Do conservatives not realize they look absolutely ridiculous with their conspiracy theories?

[Sonikku]

They can't realize. They can only double down. If they don't, it would mean the house of cards would all come crashing down.

 

[Moonbeam]

[QUOTE="Phokus, post: 39318689, member: 5683" Do conservatives not realize they look absolutely ridiculous with their conspiracy theories? [/QUOTE]
Try to understand what it would be like to grow up in a conservative home where every kid who showed any potential to think is informed that's the path that will take you to hell. Trust me, you are going to learn very quickly not to worry too much about who thinks you're ridiculous. Ridiculous quickly becomes anybody who bucks the programming.

 

[Starbuck1975]

To say that libs are equally susceptible would be even more dishonest. That's obvious from the way that the right wing punditocracy always comes up with a new one & the eagerness with which their base falls for it.

I mean, do you really need a list?

Where did I assert equivalence

 

[Starbuck1975]

Love the way you tap danced right around his question without answering and then veered off into fantasy land.....again.

No, I’ve answered the question several times. Maybe people should stop asking intellectually dishonest questions.

 

[ch33zw1z]

So this is the lefts version of Alex Jones?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_F._Kennedy_Jr.?wprov=sfla1

Do I understand your assertion?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Jones?wprov=sfla1

Reading both links, they're eerily similar!

You're taking an all or nothing stance. People in general can be influenced by bullshit, but some are more than others and more easily. That's the point. The list of conspiracy theories perpetuated by conservatives is simply daunting. Not so much on the left.

I'm guessing you're all in with the team, thus spin it into some twisted reality where #bothsides are so similar it doesn't phase you.

Jones has millions of viewers, limbaugh millions of viewers and spreads bullshit as well.

Whatever helps you sleep at night...

Thanks for answering the OP's question. Ridiculous appearance acheived, sans realization.

 

[Starbuck1975]

So this is the lefts version of Alex Jones?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_F._Kennedy_Jr.?wprov=sfla1

Do I understand your assertion?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Jones?wprov=sfla1

Reading both links, they're eerily similar!

You're taking an all or nothing stance. People in general can be influenced by bullshit, but some are more than others and more easily. That's the point. The list of conspiracy theories perpetuated by conservatives is simply daunting. Not so much on the left.

I'm guessing you're all in with the team, thus spin it into some twisted reality where #bothsides are so similar it doesn't phase you.

Jones has millions of viewers, limbaugh millions of viewers and spreads bullshit as well.

Whatever helps you sleep at night...

Thanks for answering the OP's question. Ridiculous appearance acheived, sans realization.

I sleep quite well, thank you. I don’t have a team.

Kennedy is the son of a political dynasty with far reaching influence, and is a prolific writer and commentator on a nationally syndicated talk radio show. He also peddles fringe conspiracies.

You do raise an interesting point, when you say

People in general can be influenced by bullshit, but some are more than others and more easily.

It seems you want to count sheep and not shepherds. Different sheep, different shepherds.

The only difference is that Trump is the first President to acknowledge, and in doing so legitimize, fringe shepherds. However, if this forum is any indication of taking the temperature of the sheep, the left is adequately prepared to receive its own false messiah.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Lol...spin it away buddy. Conspiracy theories didn't start with Trump, while he does pander to them. Whether or not he believes them, I dunno, for him it comes down to being an attention whore.

Read the links, post some facts. At this point, you just like the clickity clack sound of your keyboard.

If you read those links, and still think those two are counter to each other, then there's nothing else we can say to each other. This is where we part, as you're the one complaining about dishonesty, while perpetuating dishonesty.

Thanks.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Lol...spin it away buddy. Conspiracy theories didn't start with Trump, while he does pander to them. Whether or not he believes them, I dunno, for him it comes down to being an attention whore.

Read the links, post some facts. At this point, you just like the clickity clack sound of your keyboard.

If you read those links, and still think those two are counter to each other, then there's nothing else we can say to each other. This is where we part, as you're the one complaining about dishonesty, while perpetuating dishonesty.

Thanks.

You’re welcome.

There are many conspiracy theories and theorists out there. Trump is the first President to legitimize conspiracy, not surprisingly because conspiracy was his entrance into politics, and he built a coalition by making false promises to the disenfranchised and dangerously energizes the far right fringe.

