To begin with, I'd say I'm not a fan of conspiracy theories. Being in the field of science, I only believe in things proven by facts. So I think some people use conspiracy theories to find answers to questions that cannot be explained scientifically. But sometimes a group of people believe in conspiracy theories even if the opposite has been proven. This is what happened when Americans remained convinced that the Earth was flat even if there was scientific evident to prove the contrary. I think it may be possible to believe in certain theories but only if they are based and proven on plausible scientific evidence. Finally, concerning the current health situation, I think that it is too early today to validate or not the multiple conspiracy theories. We will know more in several months or even years from now.
I think that the advantage of conspiratorial mentalities is reflection on acts, criticism. Some theories can be interesting despite the fact that others are taken to the extreme. Some are sometimes true and others absurd: the earth is flat, AIDS is an invention of man, the Americans have never been to the Moon or the United States has created Daesh. Conspiracy theories are based on 4 principles: nothing is born of chance, what happens is born of hidden wills, and everything is linked. I think we have to be careful with conspiracy theories, and know how to distinguish the true from the false.
I think conspiracy theories are a way for some members of the population to indirectly criticize the society in which they live. In my opinion, it is the "over-institutionalization" that causes conspiracy theories to develop. Men feel overly institutionalized and oppressed in a society where they have no control. They therefore prefer to ally themselves and create ways of questioning what surrounds them, they look for answers where they are already known. I personally do not take part in conspiracy theories because if on certain subjects the development of the reasoning is quite logical, it is the very basis of the reflection that is erroneous. The explanation then loses all meaning.
These are false rumors, misinformation. They aim to destabilize democratic regimes. These fake news often do not circulate through information channels but through social networks. They are often disclosed by extremist parties. For example, they are currently spread concerning the virus. According to them, some scientists produced it voluntarily. The worst part is that great scientists such as Professor Montagnier assure them. Amélie TS2
In my opinion, conspiracy theories can fall into two groups. The first (where there are unfortunately the most theories) is that of completely invented theories, imagined by a few individuals who wanted to "create a buzz", or who wanted to discredit a particular authority. The theories of the second group are those that are based on real foundations, and have a development that has a certain logic to it. One could understand why some people believe in them and find them plausible. However, they are often false or greatly exaggerated, because this is how the world works; some people talk, then others disagree.
However, unfortunately for me who does not believe in any conspiracy theories, I must admit that conspiracy theorists use irrefutable arguments, that is to say arguments that we cannot contradict because we cannot prove physically, at the precise moment, and in a formal way. For example, for (probably retarded) people who believe in the Flat Earth theory, it is impossible to contradict them because we cannot prove it. Indeed, to explain to a flat earther that he is wrong, what do you do? You show him a picture of the Round Earth, he will say that it is a fake ; you show him some calculations? He will say that they are rigged ; you show him speeches by politicians and scientists ? He will say that these people are lying to manipulate us. No, the only way to possibly convince him would be to force him into a rocket and stick his head out of the window. To take an example of another famous theory: the United States government bombed the twin towers to have an excuse to go to war against certain countries in the Middle East. What can we say about that other than the fact that Al Qaeda claimed responsibility and that the Americans blamed the terrorists ? Not much. Indeed, the government could have lied, and why not have fabricated the terrorist claim. This is an irrefutable argument. The proponents of one theory will always try to justify their arguments while others will try to prove them wrong, whereas it is generally not possible to physically and formally prove everyone's claims.
In my opinion, the main problem with conspiracy theories is that they can be dangerous for people who believe in them, but then it's their choice, their problem. The main concern is that it can be dangerous for other people and even harm them (morally or physically). We can take for example the stupid theories about the fact that global warming is an invention of the Chinese and doesn't exist (I won't target the president of the United States or the president of Brazil) or even worse, those that say that extermination camps didn't exist during the second world war (which is one of the biggest disrespect in history).
To conclude,there are many conspiracy theories, and i could talk about them for ages but i’ll make it short. Everyone takes the responsibility to believe in whatever they want (even though it annoys me a lot) as long as it doesn't hurt anyone, and as long as it doesn't turn into a cult or any other group of fanatics.
