In a world increasingly dominated by sensationalism and misinformation, conspiracy theories have found fertile ground to flourish. Dismissed by many as the ramblings of a paranoid few, these theories have long been relegated to the fringes of society. But the experts now warn that they are witnessing the emergence of a new threat vector: conspiracy theorists being proven right.
The exposure of government surveillance programs like PRISM, the revelations surrounding the secret experiments of MKUltra, and the acknowledgement of covert military operations like Operation Gladio, have all served as a sobering reminder that conspiracy theories are not always baseless. Darker still, we’ve even learned that the US government experimented with syphilis on Black folks and were the ultimate cause of the high rate of STDs among non-white populations.
More recently, the lab leak theory regarding the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic has yet again sparked totally unnuanced “conspiracy theorists were right” discourse. While initially the lab leak theory was clamped down on for being a dangerous conspiracy theory, the hypothesis has — more or less by random chance — been the one to recently gain traction in expert opinions.
And while the true origins of the virus remain unclear, the fact that a modern conspiracy theory could potentially hold elements of truth has raised alarm bells among guardians of democracy like journalists and experts.
New York Times: Don’t Go Down the Rabbit Hole
The specter of true conspiracy theories heralds profoundly dangerous implications for our ability to function as an open, inclusive, and equitable democratic society. As once-dismissed theories find validation, shadows of doubt are cast upon the credibility of the mainstream institutions and experts who set out to protect us to begin with.
While those with less nuanced thinking argue that revelations of truth serve as a necessary check on power, experts caution that society is now far more complex and fragile than during the era when Fox Mulder and Dana Scully chased government conspiracies in X-Files.
Public acceptance of parts of even one conspiracy theory will inevitably erode trust in essential institutions and have profound consequences for our ability to shape societal cohesion and protect marginalized minorities like BIPOCs and women.
What the experts all agree on is the importance of critical dialogue about the dangers of conspiracy theories, and the need for democracy’s stakeholders — NGOs and governments — to come to the table and explain how they intend to combat the danger. Government also needs to lay out a dynamic and resilient framework for cooperation with the private sector so that we can present a multifaceted and unified front against conspiratorial thinking in all areas of society.
This is no less than a fight for democracy itself, and so it must be transparent, provide accountability, and be vigorous in upholding our democratic values. We must all come together to strengthen the fact checkers and counter narratives that exploit people’s fears, insecurities, and distrust. Our efforts should focus on rebuilding trust in institutions, amplifying marginalized voices, and ensuring that accurate information is priority-available to the common person in the street.
Tulane University: The best way to fight a conspiracy theory isn’t with facts
But the fight against conspiracy theories goes beyond facts alone. We must nurture an informed and resilient society-mass that can build pathways around the dangerous challenges posed by conspiracy theories, and we must do it all while while upholding our core values of progress, justice, equity, and human rights.
Because it’s ultimately the safety of marginalized bodies that are at stake. And if history has taught us anything it is these three, powerful words: Black lives matter. Women’s lives matter.
Our lives matter.
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“raised alarm bells among guardians of democracy like journalists and experts.” LMAO
This is a joke, right? Right?
“A black woman is speaking”
We must be in the middle of a movie.
Give credit where credit is due, this is one of very few hard left sites that allows commenting.
This isn’t hard left, it’s hard woke. No call for nationalizing the banks here.
“Experts agree that the “Freedom Convoy” uprising which almost toppled Canadian democracy”
So in Canadian “democracy” the people aren’t allowed to gather and ask the government for a redress of grievances?
Canada is now a hard left fascist hell-hole.
baaahahahahaha this drivel made my day
This has to be satire?
Has to be.
“shadows of doubt are cast upon the credibility of the mainstream institutions and experts who set out to protect us to begin with.”
Even the dumbest, most gullible school kid doesn’t fall for the laughable notion that “mainstream institutions and experts” have any interest in “protecting” us. The only time they even take any notice of us is when we’re messing up their brilliant plans by actually thinking for ourselves.
“PS. The A Black Woman Is Speaking mug is a standing invitation to sit down, shut up, and engage in the wisdom shared by Black women. Lord knows the world needs it right now.”
If this article is even the slightest indication, black women need to sit silently and contemplate reality for a bit. There’s certainly not the fainest whiff of “wisdom” being vomited up here.
The problem is not that evil things are happening, the problem is that saying they are happening goes against the proclamation of “experts”? What of the worst sort of midwit writes this crap? Do you think about what you are saying?
The stench of anti-Christ kikery is all over this stinking website.
White lives matter.
Conspiracy theorists have been right 90% of the time those last years. Your article is so stupid I believed it was a joke at first 🙂
“When those theories are correct, it legitimizes them.” Well, of course. Truth is legitimate. But the author of this malodorous piece seems to feel that it’s more important to prop up a cracking facade of lies to “save democracy” than to let historical truths find their proper resting place.
And by the way, the trucker convoy wasn’t fueled by “conspiracy theories” (a woefully overused term nowadays) but by a desire to maintain autonomy over one’s own medical decisions without losing their jobs over it. That’s the root of it, regardless of whatever else you want to blabber on about.
“will inevitably erode trust in essential institutions”
That ship has sailed.
History OFTEN moves by collusion of criminals in secret. This is more than obvious to a thinking an observant person.
If you don’t have a theory about it then you are simply swallowing the canned govenment propaganda… either that or just blind and ingnorant.
Here’s the one of the biggest conspiracies of all time:
anonymousconservative.com/blog/surveillance
Watch out! There is car with one headlight off behind you at crossroad! /S
“The public isn’t buying our bullshit anymore! We must censo.. I mean clamp down on “misinformation” in order to save democracy.”
I particularly liked this part : “While those with less nuanced thinking…” blah blah blah… its funny to watch the low iq crowd try to manipulate people.
The Goob hath ruled on this issue.
A ‘conspiracy theory’ is just a preview of the news a year from now.
..contrary to your ignorant statement ‘we’ DO know the origin of spike protein poison.
https://twitter.com/VigilantFox/status/1752151932003573940
Who gives a shit what a black female has to say about anything?
Of course, I guess it is a woman speaking. Delusion is the norm then.
Wow. The delusion is the strongest I have ever seen right here. They aren’t conspiracy theories when there is evidence pointing to the fact that they’re true. At that point, they’re just conspiracies. Not a theory once it has been proven to be true.
But I know, people in 2024 think their life is a movie and they don’t want any spoilers. Dumbasses.
What an awesome article (sike)…in short, the article reads – just because government lied about MLK Ultra, project Northwood, Project Mockingbird, Oklahoma, Tuskegee, Vietnam, Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Contras etc etc etc, then recently, covid origins, vaccine efficacy, vaccine safety etc etc doesn’t mean we should not trust government and rather than the voting public decide what’s best for the people, let’s continue to let the private sector, the powerful lobbyists, NGOs decide for us. Why!, because they can be trusted. LOL. This hands down has to be one of the worst piece of pro government dribble I’ve read in
a long time 😂😂😂
“They’re correctly pointing out our agendas!!!”