I read the links. They are wikipedia articles. Could have done that myself. That doesn’t prove anything. I asserted my position on why they are comparable. Nothing dishonest about that. It’s now on you to assert what is different about them.

Or you can punt.

 

[ch33zw1z]

You’re welcome.

There are many conspiracy theories and theorists out there. Trump is the first President to legitimize conspiracy, not surprisingly because conspiracy was his entrance into politics, and he built a coalition by making false promises to the disenfranchised and dangerously energizes the far right fringe.

I read the links. They are wikipedia articles. Could have done that myself. That doesn’t prove anything. I asserted my position on why they are comparable. Nothing dishonest about that. It’s now on you to assert what is different about them.

Or you can punt.

If you had read them, you would already know the difference. This is the dishonesty I'm referring to. You continue to prove the OP's original question valid and true.

Regardless of Trump, Conservatives have been spinning their conspiracy theories for a long time. Trump only legitimizes them to get what he wants. So forget Trump, as that's not the topic of debate, and it's not a Trump specific problem.

People legitimized the conspiracy theories by believing them. I've had coworkers rant to me about chemtrails, and no joke....gay frogs. This is in CT, not some red state out in the midwest. They listen, they believe with no evidence, they vote. Nutters gonna nut.

 

[Starbuck1975]

If you had read them, you would already know the difference. This is the dishonesty I'm referring to. You continue to prove the OP's original question valid and true.

Regardless of Trump, Conservatives have been spinning their conspiracy theories for a long time. Trump only legitimizes them to get what he wants. So forget Trump, as that's not the topic of debate, and it's not a Trump specific problem.

People legitimized the conspiracy theories by believing them. I've had coworkers rant to me about chemtrails, and no joke....gay frogs. This is in CT, not some red state out in the midwest. They listen, they believe with no evidence, they vote. Nutters gonna nut.

Gay frog conspiracists from CT are the worst kind.

Nutters gonna nut indeed.

I have heard conservatives rant about Obama’s birth certificate, the left’s control of the media, the government coming for their precious guns and other such nonsense.

I’ve also heard people from the left rant about vaccines, embrace junk science “alternative” medicine, irrationally fear government helicopters and the deep/police state, the vast right wing conspiracy, 9/11 and the Jewish deep state.

And let’s not forget the don’t tread on me libertarians, who occupy their own plane of existence, or Hollywood, which promotes its own unique brand of social sciences and medicine among other things.

 

[Paratus]

If you had read them, you would already know the difference. This is the dishonesty I'm referring to. You continue to prove the OP's original question valid and true.

Regardless of Trump, Conservatives have been spinning their conspiracy theories for a long time. Trump only legitimizes them to get what he wants. So forget Trump, as that's not the topic of debate, and it's not a Trump specific problem.

People legitimized the conspiracy theories by believing them. I've had coworkers rant to me about chemtrails, and no joke....gay frogs. This is in CT, not some red state out in the midwest. They listen, they believe with no evidence, they vote. Nutters gonna nut.

Gay frog conspiracists from CT are the worst kind.

Nutters gonna nut indeed.

I have heard conservatives rant about Obama’s birth certificate, the left’s control of the media, the government coming for their precious guns and other such nonsense.

I’ve also heard people from the left rant about vaccines, embrace junk science “alternative” medicine, irrationally fear government helicopters and the deep/police state, the vast right wing conspiracy, 9/11 and the Jewish deep state.

And let’s not forget the don’t tread on me libertarians, who occupy their own plane of existence, or Hollywood, which promotes its own unique brand of social sciences and medicine among other things.

Umm guys. There’s a problem with that phrase. Just saying.

 

[Jhhnn]

Where did I assert equivalence

False equivalence is the basis for the "they're just as bad" routine you've been running throughout this thread.

 

[justoh]

Forgot who made it, but good point about this russian stuff being a lot like #benghazi.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Umm guys. There’s a problem with that phrase. Just saying.

;-)

 

[fskimospy]

Forgot who made it, but good point about this russian stuff being a lot like #benghazi.

Very true. When Obama’s national security adviser pleaded guilty to a felony I knew the Benghazi thing was real.

