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Kindle Notes & Highlights
by
Mick West
Willie did not simply reject the conventional explanation of things. He was, in many cases, simply unaware that a conventional explanation existed, except as some kind of abstract, too-rational lie that he instinctively stayed away from. For Willie the first step was not being persuaded that his position was wrong, it was being shown that other positions even existed and that good, intelligent people actually took them seriously.
I also want people to wake up to the true nature of the world. But the conspiracy theory rabbit hole is not the way to do it. It’s full of seductive nonsensical theories, a bizarre wonderland of time-wasting and harmful falsehoods that are taking people further away from the real world, not closer. It’s not a blue pill or a red pill; it’s a poison pill.
If you think you can only help someone by beating them in every argument and making them look stupid, then I respectfully disagree. Showing your friend their faults is only a small part of helping them out of the rabbit hole, and if you apply such a blunt tool to someone you consider your enemy, then you will probably achieve the opposite of your goal, only hammering them deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole as they harden their heart against you and their mind against your facts.
Truth matters in a society. The more that public discourse is based on falsehoods, the harder it is to make constructive progress. Science is harmed when there are millions of people who think that scientists are corrupt corporate shills. The democratic process is harmed when people vote based on their belief in conspiracy theories. The nation suffers when policies are enacted based partly on false claims. The international standing of our country is harmed when conspiracy theories are increasingly accepted by the general population.
Conspiracy theorists are normal people just like you and me. But they are normal people who fell down the rabbit hole, whereas you and I were lucky enough to stay above ground.
While it’s not entirely clear what people’s need for uniqueness was before they got into conspiracy theories, it’s very clear in a large number of cases of people who got in and then got out of the rabbit hole that a large motivation for them to stay down there, and a large motivation for them digging a deeper hole with more “research,” was that they really enjoyed feeling special.
It is quite factually true that an inquiring mind is a great thing to have. That they are asking questions and not blindly accepting everything they are told is indeed something special. Try to convey this to them, but combine it with the need to also get things correct.
Escapes by changes in perspective often start with a seed of doubt—they discover that some foundational piece of their conspiracy theory was incorrect, and they begin to look at other parts of the theory that they had assumed to be true. But it can also simply come from learning more about how the world works and gaining more life experience. They emerge a bit at a time, slowly learning new things until they find themselves on the other side of what they thought was an impassable line.
Many people who emerge from the rabbit hole simply lose interest. They largely drop the subject of conspiracy theories from their lives and move on.
Aspects of maintaining an effective dialogue • Understand what they are thinking and why • Be respectful, honest, open, and polite • Find common ground • Validate their genuine concerns • Avoid the backfire effect
Try to understand how the theories like 9/11 or Chemtrails actually fit into that broader image they have of how the world works. Who do they think is behind the conspiracy? Who benefits? How does this benefit work? Ask them this not in a critical way, but in a genuine attempt to get a better understanding of their worldview.
If you respect them, and make an effort to understand their argument, then they will appreciate this, and in turn will respect you more. They will probably have had many situations where their ideas were flatly rejected or laughed at, and so being treated with respect will go a long way towards gaining their trust.
Any argument an individual makes is built upon a huge and complex web of personal knowledge and beliefs, both true and false. You have one huge and complex web, and your friend has a different one. You cannot have a useful discussion with your friend if there’s no area in which your web of knowledge overlaps their web of knowledge.
On a broader level, something underlying most conspiracy theories is a profound distrust of people in power. It’s very important to explain to them just how much you yourself share in that distrust. Be perfectly honest here, tell them who you do or do not trust, how much you trust them, and why. Distrust, or at least suspicion, of authority is a healthy quality to have.
Don’t be like Phil. Even if you feel your friend is being stupid, uneducated, or even crazy, it’s still best to just focus on the facts. Show them where they were wrong, show them what they missed, show them where their sources are wrong. Don’t tell them they are stupid. Be polite, please!
to debunk a topic effectively, you’ve got to first, avoid mentioning it; second, take pains to preface it as being wrong before you do mention it; and third, provide something else to fill the mental gap you create when you debunk the misinformation. (They later add a fourth recommendation, which is that information should be conveyed graphically if possible—a good idea.)
Ask your friend about their favorite “false flag” theory: what are the risks? What are the rewards? Could the goal have been achieved an easier way? With many proposed 9/11 theories the risks were huge. If one president was incapable of covering up Watergate (a relatively simple burglary and wire-tapping job), then how could another cover up the secret wiring of three huge buildings with millions of explosives, then organize the hijackings of four planes? How exactly do you create a risk-free fake school shooting involving an entire community of fake actors? And for what? A minor shift in
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