea and I want to share it with you, tell me what you think!

What if people make conspiracy theories because they're afraid of chaos?

Conspiracy buffs often say that "nothing is coincidence" and "everything has a reason behind it" or something to that end.

Maybe they just get terrified by the possibility that things happen for no reason?

If that were true, it would explain why Discordians and conspiracy theories are like bread and butter...

[Eater of Clowns]

    The main thing that I learned about conspiracy theory is that conspiracy theorists actually believe in a conspiracy because that is more comforting. The truth of the world is that it is chaotic. The truth is, that it is not the Jewish banking conspiracy or the grey aliens or the 12 foot reptiloids from another dimension that are in control. The truth is more frightening, nobody is in control. The world is rudderless.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I have my own crazy idea and I want to share it with you, tell me what you think!

What if people make conspiracy theories because they're afraid of chaos?

Conspiracy buffs often say that "nothing is coincidence" and "everything has a reason behind it" or something to that end.

Maybe they just get terrified by the possibility that things happen for no reason?

If that were true, it would explain why Discordians and conspiracy theories are like bread and butter...

I was having a conversation yesterday about this very thing. To quote a fellow from the thread:

Which is more terrifying? That the world is screwed up due to short-sighted morons with unbridled greed and an apathetic population?
Or that some group is in charge and all the misery is just part of their infamous plan?

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

One thing that drives me crazy are all the people who seem to have absolutely no idea how to vet their news sources, who post tabloid-Naturalnews-Food Babe bullshit while claiming that Establishment Scientists are concealing the truth and working for Big Pharma, while meanwhile scientists are busily waving their arms trying to bring attention to climate change, ocean acidification, desertification, food supply vulnerability, bias, graft, lobbying, collusion between big business and government, species extinction due to habitat encroachment, how escalating cycles of hostility worsen the terrorist problem, and a host of other actual serious problems.

But no. The problem has to be cell phones and the vaccine conspiracy.

[hooplala]

I have my own crazy idea and I want to share it with you, tell me what you think!

What if people make conspiracy theories because they're afraid of chaos?

Conspiracy buffs often say that "nothing is coincidence" and "everything has a reason behind it" or something to that end.

Maybe they just get terrified by the possibility that things happen for no reason?

If that were true, it would explain why Discordians and conspiracy theories are like bread and butter...

I agree with this completely. The conspiracy theorist prefers to harbor their pet theories because it's safer to think there is a Big Bad at the wheel, rather than nobody at the wheel at all. Also, they get to feel they are "in the know" about it all, and therefor superior.

[Rev. Mondo Anvil]

I think it's interesting we all independently came to the same idea.

Maybe it's a meme?

[QueenThera]

Yes, it's probably been a meme for a while. I've seen this discussed on Slacktivist a lot.

There is also moral superiority to be had. And it's FREE. Just assume there are a cabal of evil Satanists murdering babies and having non-consensual sex with dogs, and you're instantly one of the good guys, because you do NOT do that. And the reason you don't stop it is because they're in charge of everything! What you're doing now, bleating about bullshit? It's the only way to stop them!

Not just order, but MORAL order. If that makes sense.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Well, and if some evil cluster of masterminds is steering this whole thing, it means we aren't actually careening uncontrollably toward disaster that nobody has the power to avert. It means that the Chosen will survive and carry on. In some ways that's got to be very comforting.

[QueenThera]

Well, and if some evil cluster of masterminds is steering this whole thing, it means we aren't actually careening uncontrollably toward disaster that nobody has the power to avert. It means that the Chosen will survive and carry on. In some ways that's got to be very comforting.

Yeah. I have to wonder why I don't believe in a conspiracy myself. I mean, it's probably not due to me being smart.

[Q. G. Pennyworth]

I think it's interesting we all independently came to the same idea.

Maybe it's a meme?

As an idea, isn't it by definition a meme?

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I think it's interesting we all independently came to the same idea.

Maybe it's a meme?

As an idea, isn't it by definition a meme?

Yes.

[Rev. Mondo Anvil]

New signature.

Also, aren't only infectious ideas memes? Or is that just my understanding?

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

New signature.

Also, aren't only infectious ideas memes? Or is that just my understanding?

If I recall from reading Dawkins 20 years ago, it's any idea or unit of information. Whether it lives or dies depends on transmission, but the idea itself is the meme, just as a unit of biological information is a gene whether it is reproduced or not.

[Doktor Howl]

If that were true, it would explain why Discordians and conspiracy theories are like bread and butter...

I had something to add to this, then I got to this last line here.

Fuck off.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

If that were true, it would explain why Discordians and conspiracy theories are like bread and butter...

I had something to add to this, then I got to this last line here.

Fuck off.

I think it's more like

it would explain why random wannabe anarchists who think they are Discordians and conspiracy theories are like bread and butter...