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it's sad that he tries to validate his idea by evangelizing to laymen instead of trying to convince "big science" of his ideas. My dad was and is the same way

by beefok 8y ago

it's sad that he tries to validate his idea by evangelizing to laymen instead of trying to convince "big science" of his ideas. My dad was and is the same way -- everyone is in some massive conspiracy plot to misguide the public. Typically there are demons or other some suches that are pulling the puppet strings. A few months ago he was convinced the world was flat.. It's this whole Dunning-Kruger effect that seems to affect so many people. I think there are generations of people who missed out on a proper education and a healthy skepticism.

deleted 8y ago
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driverdan 8y ago
That sounds more like mental illness than a lack of education.
maxxxxx 8y ago
"I think there are generations of people who missed out on a proper education and a healthy skepticism. " I don't think it's education. Most conspiracy theorists I have met seem to have a deep discomfort with our world and this is their way of explaining it. I think other people turn to religion for the same reasons.
- msla 8y ago
  I'm going to inject some cynicism and say that what a number of them find unsettling is how famous they aren't. They always think they have a big idea. It's never some minor correction to a big theory, which a PhD would be happy with (as long as it's major enough to be publishable); no, it's Shatter The Foundations or nothing. Therefore, they're being done out of their fame and fortune by some grand conspiracy, which, in itself, proves how important they are: If they weren't right, They wouldn't be conspiring against them, now, would they? That mindset certainly sells books, and helps on the lecture circuit, too. I'm sure there are some honest crackpots, but I wonder how honest you can be when you come upon a bit of well-accepted physics you can't understand or simply don't like, and conclude that everyone else is wrong, and you're the only one who's correct.
gowld 8y ago
That's not what Dunning-Kruger effect is. Dunning-Kruger effect does not cover people thinking they are more talented than experts, just that they think they are more talented than they actually are.
markdown 8y ago
> My dad was and is the same way -- everyone is in some massive conspiracy plot to misguide the public. My dad was never this way until Youtube. It took him down the rabbit hole and spat him out onto informationclearinghouse.info . I love my dad, but sadly these days I avoid discussing controversial topics with him.

by beefok 8y ago

deleted 8y ago

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driverdan 8y ago

That sounds more like mental illness than a lack of education.

maxxxxx 8y ago

"I think there are generations of people who missed out on a proper education and a healthy skepticism. " I don't think it's education. Most conspiracy theorists I have met seem to have a deep discomfort with our world and this is their way of explaining it. I think other people turn to religion for the same reasons.

msla 8y ago
I'm going to inject some cynicism and say that what a number of them find unsettling is how famous they aren't. They always think they have a big idea. It's never some minor correction to a big theory, which a PhD would be happy with (as long as it's major enough to be publishable); no, it's Shatter The Foundations or nothing. Therefore, they're being done out of their fame and fortune by some grand conspiracy, which, in itself, proves how important they are: If they weren't right, They wouldn't be conspiring against them, now, would they? That mindset certainly sells books, and helps on the lecture circuit, too. I'm sure there are some honest crackpots, but I wonder how honest you can be when you come upon a bit of well-accepted physics you can't understand or simply don't like, and conclude that everyone else is wrong, and you're the only one who's correct.

gowld 8y ago

That's not what Dunning-Kruger effect is. Dunning-Kruger effect does not cover people thinking they are more talented than experts, just that they think they are more talented than they actually are.

markdown 8y ago

> My dad was and is the same way -- everyone is in some massive conspiracy plot to misguide the public. My dad was never this way until Youtube. It took him down the rabbit hole and spat him out onto informationclearinghouse.info . I love my dad, but sadly these days I avoid discussing controversial topics with him.