Hello, Nowadays conspiracy theories are very present and supported by many people. Firstly, let’s define what they are : they are simply theories, explanations of an event which is (supposedly) caused by a secret and influential organization, and all of this is kept secret from the public. For instance, people believe in the « Flat Earth » theory. Or that Covid-19 was created by political groups in order to decrease, reduce the world population. And there are many others. Furthermore Lady Diana was supposedly murdered by the British government. Secondly, why are they known all over the world ? It is in majority because of the internet AND social media. Today, you can access informations really quickly : you research something, you find what you wanted to found and you share it on social networks. Thus, let’s imagine : you see something that seems suspicious about someone (from politics for instance). You decide to describe what you saw on Twitter, you use an interesting title which is going to catch someone's attention. Once posted, it will stimulate people’s attention and you’ll create a buzz. After that, shows will want you on their TV channel. And that’s it : you’re famous. But we come to the question : why do people believe that, even if it is absurd ? To my mind, there are 3 possible reasons that can explain that. First of all, people are naive (probably because of their age). They believe everything they see, and are influenced too easily. This is why we talk about fake news in school, to make them aware of how much conspiracy theories are dangerous and can (or must) be false. Moreover, as I didn’t mention it directly : some people want to go viral, we always reach the same end : the thirst for social recognition. It is a simple way to become famous. Finally and it is indicative of the trust that people have in the government, the population no longer believes in politicians. And in my opinion this is the most important argument.
But all of this theories aren’t without consequences, on the contrary, there are dangerous. As I said, there are men and women who are easily manipulated and they could be enrolled in cults. And cults are dangerous for your mental health and sometimes are violent. In addition, because they are so widespread, they are a threat to children's opinions. They will be raised with a more suggestible character. Besides, according to an academic article there are positive consequences : they create shared communities, they question social hierarchies so much so that governments are more transparent with us, on top of that theories urge to react to threatening political events. But there are also negatives points, which are dominant : they make psychological needs negative and psychological states worse, they totally change attitudes, they have political consequences, they provoque a science denialism (and influence people’s decisions about medicine).
Finally, I think that conspiracy theories are harmful to our society and are indicative of the evolution of trust in governments.
Correction : -It is in due to* the internet -Today, you can access the information* really quickly -you find what you wanted to find* and you share it on social networks. -But there are also negative* points - they provoke* psychological needs negative and psychological states worse
To begin with, I'd say I'm not a fan of conspiracy theories. Being in the field of science, I only believe in things proven by facts. So I think some people use conspiracy theories to find answers to questions that cannot be explained scientifically. But sometimes a group of people believe in conspiracy theories even if the opposite has been proven. This is what happened when Americans remained convinced that the Earth was flat even if there was scientific evident to prove the contrary. I think it may be possible to believe in certain theories but only if they are based and proven on plausible scientific evidence. Finally, concerning the current health situation, I think that it is too early today to validate or not the multiple conspiracy theories. We will know more in several months or even years from now.
ReplyDeleteI think that the advantage of conspiratorial mentalities is reflection on acts, criticism. Some theories can be interesting despite the fact that others are taken to the extreme. Some are sometimes true and others absurd: the earth is flat, AIDS is an invention of man, the Americans have never been to the Moon or the United States has created Daesh. Conspiracy theories are based on 4 principles: nothing is born of chance, what happens is born of hidden wills, and everything is linked. I think we have to be careful with conspiracy theories, and know how to distinguish the true from the false.
ReplyDeleteHello everybody
ReplyDeleteI think conspiracy theories are a way for some members of the population to indirectly criticize the society in which they live. In my opinion, it is the "over-institutionalization" that causes conspiracy theories to develop. Men feel overly institutionalized and oppressed in a society where they have no control. They therefore prefer to ally themselves and create ways of questioning what surrounds them, they look for answers where they are already known. I personally do not take part in conspiracy theories because if on certain subjects the development of the reasoning is quite logical, it is the very basis of the reflection that is erroneous. The explanation then loses all meaning.
Sacha KUHN TS4
I made a mistake, here is the correction: "they look for answers that are already known"
DeleteSacha Kuhn TS4
These are false rumors, misinformation. They aim to destabilize democratic regimes. These fake news often do not circulate through information channels but through social networks. They are often disclosed by extremist parties. For example, they are currently spread concerning the virus. According to them, some scientists produced it voluntarily. The worst part is that great scientists such as Professor Montagnier assure them.
ReplyDeleteAmélie TS2
Hello,
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, conspiracy theories can fall into two groups. The first (where there are unfortunately the most theories) is that of completely invented theories, imagined by a few individuals who wanted to "create a buzz", or who wanted to discredit a particular authority. The theories of the second group are those that are based on real foundations, and have a development that has a certain logic to it. One could understand why some people believe in them and find them plausible. However, they are often false or greatly exaggerated, because this is how the world works; some people talk, then others disagree.
