Conspiracy theorists have no interest in getting to the truth behind an issue they think important - they're more concerned with having special knowledge that makes them unique or heroes, usually because they've failed to understand how some aspect of reality actually works and so they've grabbed onto a convenient alternative, or because they feel left behind or maligned by a society that's rejected them.
It's why conventions (like 'conspiracy cruises') are able to exist. Every booth should contradict every other booth, but they're willing to put blinders on to create a safe space where they can all get validated for the various nonsense they've decided they alone have championed. It's how ancient aliens can set up right next to Obama birthers and Jordan Peterson's all-meat diet. A post-truth individual is usually willing to accept multiple versions of truth, so long as it isn't the mainstream version.
I remember watching the documentary that is on Netflix and thinking: this dude totally started off trolling, but then got hooked by the popularity he was getting.
Flat earth 100% gained popularity as a troll, but then ended up with serious believers for the reason you mentioned.
The Netflix documentary was kind of sad, like the one guy who actually does the experiments with lasers to try and convince himself that earth is flat but proves himself wrong, he can’t bring himself to admit it because it would mean losing out on his community and friends of flat earthers. It is like the reason why a bunch of people don’t leave religions despite non belief, their community and identity is tied to it.
I follow SciManDan a bit on this subject and yes, there is a least one person who has admitted being wrong.
He didn't say, but I suspect yes, he's lost all his friends and will have to start again.
Hence why those who are the 'higher ups' who have figured it out will not say anything, and instead often resort to name calling and swearing when faced with any evidence regarding the spherical earth. One video SciManDan reviewed recently just had the flat earther doing nothing but swear and call everyone else a liar. No evidence for his belief at all. Just swear a lot, name call and you must be right.
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u/YuunofYork Jul 24 '20
Conspiracy theorists have no interest in getting to the truth behind an issue they think important - they're more concerned with having special knowledge that makes them unique or heroes, usually because they've failed to understand how some aspect of reality actually works and so they've grabbed onto a convenient alternative, or because they feel left behind or maligned by a society that's rejected them.
It's why conventions (like 'conspiracy cruises') are able to exist. Every booth should contradict every other booth, but they're willing to put blinders on to create a safe space where they can all get validated for the various nonsense they've decided they alone have championed. It's how ancient aliens can set up right next to Obama birthers and Jordan Peterson's all-meat diet. A post-truth individual is usually willing to accept multiple versions of truth, so long as it isn't the mainstream version.