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Perhaps you are genuinely not old enough to remember a time before YouTube and Twitter, but there were way fewer conspiracy theories floating around, and they d

Perhaps you are genuinely not old enough to remember a time before YouTube and Twitter, but there were way fewer conspiracy theories floating around, and they didn't have nearly the social impact that they do today. A coordinated misinformation campaign could never have swayed elections in the US and UK before social media. Why? Because there were institutions in place that acted as a filter. Say what you will about that arrangement, it was more effective and suppressing Crazy than whatever it is we've got now.

lurquer 6y ago
David Icke rose to fame long before the Internet. Mormons. Scientologists. The benefits of smoking tobacco. The danger of smoking marijuana. (And vice versa, depending on decade.) The aberrancy/normalcy of homosexuality (take your pick... depends on the decade.) The vast conspiracy theory that is the Red Mensce. The vast conspiracy that is evil capitalism. (Once again, depends on the decade and locale as to which disinformation campaign is at work.) Etc. All of these -- and dozens of others -- thrived pre-internet. Youtube -- like newspapers before it -- is dying. The ability to host, index, and disseminate video content is spreading st breakneck speed. Youtube is at the point that magazines were several years ago: becoming more and more sanctimonious until it will awake to discover nobody is using their content.
- laretluval 6y ago
  Where are people going in lieu of Youtube?
Mirioron 6y ago
NASA faked the moon landings, UFOs, Elvis is not dead, JFK second shooter, Marilyn Monroe murdered by FBI/CIA. These are examples of some of the most popular conspiracy theories from the US from over half a century ago. Apparently early 19th century US politics was also rife with conspiracy theories.[0] This even happened in Rome: Mark Antony and Octavian battled with each other using misinformation. [1] [0] https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/conspiracy-theories-abounded-19th-century-american-politics-180971940/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/conspiracy-theories-a... [1] https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.ft.com/content/aaf2bb08-dca2-11e6-86ac-f253db7791c6 https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.ft.com/content/aaf2bb08-dca... (amp link bypasses paywall)
- Frondo 6y ago
  You didn't used to be able to find communities of like-minded David Icke fans, either. My father was a big David Icke fan, and he talked to my brother and me about it all the time; I can't even imagine how all-consuming it would have been for him if he'd ever have been able to get on a forum and talk to people about it.
Zenst 6y ago
Yes the media has many ways of getting wacky stories out there. One of the old favorites https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunday_Sport https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunday_Sport Still didn't stop some people believing it completely though, human nature.
zimpenfish 6y ago
> there were way fewer conspiracy theories floating around, and they didn't have nearly the social impact that they do today I remember a whole bunch of crazies on usenet in the early-mid 90s but that was an extremely effective filter at keeping them from the rest of the world.

lurquer 6y ago

David Icke rose to fame long before the Internet. Mormons. Scientologists. The benefits of smoking tobacco. The danger of smoking marijuana. (And vice versa, depending on decade.) The aberrancy/normalcy of homosexuality (take your pick... depends on the decade.) The vast conspiracy theory that is the Red Mensce. The vast conspiracy that is evil capitalism. (Once again, depends on the decade and locale as to which disinformation campaign is at work.) Etc. All of these -- and dozens of others -- thrived pre-internet. Youtube -- like newspapers before it -- is dying. The ability to host, index, and disseminate video content is spreading st breakneck speed. Youtube is at the point that magazines were several years ago: becoming more and more sanctimonious until it will awake to discover nobody is using their content.

laretluval 6y ago
Where are people going in lieu of Youtube?

Mirioron 6y ago

NASA faked the moon landings, UFOs, Elvis is not dead, JFK second shooter, Marilyn Monroe murdered by FBI/CIA. These are examples of some of the most popular conspiracy theories from the US from over half a century ago. Apparently early 19th century US politics was also rife with conspiracy theories.[0] This even happened in Rome: Mark Antony and Octavian battled with each other using misinformation. [1] [0] https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/conspiracy-theories-abounded-19th-century-american-politics-180971940/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/conspiracy-theories-a... [1] https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.ft.com/content/aaf2bb08-dca2-11e6-86ac-f253db7791c6 https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.ft.com/content/aaf2bb08-dca... (amp link bypasses paywall)

Frondo 6y ago
You didn't used to be able to find communities of like-minded David Icke fans, either. My father was a big David Icke fan, and he talked to my brother and me about it all the time; I can't even imagine how all-consuming it would have been for him if he'd ever have been able to get on a forum and talk to people about it.

Zenst 6y ago

Yes the media has many ways of getting wacky stories out there. One of the old favorites https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunday_Sport https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunday_Sport Still didn't stop some people believing it completely though, human nature.

zimpenfish 6y ago

> there were way fewer conspiracy theories floating around, and they didn't have nearly the social impact that they do today I remember a whole bunch of crazies on usenet in the early-mid 90s but that was an extremely effective filter at keeping them from the rest of the world.