How do you respond to conspiracy theorists?

[liberalmediaaddict]

Wondering how other Democrats deal with people who start rambling on about some right wing conspiracy theory that you know isn't true.

Living in the rural part of a red state (aka Trump Country), I encounter people on a daily basis that love to talk about conspiracy theories. In fact any current news issue I dare bring up usually triggers them to respond with some elaborate, right wing media fueled conspiracy that they could easily fact check but don't.

I read an article that suggested the best way to respond to an incorrect statement is by asking (calmly): "What news source did you get that information from?"

I've tried it and usually I get a response like: "I don't know. Somewhere. Can't remember" or "from a YouTube channel." Or if they feel cornered, they'll just quickly change the subject to the weather or sports. Honestly as I get older my patience with hearing this BS is getting shorter. Especially after enduring 4 years of Donald "The Conspiracy Theorist In Chief" Trump and his henchmen.

And if god forbid Republicans take back Congress in 2023, America is going to helplessly slide even deeper down the "everything is a conspiracy" rabbit hole.

[LuckyCharms]

1. 2 steps:

1) Say "That's not true. You should know better".

If they continue:

2) Give them a look and say seriously "Are you OK"?

No sense in wasting any energy by going further than that. I used to debate them, but found that's totally useless.

[liberalmediaaddict]

3. Definitely not worth debating them

Occasionally I will slip up and say "That's not true."

I've been told I give people an "are you out of your mind?" look when they bring up some outrageous conspiracy.
Mainly I want to say: "Come on. You're too smart to believe that nonsense. Do a fact check on Google."
But sadly some people aren't into critical thinking and don't even trust fact checking sites like Snopes.

[Septua]

14. Fact check with Google

I did that with one guy. He doesn't trust Google. People search for what they want to hear and with sources like Trump, Lindell, Hannity, Carlson, MTG, Bannon etc they don't have search much to find it.

[Bluesaph]

26. You really believe that????

With an astonished look on my face!

Then shake my head and say, “WOW! I expected you of all people to demand better proof for outlandish stories!”

If it’s a stranger, just the first line.

Usually with the first one the person back tracks really quick!

[Haggard Celine]

2. Some people just enjoy.swapping tall stories.

Reality isn't interesting enough for them, so they look to more intricate explanations for events. Some people are just downright gullible. I used to have a friend who was a big Alex Jones fan. I guess he still is; I haven't spoken to him for a few years. When Jones was on YouTube, Brandon would come over to my apartment and we would smoke pot and watch what he was screaming about for that day. It was a good high. I used to sit there and laugh and laugh at how Alex would scream and do those little voices to simulate what the evil people were planning for us. Brandon believed all of it. Eventually, YouTube dropped Alex Jones, so there went our little fun time

Brandon used to say that people have the right to say whatever they want to, even if it's a lie. I said, "Brandon, why do you want to believe lies?" He didn't have a good answer for me. That's the question I have for those people. Why do they want to believe all that crazy shit? I guess it makes them feel like they're privy to special information, like they are in the know. They feel ignorant all the time when around educated people, so they want to feel like they're one-up over all of them. Anyway, that's what I figure, for what it's worth.

[liberalmediaaddict]

4. Some of the crazy talk is harmless

But when they spread conspiracies about Covid vaccines and that Trump won the 2020 election and now that we have "biological weapons in Ukraine" that's incredibly dangerous.

Some conspiracy theories (The earth is flat) can be laughed at.
Conspiracy theories that cause violence and people to get sick and die needlessly are incredibly hard to stomach.

Especially when they repeat Fox News talking points verbatim. It's like, "think for yourself. You have a smart phone. Use it."

[John Ludi]

6. I usually

back away from the mental crack pipe they are offering and make a graceful escape. Same thing with religious fanatics and people waxing messianic about bitcoin.

[JHB]

7. Sometimes I just want to scream "Do you have to swallow EVERY...

...horseshit claim that comes down the pike? Fergawdsakkes, take a break and go halvsies for a little while; just bite on half of them."

[634-5789]

8. I just pat them on the shoulder and tell them that their meds were forgotten this morning.

Surprisingly, they don't get mad, usually.

[Hav]

9. I like what posts 1and 2 suggested

The problem with conspiracy theories is that they are designed in such a way that data against them is part of the conspiracy. How can you argue against QAnon bs when any proof against it is dismissed as signs of the deep state?
There are still idiots who believe Biden blackmailed Ukraine in front of journalists to fire the prosecutor supposedly investigating his son when in fact, Biden was representing the West's demands. This is a case where you could appeal to common sense.

Another approach depending on the claim is making them commit to stronger predictions or bets. For example, if they believe Trump will be reinstated, when will that happen and are they willing to put their money where their mouth is?

[sanatanadharma]

10. Simple question before walking away...

...:Is it true that gravity doesn't exist in your world?"

[betsuni]

11. I think it would fun to respond to that with your own wild conspiracy theories.

Play mind games.

[Whiskeytide]

12. I ask them their name and ...

… address, then ask where and when they heard that information and who else they have told. I then speak into my phone and say “this is DSQ17 to Brandon. I have moles in my garden and need an exterminator. Copy?”

