5 ms·

The US today isn't in much of a different boat. Granted, a human being a mushroom is quite an extreme one, but I'm sure a well-crafted documentary reaching a wi

by pierrec 10y ago

The US today isn't in much of a different boat. Granted, a human being a mushroom is quite an extreme one, but I'm sure a well-crafted documentary reaching a wide enough audience could still have a deplorable impact. Here's a 2013 poll on conspiracy theories: http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2013/04/conspiracy-theory-poll-results-.html http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2013/04/conspiracy-t... I was in high school when one of the "moon landings were a hoax" documentaries made the rounds. A significant portion of my class was instantly converted by the documentary. I lost a little of my faith in humanity at that time, though much of it was quickly recovered thanks to an excellent math teacher who paid attention to his students, found out about the phenomenon, and dedicated half of a class to thoroughly debunking it.

ajmurmann 10y ago
When I grew up in Germany almost everyone seemed to believe that the moon landing was a hoax. In fact I was usually labeled as the crazy one by my peers for believing it actually happened.
- geoka9 10y ago
  It's still widely believed in Russia (more for the anti-American sentiment than particular veracity of the claim).
  - kirrent 10y ago
    Man, if I was Russian I think I'd be even more likely to believe it happened than if I was American. I mean, given the propensity for governments over the years to call events American conspiracies, the fact that Russian leaders haven't ever said the landing was faked when they'd be gleeful to say it if it was is conspicuous.
    - AnAfrican 10y ago
      It Was Broadcasted Live (or almost) In The USSR. No Way, the Government of the USSR would have done that if they had any doubt about it being an hoax.
michaelvoz 10y ago
I wonder if there is something in the human mind that attempts to reject Occam's razor. It seems as though a lot of conspiracy theories are significantly more popular than they should be.
- Piskvorrr 10y ago
  Well, there's the thrill of "being with the Rebel Fleet" without the risk of an X-Wing swiping you with a laser.

by pierrec 10y ago

ajmurmann 10y ago

When I grew up in Germany almost everyone seemed to believe that the moon landing was a hoax. In fact I was usually labeled as the crazy one by my peers for believing it actually happened.

geoka9 10y ago
It's still widely believed in Russia (more for the anti-American sentiment than particular veracity of the claim).
- kirrent 10y ago
  Man, if I was Russian I think I'd be even more likely to believe it happened than if I was American. I mean, given the propensity for governments over the years to call events American conspiracies, the fact that Russian leaders haven't ever said the landing was faked when they'd be gleeful to say it if it was is conspicuous.
  - AnAfrican 10y ago
    It Was Broadcasted Live (or almost) In The USSR. No Way, the Government of the USSR would have done that if they had any doubt about it being an hoax.

michaelvoz 10y ago

I wonder if there is something in the human mind that attempts to reject Occam's razor. It seems as though a lot of conspiracy theories are significantly more popular than they should be.

Piskvorrr 10y ago
Well, there's the thrill of "being with the Rebel Fleet" without the risk of an X-Wing swiping you with a laser.