What are conspiracy theories, anyway? Personally, I am happy when a discussion becomes more emotional, as long as you stick to the facts. But every now and then - and especially nowadays - I find myself in situations where people sell their personal opinion as fact without any evidence, even though it can be refuted in seconds with sober data and facts.
Even if such conspiracy theories are completely unfounded, they unfortunately remain a topic of discussion for quite a long time. They drive me crazy. After all, they are not facts, but just crude, untrue theories and unsubstantiated opinions that are not worth discussing because they are fake arguments.
Ultimately, they can halt real social progress, jeopardize people and their relationships with each other and cause real harm.
In this article, I would like to provide you with everything you need to know about conspiracy theories so that they become less common. You'll learn how to define, recognize and debunk them, how they work and which examples have gained particular notoriety. Let's go!
In advance you can find a short overview of the article here:
What is a conspiracy theory?
A conspiracy theory is understood to be the Suspicion that a group of people have come together in secretto achieve a common goal that may endanger other people. Much subjunctive thus. Finally, it is also only called conspiracy theory, because there is simply no evidence for the suspected conspiracy.
So-called conspiracy theorists are the people who often believe these theories. They usually firmly believe that a certain event only happened because certain people (the conspirators) conspired to bring it about. They do not believe in chancebut a big plan in the background.
In the end, however, only Reality and invented facts mixed together.
Book Recommendation: To better understand absurd theories, I have the Book "Fake Facts: How conspiracy theories determine our thinking" by Katharina Nocun and Pia Lamberty. It teaches you how people become radicalized by conspiracy theories and ultimately become enemies of democracy. If you like, get it here*.
Why do conspiracy theories work at all?
It basically only needs a wrongdoer or a wrongdoer, which is particularly benefited by the occurrence of a certain event, a theory that many people would like to be true, as well as people and mediawho believe them, share them and spin them on.
Anyone who believes in a conspiracy makes it much easier to accept a true but rather undesirable fact. Information that does not confirm one's own belief system is completely ignored. Other claims and opinions are not allowed. Instead, those who express them are simply part of the conspiracy. That's it!
So nobody scratches at their own faith. There is no interest in logical, disproving explanations. What is interesting, however, is what confirms or supports the conspiracy theorists' own truth. So it is actually even a Conspiracy ideology.
"A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes."
Mark Twain
Especially with the help of (social) media crude conjectures often spread like wildfire online. Conspiracy theorists prefer media and people around them who reinforce their own desired image. Factual media are the "lying press" - alternative media that confirm the belief are the honest press. The more confirmation, the more the (mis)belief hardens a possible conspiracy.
The The engine of conspiracy theories are among others the Striving for understanding and a positive self-perception.
What are good examples of a conspiracy theory?
Actually, it's already too much to even write about. But of course I would like to give you a few Practical examples of better-known conspiracy theories (unproven!).
Ultimately, because some of them Dangerous to the environment, health or even life and they should not simply continue to haunt the world. Here are a few examples:
- Flat earth: "Flacherdler:innen" believe that the earth is a disk.
- Qanon: Q-followers claim that an influential, globally active, Satanist elite abducts, imprisons and murders children in order to extract a rejuvenation serum from their blood.
- Bielefeld: In the rather satirical Bielefeld Conspiracy, it is assumed that the city does not exist but is merely convincingly feigned.
- Staged moon landing: Here it is assumed that the moon landings from 1969 to 1972 were only faked by NASA and the US government.
- Chemtrails: It is claimed that some contrails in the sky are not aircraft exhaust, but the deliberate, global spreading of chemicals to minimize population, for example.
- Corona Conspiracy: With the corona vaccination, rich businessmen around Bill Gates want to transplant microchips into humanity in order to control humanity and depopulate the world. (just one of many conspiracy myths about the pandemic that have been Book "Fake Facts "* be addressed)
- 9/11: It is claimed that the American government around George W. Bush was involved in the attack on the World Trade Center in order to justify the subsequent war on terror.
- Lizardmen: It is claimed that so-called reptiloids hold high office with the aim of enslaving humanity.
I don't want to go into further examples here, because in my opinion already clarify sufficientlywhat to expect from a conspiracy theory.
How do I recognize a conspiracy theory - and how can you debunk it?
On the basis of clear Features you can quickly recognize conspiracy theories. For conspiracy theorists, you need a person or organization to whom you can attribute the Attach guilt can - as a rule, it is people who benefit from a particular event, either in reality or in theory.
But as a rule, there are also other people who benefit - and of course some who are not affected at all or even have to suffer as a result. A conspiracy theory ignores this: In principle, there is only the good victim and the evil conspirator(s).
Complex interrelationships are therefore simplified so muchthat an assumption could theoretically be correct if the data situation allowed it. And again: Much subjunctive without evidence. But that's exactly how you recognize a conspiracy theory.
What to do? Only share a new message if you can prove that it is true - because otherwise you are just adding fuel to the fire of the conspiracy theory, which it needs to spread quickly.
Is a Contribution very one-sided and creates a mood are the contents substantiated or do they come from very dubious sources? You can also use this to recognize unfounded assumptions and expose them.
A certain basic skepticism is generally never wrong.
Conspiracy theories can be dangerous!
If sufficient measurable evidence is available, these are an objectively true fact - and at this point you no longer discuss the opposite. Because just because you want the opposite to be true doesn't make it true.
We cannot allow ourselves any fantasies and "alternative facts"if we want to develop as a global society and live together sustainably and peacefully on earth.
You can believe in the staged moon landing if you want to. After all, in Germany Freedom of opinion and freedom of belief. However, as soon as a conspiracy theory endangers (other) people or scares them without evidence, action must be taken.
"People are far more likely to believe a lie they have heard 100 times, than a truth that is completely new to them."
Alfred Polgar (more sayings under Honesty Quotes)
In conclusion, I would like to leave you with "Fake facts: How conspiracy theories shape our thinking" (is available here*) once again my absolute book recommendation.
I hope that you are prepared for the future with the content of this article and the recommended book - and that conspiracy theories, false claims and fake news do not fall on fertile ground for you.
Stay fact-based and fact-oriented,
PS: Have a look around the Knowledge blog um. Learn, for example, what is meant by the so-called Whataboutism that not only conspiracy theorists like to fall back on.
