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submitted 2 months ago by ptz@dubvee.org to c/science@lemmy.world

Some just want to promote conflict, cause chaos, or even just get attention.

There has been a lot of research on the types of people who believe conspiracy theories, and their reasons for doing so. But there’s a wrinkle: My colleagues and I have found that there are a number of people sharing conspiracies online who don’t believe their own content.

They are opportunists. These people share conspiracy theories to promote conflict, cause chaos, recruit and radicalize potential followers, make money, harass, or even just to get attention.

There are several types of this sort of conspiracy-spreader trying to influence you.

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[-] YeetPics@mander.xyz 36 points 2 months ago

I love watching tankies squirm under adequate questioning of their morals.

You all fail to be genuine and it's genuinely amazing.

[-] Soup@lemmy.cafe 17 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Saw one yesterday that demanded proof against her argument. Someone provided it, she didn’t like it so she said it wasn’t true- then demanded true proof from a different source.

Of course that too was provided, this time by another person, and this also was dismissed as not true.

Several examples and fact-checked articles later she folded her arms and bailed. Never having admitted she was wrong.

It was truly remarkable!

Aaaah hahaha another one!

[-] Skua@kbin.earth 34 points 2 months ago

Bunch of dickheads apparently feeling attacked in these comments

[-] ptz@dubvee.org 7 points 2 months ago

Thankfully I have plenty of popcorn lol. 🍿 help yourself to some if you'd like.

[-] Aggravationstation@feddit.uk 4 points 2 months ago

Power. Done, saved you a read.

[-] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

Is it power? These are delusions. They don't affect reality.

Mostly, they appear to be coping for anxiety and stress. Trump's MAGA is a way to convince conservatives that "the patriots are in control" when they're plainly powerless. The Mueller She Wrote crowd needs to believe police exist for powerful people and it's not all just punching down.

All these lies seem to exist and get regurgitated because the truth is too awful to contend with.

[-] Soup@lemmy.cafe 4 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

We call them tankies. It’s less…. Offensive.

[-] match@pawb.social 5 points 2 months ago

like me saying that Hasbro hired pinkertons to threaten the commander rules committee into handing over control of the format

this post was submitted on 04 Oct 2024
163 points (96.0% liked)

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