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Conspiracy theorists (important: multiple) often have one or more of the following attributes which is why you see a wide range of intelligence in the group. 1
by themitigating 3y ago
Conspiracy theorists (important: multiple) often have one or more of the following attributes which is why you see a wide range of intelligence in the group.
1. People with mental illness.
2. People with low intelligence who are unable/don't understand logic, the scientific method, and concepts like ecree, They are easily fooled by others. They may also have a bias like hating or mistrusting the government.
3. People who are insecure. Being a conspiracy theorist makes you feel smarter than other people as you are part of a select group of who know the truth. The masses are stupid or as they say now "asleep" but you've figured it all out via Google.
This is why much of their talk is less about how they can prove their claims and more about the people who don't believe. They refer to them as "sheep" or "not awake. The focus for them is that they are right which may help with their insecurities.
4. People who don't feel they have a purpose in life and are looking for a meaning. Want to be a part of a group that is bound by something important and there's almost no effort to join? Bam, now your job is to get that information out there and covert the masses, a goal that will never be finished and thankfully take up your entire life.
5. People who were originally lured in because of the other reasons and no longer believe. Because they made it their life, maybe spent excess money, wrote books or made absolute claims they don't want to look stupid so they never admit their change. This is especially an issue on the internet where the whole world can fest on your failure.
- sethammons 3y agoInteresting that you could s/conspiracy theorists/religious group and your argument sounds as convincing. "People who are insecure" might expand differently. "One or more" of your list items are probably truisms for any group you can think of. Train enthusiasts?
- thworp 3y agoActually it's s//cult leaders, the established religions are quite open about the ideas and texts underlying their beliefs (then some of them insist you need a cleric for interpretation). In cults that information is hidden and only accessible once someone has risen to the inner circle of the cult.
- themitigating 3y agoBesides (4) people looking for a meaning what other attributes would be common with enthusiasts of a hobby. I also don't see an issue with people finding meaning in hobbies because the effect is often isolated to themselves