9 ms·

America is bat-shit crazy.

drcongo 6y ago
This is going to get voted down to hell, but I'd like to reply before it does: America really does have a long history of huge numbers of people believing absolutely insane things. QAnon is the new satanic panic. I'd love to know how and why, but I think the answer is probably just religion.
- elliekelly 6y ago
  I’ve seen quite a few people connect the rise of “main stream” conspiracy theories in the US to the demise of religion here. I suppose I could see that as a plausible explanation. But why is it that Europe seemed able to move on from religion without turning to conspiracies? Is the answer as simple as Europe reaching the secular “tipping point” before the age of social media?
  - tmpz22 6y ago
    I disagree, look at the origins of the Mormon religion and just their first 50 years of history - this stuff has been happening forever and it usually involves groups of people being killed/raped/tortured for being against it.
- Dirlewanger 6y ago
  This is a gross oversimplification, but America was founded by wealthy farmers who believed the conspiracy theories of the day that Great Britain wanted to ruin the colonies, when in reality they just wanted them to pay taxes for the expensive wars that happened there. A healthy distrust of all forms of government is basically required to be an American. It's their greatest attribute, but it's also damned the country in numerous ways.
  - cvhashim 6y ago
    Exactly https://www.npr.org/2020/05/19/858812580/conspiracy https://www.npr.org/2020/05/19/858812580/conspiracy
- Krasnol 6y ago
  I like Michael Moors theory of those Settlers coming to this big, strange country and being afraid of everything which then became a kind of fear culture.
refurb 6y ago
If you think what the media tells you about any country is an accurate representation, I have a bridge to sell you.
jeffbee 6y ago
Unfair to bats.
- 082349872349872 6y ago
  Unfair to guano. <tinfoil> ... which is largely KNO3. In the latest development in a conspiracy which has been running since the days of the Emperor Tiberius, it's been proven by five eyes that the crew of the MV Rhosus ordered a lot of takeout from Comet Ping Pong. </tinfoil>
cvhashim 6y ago
Throughline podcast had an episode on how the country was founded on conspiracy theories and believing in theories is seemingly fundamental to American life
dang 6y ago
Nationalistic flamebait like this will get you banned here. No more, please, regardless of which nation you have a problem with. Also, if you'd please stop posting unsubstantive comments generally, we'd be grateful. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

This is going to get voted down to hell, but I'd like to reply before it does: America really does have a long history of huge numbers of people believing absolutely insane things. QAnon is the new satanic panic. I'd love to know how and why, but I think the answer is probably just religion.

elliekelly 6y ago
I’ve seen quite a few people connect the rise of “main stream” conspiracy theories in the US to the demise of religion here. I suppose I could see that as a plausible explanation. But why is it that Europe seemed able to move on from religion without turning to conspiracies? Is the answer as simple as Europe reaching the secular “tipping point” before the age of social media?
- tmpz22 6y ago
  I disagree, look at the origins of the Mormon religion and just their first 50 years of history - this stuff has been happening forever and it usually involves groups of people being killed/raped/tortured for being against it.
Dirlewanger 6y ago
This is a gross oversimplification, but America was founded by wealthy farmers who believed the conspiracy theories of the day that Great Britain wanted to ruin the colonies, when in reality they just wanted them to pay taxes for the expensive wars that happened there. A healthy distrust of all forms of government is basically required to be an American. It's their greatest attribute, but it's also damned the country in numerous ways.
- cvhashim 6y ago
  Exactly https://www.npr.org/2020/05/19/858812580/conspiracy https://www.npr.org/2020/05/19/858812580/conspiracy
Krasnol 6y ago
I like Michael Moors theory of those Settlers coming to this big, strange country and being afraid of everything which then became a kind of fear culture.

refurb 6y ago

If you think what the media tells you about any country is an accurate representation, I have a bridge to sell you.

jeffbee 6y ago

Unfair to bats.

082349872349872 6y ago
Unfair to guano. <tinfoil> ... which is largely KNO3. In the latest development in a conspiracy which has been running since the days of the Emperor Tiberius, it's been proven by five eyes that the crew of the MV Rhosus ordered a lot of takeout from Comet Ping Pong. </tinfoil>

cvhashim 6y ago

Throughline podcast had an episode on how the country was founded on conspiracy theories and believing in theories is seemingly fundamental to American life

dang 6y ago

Nationalistic flamebait like this will get you banned here. No more, please, regardless of which nation you have a problem with. Also, if you'd please stop posting unsubstantive comments generally, we'd be grateful. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html