Thread by @donmoyn

Should not have to point out why its irresponsible to traffic in conspiracy theories, but there seems to be some confusion about this, so here we go. 1/

https://twitter.com/BretWeinstein/status/1055596613048004608

To treat every possibility as equally worthy of attention is to present them as equally plausible realities. They are not, and doing so legitimates a worldview where the conspiratorial outcome is used by motivated reasoners to defend actions they cannot otherwise defend. 2/

In a rational political world, people who trafficked in lies would face some sort of penalty, and citizens would update their beliefs once conspiracies were debunked. That is not the world we live in. 3/

We know from social psychology that framing alters how people process evidence, and repetition makes people open to lies. Framing a conspiracy theory as worthy of investigation, and repeating it without debunking it is effectively spreading the conspiracy theory. 4/

An obvious example is birtherism. Trump was mostly careful to not state with certainty that Obama was Kenyan or a Muslim; he was just “asking the question”, demanding evidence to refute a conspiracy that was built on the belief that the President was illegitimate 5/

What was the end result of birtherism? Trump hastily announced he believed Obama was born in the US, but only after he had used a conspiracy theory to harvest a political support that had hitherto eluded him, and which has remained loyal. 6/

In a system where truth and accountability mattered, Trump would have been punished for promoting the conspiracy, and people would have adjusted their beliefs. Instead, he was rewarded, and a large number of people still believe the conspiracy. 7/
thehill.com/blogs/ballot-b…

Claiming a “false flag” is an especially pernicious form on conspiracy. It fosters a distrust of whatever the final account of the event is – a trademark of false flag beliefs is that the authorities may be involved. It encourages some people to act on those beliefs. 8/

Whatever the outcome of the investigation of the mail bombs, people of a conspiratorial bent will take it as proof of their prior beliefs. 9/

These conspiracy theories matter. They are the reason why the parents of Sandyhook have been harassed by people who believe they are actors. They are why a man turned up with a gun at pizza restaurant. 10/

America has a problem with political violence. It is not symmetrical, it is not both sides. And some of it is driven by conspiratorial beliefs – deep state, red pill nonsense that defines the fringes of the far right. 11/ splcenter.org/20180205/alt-r…

People who should know better are all to willing to entertain batshit ideas. In doing so, they legitimate them. Shrugging your shoulders and saying “I was only asking the question” is an evasion of responsibility 12/

People are free to say what they want. They are not free to avoid social penalties for their speech. Hiding behind “asking the question” is to treat as equally valid the pronouncements of Alex Jones and the parents of Sandyhook victims. 13/

https://twitter.com/BretWeinstein/status/1055195535924256776

Sure, its provocative to entertain conspiracy theories. But what type of intellectual worldview values provocation over taking responsibility for the effects of their words? Alex Jones in a tweed jacket is still Alex Jones 14/

Update with thread of what we know about the alleged bomber, who himself was a fan of false flag theories 17/

https://twitter.com/donmoyn/status/1055897301380562944