Srsly Wrong Ep 147 – Conspiracy Theories
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Mar 14, 2018 They riff on the psychology and social forces that drive conspiracy thinking. Mix of satire and research on how distrust, community, and monetization sustain wild claims. They trace famous conspiratorial threads from 9/11 and Alex Jones to Zeitgeist and red-pilling. They contrast small-scale proven plots with grand monolith theories and explore the isolation and empowerment these beliefs create.
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Conspiracy Roots And Internet Amplification
- Conspiracy belief often springs from pessimism, collective narcissism, and the desire for comforting, total explanations.
- The internet amplified visible conspiratorial content but historical levels of conspiratorial letters suggest it's long existed.
Personal Entry Through Loose Change And Zeitgeist
- Shawn recounts first exposure to conspiracy films like Loose Change and Zeitgeist and how they influenced his curiosity.
- He describes joining the Zeitgeist movement and its mix of utopian technocracy and conspiratorial claims.
Emotional Appeal Of Conspiracy Narratives
- Conspiracy narratives satisfy emotional needs by projecting intention onto chaos and elevating believers as truth-tellers.
- That social role provides identity and a sense of purpose beyond factual accuracy.