However, unfortunately for me who does not believe in any conspiracy theories, I must admit that conspiracy theorists use irrefutable arguments, that is to say arguments that we cannot contradict because we cannot prove physically, at the precise moment, and in a formal way. For example, for (probably retarded) people who believe in the Flat Earth theory, it is impossible to contradict them because we cannot prove it. Indeed, to explain to a flat earther that he is wrong, what do you do? You show him a picture of the Round Earth, he will say that it is a fake ; you show him some calculations? He will say that they are rigged ; you show him speeches by politicians and scientists ? He will say that these people are lying to manipulate us. No, the only way to possibly convince him would be to force him into a rocket and stick his head out of the window. To take an example of another famous theory: the United States government bombed the twin towers to have an excuse to go to war against certain countries in the Middle East. What can we say about that other than the fact that Al Qaeda claimed responsibility and that the Americans blamed the terrorists ? Not much. Indeed, the government could have lied, and why not have fabricated the terrorist claim. This is an irrefutable argument.
The proponents of one theory will always try to justify their arguments while others will try to prove them wrong, whereas it is generally not possible to physically and formally prove everyone's claims.
In my opinion, the main problem with conspiracy theories is that they can be dangerous for people who believe in them, but then it's their choice, their problem. The main concern is that it can be dangerous for other people and even harm them (morally or physically). We can take for example the stupid theories about the fact that global warming is an invention of the Chinese and doesn't exist (I won't target the president of the United States or the president of Brazil) or even worse, those that say that extermination camps didn't exist during the second world war (which is one of the biggest disrespect in history).
To conclude,there are many conspiracy theories, and i could talk about them for ages but i’ll make it short. Everyone takes the responsibility to believe in whatever they want (even though it annoys me a lot) as long as it doesn't hurt anyone, and as long as it doesn't turn into a cult or any other group of fanatics.
Thank you for reading and goodbye !
DOMERGUE Renaud TS2.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteNowadays conspiracy theories are very present and supported by many people.
Firstly, let’s define what they are : they are simply theories, explanations of an event which is (supposedly) caused by a secret and influential organization, and all of this is kept secret from the public.
For instance, people believe in the « Flat Earth » theory. Or that Covid-19 was created by political groups in order to decrease, reduce the world population. And there are many others. Furthermore Lady Diana was supposedly murdered by the British government.
Secondly, why are they known all over the world ?
It is in majority because of the internet AND social media. Today, you can access informations really quickly : you research something, you find what you wanted to found and you share it on social networks.
Thus, let’s imagine : you see something that seems suspicious about someone (from politics for instance). You decide to describe what you saw on Twitter, you use an interesting title which is going to catch someone's attention. Once posted, it will stimulate people’s attention and you’ll create a buzz. After that, shows will want you on their TV channel. And that’s it : you’re famous.
But we come to the question : why do people believe that, even if it is absurd ?
To my mind, there are 3 possible reasons that can explain that.
First of all, people are naive (probably because of their age). They believe everything they see, and are influenced too easily. This is why we talk about fake news in school, to make them aware of how much conspiracy theories are dangerous and can (or must) be false.
Moreover, as I didn’t mention it directly : some people want to go viral, we always reach the same end : the thirst for social recognition. It is a simple way to become famous.
Finally and it is indicative of the trust that people have in the government, the population no longer believes in politicians. And in my opinion this is the most important argument.
But all of this theories aren’t without consequences, on the contrary, there are dangerous.
As I said, there are men and women who are easily manipulated and they could be enrolled in cults. And cults are dangerous for your mental health and sometimes are violent.
In addition, because they are so widespread, they are a threat to children's opinions. They will be raised with a more suggestible character.
Besides, according to an academic article there are positive consequences :
they create shared communities, they question social hierarchies so much so that governments are more transparent with us, on top of that theories urge to react to threatening political events.
But there are also negatives points, which are dominant : they make psychological needs negative and psychological states worse, they totally change attitudes, they have political consequences, they provoque a science denialism (and influence people’s decisions about medicine).
Finally, I think that conspiracy theories are harmful to our society and are indicative of the evolution of trust in governments.
Charlier Jade, 104
Correction :
Delete-It is in due to* the internet
-Today, you can access the information* really quickly
-you find what you wanted to find* and you share it on social networks.
-But there are also negative* points
- they provoke* psychological needs negative and psychological states worse