I’ll admit it: When there is a good conspiracy theory, I’ll want to hear it.
To be “good” in my estimation, the conspiracy theory has to have enough logic behind it to make sense. That QAnon nonsense? A group of Satan-worshiping elite vampires who run a child sex ring try to control our politics and media? I don’t buy it. But ancient astronauts who came to Earth and shared their knowledge so humans could build the pyramids and use scientific skills to build advanced civilizations long before modern days? That intrigues me. I don’t necessarily believe it, to be sure, but it might explain some of the world’s unsolved mysteries.
What I’m seeing in today’s society, running against my own sensibilities, can lead to some wild conspiracy theories.
Take censorship. Attempts to control free expression, dictate what can and cannot be seen by others, and suppress those whose views or culture are different are forms of censorship which I abhor. Not only that: There’s always a backlash. When the government attempts to tell us that some opinions are misinformation and prevent us from seeing what those opinions are, people will stand up in protest. When parents who object to a particular book seek to ban it so no one else can see it, it can erode support for parental rights, fearing they will lead to more book bans. When hate groups call for violence against others because of their race or religion, they eventually will see the hatred turned back upon them.
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