[onethatcares]

13. first question I ask

"Are you nucking futz" or a derivative of the same. Then I walk away shaking my head.

[GoodRaisin]

15. First question I have always asked is "how do you know?".

This general question will usually lead to bringing out that they haven’t a clue what they are talking about.

But, what I have found is that most people already have their beliefs established and won’t let go of them no matter how foolish you make them feel. So, I have pretty much given up on attempting to reason with them. It’s largely a waste of time and breath. In example, if I simply overhear a stranger make a stupid comment I ignore that stranger, if he wants to believe the earth is flat, fine, let him. If I’m in a social setting and directly confronted by an acquaintance with a line of bullshit, then I might engage, but just drop it and move on after a brief exchange - it makes me feel stupid just talking about it with someone who has been propagandized into believing nonsense. In a closer setting with friends/family I’ll have the conversation, but it still rarely changes their minds. People just tend to believe what they want to believe.

[RobinA]

25. This

I ask questions in a neutral tone of voice, attempting to drill down into the subject. It's true, you don't usually get past the second question. True idiocy, like flat earth, I just don't discuss. Those people just dismiss any proof available. Maybe I will ask why anybody would do such a thing, for example chemtrails, and then noodle about that until it gets too ridiculous.

I don't really try to reason, I ask them to reason. One thing I won't do is discuss Trump with people who don't think he's the lowest form of humanity and an embarrassment as president. With Trump, you either get it or you don't. If you don't, nothing I can say will change your mind.

[GoodRaisin]

30. Yes,

Someone espousing Trump is the elephant in the room for me, and I have cleared those elephants out of my rooms a good long time ago. Can’t listen to it. Can’t tolerate even being around the person knowing what they believe in, even when their mouth is closed. They disgust me.

[FSogol]

16. Laugh at them and ask if they really believe that? Really?

Other good responses:

I'd never say something like that. Everyone would think I was nuts.
It's amazing what some people believe these days.
That doesn't make any sense.
Are you feeling well?
Yeah, a lot of people fall that nonsense.
Is this country getting dumber or just the republicans?
Do you have enough tin foil?
That makes Bigfoot and little green men seem credible.

[bif]

17. "Lay off the crazy pills, pal"

I usually post this when I see something wacko on social media like IG. It tends to rile them up, which is my intention.

[Ohio Joe]

18. Treat them like a child...

Make them explain in detail how whatever they believe happened or works. Don’t let them flip to a new topic, keep digging till they realize how stupid they sound.

[NNadir]

19. I tell them that they are obviously being controlled by microchips implanted...

...by KGB agents aligned with Putin.

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

20. You must think much more highly of the Democrats than I do ...

... if you believe that they can manage such a vast conspiracy and keep it from most of us.

To be able to manipulate world events in such a way would be an unprecedented achievement.

You really must respect their intelligence and ability to plan and manage such a broad reaching successful operation.

Wow.

[Midnight Writer]

21. I ask them questions until they begin contradicting themselves.

It doesn't take long.

[Hotler]

22. Sometimes the words "f#*king moron" slips out before I can stop it.

Other times it's fun to turn the crazy around on them. Go into actor mode and play one of them. Put on a serious face and take the crazy further to the right and deeper into conspiracy land, go to the dark. Then watch their face turn when they realize that you're more whacked than they are. It's like all the air in the room had been sucked out.

Most of the time if I'm out and about and not with friends I like to stay away from people so as not to give them a chance to to walk up and start their shit.

Whack jobs and repugs will let themselves be known. They can't help it. It's been my experience that you can be minding your own business and they will walk up just to lay some Joe Biden hate etc. on you.

[MineralMan]

23. Roll eyes and walk away.

[NameAlreadyTaken]

24. I ask them "Why?" They usually can't explain.

My neighbor was going on and on about the Covid virus being created in a lab in Wuhan. I asked her why they would do such a thing. She just stumbled on and couldn't really come up with an answer. Just something vague about "control." If you try to dig below the superficial statement of the conspiracy and ask thrm to explain the reasons, they fall apart.

[RobinA]

28. Control

is always a biggie with these people. Government wants to control us sheeple by making us think the Earth is round. If I ever discussed this stupid subject, I would next ask them why government even cares what we think the shape of the Earth is. I have gone to bat against chemtrails. It usually ends with some all purpose comeback about government not wanting us to know what they are doing, so no one can really explain them. They have this incredible fear of being controlled by government.

[uponit7771]

32. +1, good listening technique and let them hear their own stupidity.

[Fozzledick]

27. "That's just what the reptilians from Sirius WANT you to believe!"

[Spider Jerusalem]

29. I don't

like the saying says: "never wrestle with a pig; you both get dirty, and the pig likes it".

[niyad]

31. On the rare occasions wwhen I do encounter one (other than my whackworld

connection), I say, "There is an old saying that three people can keep a secret, provided two of them are dead" and walk away.

[Act_of_Reparation]

33. You can't.

Conspiracy theories are by nature paranoid fantasies. They are constructed around the premise that any information contradicting the conclusion is part of the conspiracy and therefore cannot be trusted.