On Conspiracies...

The Grassy Knoll.  9/11.  Pizza Gate.  QAnon.  Illuminati. NWO.  I could go on and on but I am quite certain you are aware of what all of these things have in common.  Conspiracy theories are an American pastime and an interesting aspect of the American cultural experience.  I am not sure if conspiracy theories dominate other countries like they do in the states, but they are as American as apple pie.  And,  although conspiracy theories carry well earned negative baggage from kooks like Alex Jones, we love conspiracy theories and I am almost positive you have believed in one or two in your life time.  In fact, I would say, you have believed in one very recently, or are believing one currently.  

For clarity sake, let us define both conspiracy and conspiracy theories.  Conspiracies are when individuals or groups are secretly working and plotting together to achieve a dubious outcome, usually by the means of deception and lies. Conspiracies don't have to have a dark or nefarious goal, rather, they just need coordination of people to promote an outcome that is not explicitly stated or deliberately hidden.  In fact, misinformation campaigns are the most widely used  forms of conspiracies.  Conspiracy theories, therefore, are possible explanations of events that promote an articulated conspiracy.  Simple enough.

Conspiracy theories create a peculiar dynamic in our culture and reveal even more about our body politic.  They expose our toxic relationship with how we deliver and receive information.  Conspiracy theories promote a cynical mindset that is corrosive to a belief in, or acceptance of, the truth.  They distort our rational and logical views and tweak our analytical mind.  They often prevent us from seeing the truth, facts, and reality that is often in plain view.  Instead, we pretend the real truth is buried deep in a nefarious web of lies and deceptions, promoted by  shadowy forces or cabals.  As such, the truth remains an ever elusive concept that we can no longer distinguish.  When the truth or facts are not readably accepted or believed, faith in institutions and their ability to serve their functions diminish immensely.  

The proliferation of conspiracy theories these days is alarming and overwhelming.  It appears that behind every issue, there is a conspiracy theory or conspiracy theories about conspiracy theories.  The pandemic and its politicization increased conspiratorial thinking exponentially.

Naturally, the question is why?  Why do conspiracy theories dominate so much of our culture?  

Most importantly, conspiracy theories exist because, well, conspiracies exist.  This is an obvious, yet important point.  Conspiracy theories are a result of real-life, honest-to-goodness, actual conspiracies.  For example, the Steel Dossier and Russian Collusion story was in fact a real life conspiracy.  People were working behind the scenes to promote a knowingly false narrative and damage a president.  Or, when climate scientists were exposed for manipulating data and keeping certain information from public view.  More convoluted was Trump and his sycophants attempt to delegitimize the 2020 election by pushing out all sorts of conspiracy theories.  Needless to say, conspiracy theories exist because many in government, media, and corporate America are actively pushing narratives and agendas to accomplish deceptive ends.

Another reason for the increase of conspiracy theories is that they allow us to deal with facts that are contrary to our beliefs.    We digest information in a manner that ensures we maintain our preconceived notions.  For example, the losing sides in both the 2016 and 2020 election promoted conspiracy theories as a means to harmonize their beliefs with reality.  When facts present themselves to be contrary to our beliefs or expectations, we search for alternative explanations and understandings.  We would rather believe in far fetched craziness than to admit we were on the wrong side.

Wanting to preserve our preconceived notions is a strong psychologically motivating factor which also  creates a market for alternative explanations. This means that many people see an opportunity to gain a following and make money by pushing theories that people want to believe.  And while the Left often thinks this only exists on the Right with people like Alex Jones, Tucker Carlson, Fox News, and Charlie Kirk, the mainstream media industrial-complex is no different. Unfortunately, we seek information that conforms to our narratives as opposed to refining them.  Opportunistic and enterprising media types realize that they can attract thousands by helping us with our cognitive dissonance by supplying alternative theories that help us maintain our narratives.  In other words, conspiracy theories have a monetization aspect to them.

In this way, the media bears a large portion of the responsibility for the conspiratorial nature of our culture.  We lack a consistent and objective source of information. Instead we have appendages of political parties disguised as credible news sources.  They often distort information or completely ignore topics that conflict with their partisan viewership's beliefs.  All this does is make their political opponents more suspect and cynical, leading many to see an abundance of hidden agendas. In the end, it erodes our confidence in our ability to find the "real truth".  When the media, whose major responsibility in our democracy is to provide citizens with information to help the people make good decisions (and has a constitutionally protected means to do so),  is derelict in that duty, and instead provides misinformation or hides information, then conspiracy theories take shape.

Social media's role cannot be omitted.  To say that social media has helped the ever increasing number of conspiracy theories would not be sufficient.  It might be the most important factor in their rapid rise.  The reason is obvious.  Social media has allowed the rapid increase of the communication of all sorts of ideas, often anonymously.  Consequently, we are bombarded with  hot takes from every kook and wannabe know-it-all. Social media has multiplied the quantity of information without having the sufficient means to address its quality.  However, when they have tried to address its quality, many social media companies have done it in a very conspiratorial manner...leading to more conspiracies. 

The pandemic and vaccine are current examples of our toxic relationship with information and our inability to arrive at objective truths.  The lack of transparency, the deliberate attempts at promoting misinformation, and the purposeful methods to hide unwelcomed facts, all take their toll on our ability to process information correctly and leads us to paths of sinister plots.  

The damage done by our inability to objectively analyze ideas, policies, and events has and will continue to destroy our democracy and culture.  The only way to combat this is to have courageous people determined to expose the truth no matter where it lies or how inconvenient it may be.  But most likely, those who do will be labeled either as a part of conspiracy or just one of those kooky conspiracy theorists.