IT’S ONLY FAKE-BELIEVE: HOW TO DEAL WITH A CONSPIRACY THEORIST
As we in fandom often encounter irrational and illogical rhetorical arguments, some of them leading to conspiracy thinking, I found this article very useful. We can all fall into these mistakes sometimes. These are the five ways that conspiracy thinking is believed or perpetuated.
1. Special pleading. The absence of reliable evidence is itself taken as a proof of the conspiracy. [Those perpetuating the conspiracy] essentially move the goal posts whenever someone asks for evidence to prove their point – a tactic that is commonly used in many conspiracy theories. If you are faced with this kind of reasoning, you might question the probability of arranging such a widespread conspiracy across so many organisations in so many countries without leaving any traces. Many people, after all, could benefit from exposing the plot – if it was supported by good evidence.
2. Fake authority. Insiders, secret receipts, eye witnesses, “experts.” These fake experts have ideological agendas, and are prone to “proving” only their point of view.
3. Coincidences are not causal connections. Things happening at the same time are not necessarily causally connected.
4. False equivalence. “Look at the differences between the two things being compared, and if that difference is important for the conclusions, then it’s a false equivalence.” People using false equivalences are comparing apples and oranges.
5. The thought-terminating cliche. A proverb or saying is used to end further discussion of a point without addressing the argument itself. “The world is ending anyway. What does your point matter?” At this point, it’s probably time to leave the discussion for another day. The important thing is to maintain the possibility of continued open dialogue. “We need to have repeated conversations in an environment of mutual respect.”
- excerpts were taken from the Guardian article by David Robson, 29 November 2020
