Conspiracy theorists: They're everywhere and they know everything !

Well, you know, that's just like uh, your opinion man.

On a serious note: sometimes it's hard to deal with people like this. If they are stubborn and don't want to change their views, I usually just don't talk to them about that stuff. But since you care about this person, it might be better to ask the question: "how do you know what you know - what is your evidence?" Since most conspiracy theories are based on conjecture, intuition, or some other form of faulty reasoning - I would press them to explain their knowledge and reliability of their sources. Ask them where they got the information that they are drawing conclusions from. Chances are they will be citing various studies which are probably unreliable. Ask them if they have read and understand the studies. Try to find bias or motivation in their reasoning. Ask them if they have reviewed and fairly assessed the evidence that contends with their beliefs.

You said that "upfront debunking is counter-productive" - what do you mean by this? Do they refuse to listen when you debunk their claims? If so, I'm not sure what to do either. Two of my closest family members are radical conservatives with very racist and nationalist views. I mostly just ignore them because I know they are stubborn and resistant to change - plus I am not very educated on a lot of things and if I push them, they will likely retreat to areas where they have more knowledge than me and try to obfuscate and shift the goal post. They use very stupid reasoning but as all radicals do, they think they are enlightened and logically consistent.

Just try use intellect and logic - it won't fail if you're right. Understanding what bad reasoning looks like, reading studies, and fact-checking are very helpful ways to combat conspiracy theories.

 

I used to think conspiracy theories were just fun quirks that added to a person's uniqueness, sometimes weird and bizarre, always unfounded in truth, but basically harmless. Now that I've seen how the US right has weaponized conspiracy theories to disregard realities they find uncomfortable, to shape their own bizarre and dangerously violent view of the world, and to generally threaten the very foundations of democracy: conspiracy theories make me sick to my stomach. Literally.

 

I think on some level people are comforted by having an explanatory framework, I mean heck a lot of people have probably never even heard of confirmation bias - not to mention the awareness of how it can work in ones own thinking process doesn't necessarily come with understanding the concept.

Does Martine know about the debunking YouTubers? Maybe share a video on a topic that she wouldn't already disagree with or have a strong opinion about, at least she would be exposed to the process of critical thinking. I also wonder if those are more kind of even handed and dispassionate or go toward the other extreme of "OMG how can you believe that!" kind of drama attitude. As you said up front debunking is not helpful, it's like trying to directly challenge the belief system of someone in a cult.

I think it's important to recognize there are two things: Psychological motivation ("I Want To Believe") and the lack of critical thinking skills. Some people also react to anything that even sounds like conspiracy theory, which is why I mentioned screening for that quality in the debunking videos but it would also be a bit naive to think everybody in government is completely honest about everything and are perfect saints and angels even if we don't know what's going on exactly, there are documented historical facts of acts that does not fit that profile obviously.

 

We all have beliefs / interests that we will defend to the death.

If you have a pet dog and she doesn't like dogs, then it's time to move on rather than get sucked into a life where you don't have a dog.

 

Well, Is she talking about Illuminati. For a second just think that these conspiracy theories are real - then dont you think that government will eliminate all proofs about this conspiracy, then it is obvious that you will not find any reliable evidence. Ask her about why she believes those things, then again counter question until and unless one of you give up. At last either you will understand that she was right or she will understand that you were right. Actually I myself believe on few theories.

 

My relative believed vaccines caused autism. The finest BS that exists. You can't move on and call it a loss-cause. There is harm in it. Calling them stupid did not help. News of measle outbreaks and death did. Long story short, their child did get vaccinated. Thank God. Others have not been so fortunate and had their children get harmed or even died.

These are one of those matters where it is a lot easier to cause problems than it is to fix.
What I suggest doing is sharing content from these funny doctors. These are voices of reason and very funny.
https://www.youtube.com/c/DoctorMike
https://www.youtube.com/user/ZDoggMD

 

Just a question guys, so you do believe the official September 11th story?
-That Larry Silverstein the close friend of Benjamin Netanyahu was just terribly luck, he and his family to have evaded being at the WTC and managed to profit Immensely from it by a stroke of luck.
-Or that the dancing Israelies who had been arrested celebrating had nothing to do it.

Anyone who have looked into September 11th, should come to the hard realization that those who are labeled "conspiracy theorists" are not so crazy after all and things are not as they all seem to be. for the very good example if something as big September 11th could pass without the real perpetrators being arrested and without the truth coming out in any main stream venue for so long, it means the whole "official" world view is shaken but due to cognitive dissonance people would refuse to accept it.

It used to be in older societies that religion and caste/sect/class was used to control the masses, anyone criticizing that control would also be labeled all sorts of names by the gullible masses who enjoyed their servitude to their feudal lord or abusive religious clergymen. Nowadays it's no different but only more sophisticated form of psychological control.

