The typical (stereotypical) conspiracy theorist is someone who works in isolation from the topics into which he believes he has superior insight. [Thread]
i.e., he considers himself an expert on geopolitics even though he has no experience in geopolitics whatsoever, and probably does not even personally know anybody involved in geopolitics.
The entirety of his knowledge often comes from watching YouTube videos or reading forum posts created by others just like him -- people with no actual firsthand knowledge of their subject. The proverbial echo chamber.
Consequently, the only information the conspiracy theorist is ever exposed to is confirming information. To him, it appears that 100% of all existing information confirms his conspiratorial belief.
Therefore, nothing anyone says, no matter how much of an actual expert they are, carries any weight for the conspiracy theorist. He knows better. He can laugh it off and make all the derisive comments he wants.
Rarely does a day go by that I don't get an email or a DM from a conspiracy theorist who has nothing to say to me other than condescending insults and rants for introducing information that he "knows" to be false.
Once the conspiracy theorist has received a sufficient amount of confirming information, his quest to learn more is at an end. To him, the subject is wrapped, and his mind is absolutely closed to any information that challenges his view.
This is not a healthy state of mind for anyone. It is important that we help steer potential conspiracy theorists clear of this dead end before they reach this tipping point.
All too often, this is a short window of opportunity. Grab it whenever you see the chance. End of line.
