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SarahD

(1,732 posts)
Tue Mar 12, 2024, 02:33 PM Mar 2024

Conspiracy crap thrives because the media give it plausibility.

Here's another of many articles purporting to explain why people believe aircraft contrails are being used to kill us. Or brainwash us. Or something. If you read the article, you'll see it suffers from the same fairness idea that news writers employ when they allow that crackpot notions deserve to be treated as credible to make the reporting "fair."
https://www.cnn.com/us/chemtrails-conspiracy-theory-explained-cec/index.html

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Conspiracy crap thrives because the media give it plausibility. (Original Post) SarahD Mar 2024 OP
But, but, but ... we're only selling newspapers and ad time! marble falls Mar 2024 #1
Eh, not sure I agree. TwilightZone Mar 2024 #2
The examples I'd like to see. SarahD Mar 2024 #3
Everyone should always believe their government Caribbeans Mar 2024 #4
If you believe that's a valid argument for believing the chemtrail nonsense... TwilightZone Mar 2024 #5

TwilightZone

(28,833 posts)
2. Eh, not sure I agree.
Tue Mar 12, 2024, 02:41 PM
Mar 2024

The conclusion is quite clear and provides half a dozen sources supporting it. The article also does a good job of describing exactly how they gain and retain traction on social media. I see social media as a much bigger problem where conspiracy theories are concerned than traditional media.

Providing examples of the nonsense people believe and their reasoning behind it isn't implicit or explicit support of them, particularly in the context of this article. It's quite clear on the fact that the theories are nonsense.

 

SarahD

(1,732 posts)
3. The examples I'd like to see.
Tue Mar 12, 2024, 03:31 PM
Mar 2024

Examples of the "experts" who make money, hold workshops, publish pseudo scientific articles, and so on. There is quite the industry involved. I would like to see some mention of all the money made from fleecing the believers. Exposing the motives of the hucksters is revelatory.

TwilightZone

(28,833 posts)
5. If you believe that's a valid argument for believing the chemtrail nonsense...
Wed Mar 13, 2024, 05:26 PM
Mar 2024

you would be incorrect.

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