OP, the reason that you are annoyed that your friend is "crazy" or however you want to describe her, is because deep down you know something is not right in the world and that she holds some truth, but it's terribly hard for you to start to accept it because you have built up mental structures and world views that has to be shattered if you want to do that and it's really uncomfortable. No one can change anyone in a short period of time, your ideas are a part of you. Someone who is in deep denial about the world might have to suffer some serious trauma before they even start to change their mental structures.

But it's alright my friend, keep burying your head in the sand, wash your hands and stay "Safe", the germs are out to get you and your government knows what is best for you and cares deeply about you.

 

Well aren't you woke...

 

After the assasination of JFK the CIA coined the term "conspiracy" to whoever questioned the mainstream rhetoric... JFK wanted to give a middle finger to the Federal Reserve which is NOT owned by the US, but by a private corporation that owns almost all of the CENTRAL Banks in the entire world. If you think you are free... you are not, you´re a slave and they have divided the people. Divide and conquer.

 

@MrDetermination how much time have you got and how much do you like her?

Perhaps she is spending too much time with her mum. Their world is collapsing inwards and they are focussing on silly things that make them feel like they are engaging with the world and taking a stand. Perhaps you just need to get her out more. If she had a richer life she may no longer have the time nor the inclination to focus in on these conspiracy theories. Just my 2p worth, I may be misreading the situation.

 

ROTHSCHILD OWNED & CONTROLLED BANKS:

Afghanistan: Bank of Afghanistan
Albania: Bank of Albania
Algeria: Bank of Algeria
Argentina: Central Bank of Argentina
Armenia: Central Bank of Armenia
Aruba: Central Bank of Aruba
Australia: Reserve Bank of Australia
Austria: Austrian National Bank
Azerbaijan: Central Bank of Azerbaijan Republic
Bahamas: Central Bank of The Bahamas
Bahrain: Central Bank of Bahrain
Bangladesh: Bangladesh Bank
Barbados: Central Bank of Barbados
Belarus: National Bank of the Republic of Belarus
Belgium: National Bank of Belgium
Belize: Central Bank of Belize
Benin: Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO)
Bermuda: Bermuda Monetary Authority
Bhutan: Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan
Bolivia: Central Bank of Bolivia
Bosnia: Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana: Bank of Botswana
Brazil: Central Bank of Brazil
Bulgaria: Bulgarian National Bank
Burkina Faso: Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO)
Burundi: Bank of the Republic of Burundi
Cambodia: National Bank of Cambodia
Came Roon: Bank of Central African States
Canada: Bank of Canada – Banque du Canada
Cayman Islands: Cayman Islands Monetary Authority
Central African Republic: Bank of Central African States
Chad: Bank of Central African States
Chile: Central Bank of Chile
China: The People’s Bank of China
Colombia: Bank of the Republic
Comoros: Central Bank of Comoros
Congo: Bank of Central African States
Costa Rica: Central Bank of Costa Rica
Côte d’Ivoire: Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO)
Croatia: Croatian National Bank
Cuba: Central Bank of Cuba
Cyprus: Central Bank of Cyprus
Czech Republic: Czech National Bank
Denmark: National Bank of Denmark
Dominican Republic: Central Bank of the Dominican Republic
East Caribbean area: Eastern Caribbean Central Bank
Ecuador: Central Bank of Ecuador
Egypt: Central Bank of Egypt
El Salvador: Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea: Bank of Central African States
Estonia: Bank of Estonia
Ethiopia: National Bank of Ethiopia
European Union: European Central Bank
Fiji: Reserve Bank of Fiji
Finland: Bank of Finland
France: Bank of France
Gabon: Bank of Central African States
The Gambia: Central Bank of The Gambia
Georgia: National Bank of Georgia
Germany: Deutsche Bundesbank
Ghana: Bank of Ghana
Greece: Bank of Greece
Guatemala: Bank of Guatemala
Guinea Bissau: Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO)
Guyana: Bank of Guyana
Haiti: Central Bank of Haiti
Honduras: Central Bank of Honduras
Hong Kong: Hong Kong Monetary Authority
Hungary: Magyar Nemzeti Bank
Iceland: Central Bank of Iceland
India: Reserve Bank of India
Indonesia: Bank Indonesia
Iran: The Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Iraq: Central Bank of Iraq
Ireland: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland
Israel: Bank of Israel
Italy: Bank of Italy
Jamaica: Bank of Jamaica
Japan: Bank of Japan
Jordan: Central Bank of Jordan
Kazakhstan: National Bank of Kazakhstan
Kenya: Central Bank of Kenya
Korea: Bank of Korea
Kuwait: Central Bank of Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan: National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic
Latvia: Bank of Latvia
Lebanon: Central Bank of Lebanon
Lesotho: Central Bank of Lesotho
Libya: Central Bank of Libya (Their most recent conquest)
Uruguay: Central Bank of Uruguay
Lithuania: Bank of Lithuania
Luxembourg: Central Bank of Luxembourg
Macao: Monetary Authority of Macao
Macedonia: National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia
Madagascar: Central Bank of Madagascar
Malawi: Reserve Bank of Malawi
Malaysia: Central Bank of Malaysia
Mali: Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO)
Malta: Central Bank of Malta
Mauritius: Bank of Mauritius
Mexico: Bank of Mexico
Moldova: National Bank of Moldova
Mongolia: Bank of Mongolia
Montenegro: Central Bank of Montenegro
Morocco: Bank of Morocco
Mozambique: Bank of Mozambique
Namibia: Bank of Namibia
Nepal: Central Bank of Nepal
Netherlands: Netherlands Bank
Netherlands Antilles: Bank of the Netherlands Antilles
New Zealand: Reserve Bank of New Zealand
Nicaragua: Central Bank of Nicaragua
Niger: Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO)
Nigeria: Central Bank of Nigeria
Norway: Central Bank of Norway
Oman: Central Bank of Oman
Pakistan: State Bank of Pakistan
Papua New Guinea: Bank of Papua New Guinea
Paraguay: Central Bank of Paraguay
Peru: Central Reserve Bank of Peru
Philip Pines: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
Poland: National Bank of Poland
Portugal: Bank of Portugal
Qatar: Qatar Central Bank
Romania: National Bank of Romania
Russia: Central Bank of Russia
Rwanda: National Bank of Rwanda
San Marino: Central Bank of the Republic of San Marino
Samoa: Central Bank of Samoa
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency
Senegal: Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO)
Serbia: National Bank of Serbia
Seychelles: Central Bank of Seychelles
Sierra Leone: Bank of Sierra Leone
Singapore: Monetary Authority of Singapore
Slovakia: National Bank of Slovakia
Slovenia: Bank of Slovenia
Solomon Islands: Central Bank of Solomon Islands
South Africa: South African Reserve Bank
Spain: Bank of Spain
Sri Lanka: Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Sudan: Bank of Sudan
Surinam: Central Bank of Suriname
Swaziland: The Central Bank of Swaziland
Sweden: Sveriges Riksbank
Switzerland: Swiss National Bank
Tajikistan: National Bank of Tajikistan
Tanzania: Bank of Tanzania
Thailand: Bank of Thailand
Togo: Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO)
Tonga: National Reserve Bank of Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago: Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia: Central Bank of Tunisia
Turkey: Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey
Uganda: Bank of Uganda
Ukraine: National Bank of Ukraine
United Arab Emirates: Central Bank of United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom: Bank of England
United States: Federal Reserve, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Vanuatu: Reserve Bank of Vanuatu
Venezuela: Central Bank of Venezuela
Vietnam: The State Bank of Vietnam
Yemen: Central Bank of Yemen
Zambia: Bank of Zambia
Zimbabwe: Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

