In times of uncertainty (like now), conspiracy theories always ramp up.

The reason for this is actually quite interesting, so before you get overwhelmed with 5G/Trump rescuing children/vaccines to control the populace, let’s look at conspiracy theories

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A popular and convincing theory holds that conspiracy theories are a way to make sense of a chaotic and unpredictable world.

It’s more comforting to believe someone is charge, even with nefarious aims, than cold, uncaring chance.
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It’s disturbing to think a lone gunman from a book repository can kill the most powerful man in the world.

That a few men with box-cutters can hijack planes and strike at the heart of the USA.

That a virus we can’t see can come from nowhere and bring us to our knees. /3

It’s more comforting to think that there’s a reason... that someone is actually in charge, even if that someone is evil.

This isn’t chaos with everyone panicking. It’s a careful plan.

We haven’t lost control. On the contrary, someone is guiding the ship. /4

It also means there’s someone to focus our fear on.

It’s not a mentally unwell gunman, or some radicalized nobodies, or an invisible collection of RNA and proteins, that make us feel this powerless...

... It’s Bill Gates. Or Vladimir Putin. Or the Illuminati. /5

Ultimately, conspiracies are comforting because no matter how nefarious, the alternative (that we’re at the mercy of unpredictable events) is even worse.

It’s why you’ll see more of these popping up in these uncertain times.

/End