And this list was only of banks, he also have his business in real estate, gold, wine etc. Media and most government is controlled by them. Any political leader who tries to go against them is offered corruption. Media doesn't support those government who doesn't agree to their demands, Many are even assassinated. Please dont use google to verify all this, it is censored - it might show you PMO, but it will never show this truth. Use duckduckgo.

 

You do know what duckduckgo is right? It is the Bing search engine with a few privacy perks. I am not a fan of googles
privacy but their search engine is far more powerful.

 

Guys, just to keep things in perspective.
People are free to believe whatever they want to, I think this should be a given. And it is only natural that people would have different opinions on different things. But what is not natural is the usual outright hostility and righteousness that those who adhere to the mainstream narrative feel that they can exercise over those who do not.
What is unusual is the level of control and censorship now present on the internet especially on the bigger platforms like Youtube, Reddit and facebook. If someone is supportive of this level of censorship just because he/she feel their opinions are the same ones as being pushed by the controllers whom he/she are happy to obey perhaps they should take time to reflect.

In communists block countries, any dissent would be considered not only as political opposition but as a mental issue! Clearly the communist party had all the right answers, anyone criticizing it must of been mad or mentally disabled according to them. We are now seeing a similar trend where anyone who criticizes whatever the majority believes they are also labeled "Conspiracy theorists". Even for such obvious and easily provable things such as the Israeli mossad involvement in September 11th attacks or the mossad blackmail operations of their agents Jeffery Epstein or Ghsilane Maxwell.

Where to draw the line for state power? Should the state just kill off anyone who refuses the COVID narrative? Or shoot in the street anyone not wearing a slave muzzle/mask?
Doesn't man have a right to live freely? (And no, the excuse "it's for the good of the community" is the usual excuse all dictators use)
It used to be shunned upon how the Saudis for example would force women to wear the Burka or restrict people immensely, but now supposedly "free" and advanced societies are brutalizing their citizen and enforcing draconian measures on them worst than what Saudis used to do but everyone is busy rationalizing that the state should gain more powers!

OP: You should change your title to this to make it more clear: "My friend changed her political opinion and is supporting a party I do not agree with, thus I think I have a right to call her names and think she is crazy and try to fix her so she thinks just like me, others also have a right to judge her and think she is crazy so please guys call her crazy as well or tell me how how to make her think like me again."

 

You hit the nail right on it's head.