 

[realibrad]

Umm guys. There’s a problem with that phrase. Just saying.

There is no problem. Just grab it tight and get the truth all over your face.

 

[MajinCry]

So what?

Trump also listened to, called into and appeared on Howard Stern. Does that make Stern a mainstream political commentator?

Trump also made donations to Democrats, and identified as such, until he decided to build a coalition of right wing fringe groups.

Now, if you want to comment on how the Republicans are a bunch of hypocrites for getting into bed with Trump, there is no argument there.

If you want examples of liberal commentators that have radio shows of equivalent audience reach and dabble in conspiracies, Robert Kennedy Jr comes to mind. Air America provided comparable commentary before it went under. Jill Stein and the Green Party is where all the liberal conspiracy nuts seem to land. Ground zero for the anti-vax movement was Marin County. The left is home to the 9/11 truther movement.

To say that the left is immune from fringe conspiracy theorists is to approach the question dishonestly.

Jill Stein, the Green party candidate, is the bastion of liberal conspiracy theories? Mate you're nuts.

You also didn't give me the Alex Jones equivalent. He doesn't "dabble" in conspiracies, it's his bread and butter, replete with childish tantrums and fits of rage.

So again, give me the Democrat equivalent of Alex Jones.

 

[realibrad]

This thread is weird. Someone says the Left is not immune to conspiracy theories and people cry false equivalence. An example is given of someone on the Left pushing the vaccines cause autism which shows that at least one can believe bullshit.

So why is his comment being misrepresented?

 

[realibrad]

Jill Stein, the Green party candidate, is the bastion of liberal conspiracy theories? Mate you're nuts.

You also didn't give me the Alex Jones equivalent. He doesn't "dabble" in conspiracies, it's his bread and butter, replete with childish tantrums and fits of rage.

So again, give me the Democrat equivalent of Alex Jones.

You should reread what he said. He did not equate Jill Stein to Alex Jones. He said that of the Left, the Green party is where crazies end up.

You are trying to put his comments in the context of a question he is not trying to answer.

 

[fskimospy]

This thread is weird. Someone says the Left is not immune to conspiracy theories and people cry false equivalence. An example is given of someone on the Left pushing the vaccines cause autism which shows that at least one can believe bullshit.

So why is his comment being misrepresented?

The anti-vaxx movement is across party lines, it is not a liberal thing.

If you actually read the thread the crux of the argument was not that liberals are immune to conspiracy theories, it is that the right is particularly bad about them and they are mainstream in conservatism in way they are not mainstream in liberalism. This is undeniably true, so why it's even being argued is confusing.

 

[MajinCry]

You should reread what he said. He did not equate Jill Stein to Alex Jones. He said that of the Left, the Green party is where crazies end up.

You are trying to put his comments in the context of a question he is not trying to answer.

I didn't claim that he stated Jill Stein is the equivalent to Alex Jones.

Jill Stein, the Green party candidate, is the bastion of liberal conspiracy theories? Mate you're nuts.

No equivalence to Alex Jones there.

 

[Starbuck1975]

False equivalence is the basis for the "they're just as bad" routine you've been running throughout this thread.

Show me where I stated there was an equivalence, false or otherwise

 

[realibrad]

I didn't claim that he stated Jill Stein is the equivalent to Alex Jones.



No equivalence to Alex Jones there.

Do you think that Her and her group are not the place that people on the Left end up in terms of crazies?

 

[realibrad]

The anti-vaxx movement is across party lines, it is not a liberal thing.

If you actually read the thread the crux of the argument was not that liberals are immune to conspiracy theories, it is that the right is particularly bad about them and they are mainstream in conservatism in way they are not mainstream in liberalism. This is undeniably true, so why it's even being argued is confusing.

It is weird, because, the person people are responding to said this.

So what?

Trump also listened to, called into and appeared on Howard Stern. Does that make Stern a mainstream political commentator?

Trump also made donations to Democrats, and identified as such, until he decided to build a coalition of right wing fringe groups.

Now, if you want to comment on how the Republicans are a bunch of hypocrites for getting into bed with Trump, there is no argument there.

If you want examples of liberal commentators that have radio shows of equivalent audience reach and dabble in conspiracies, Robert Kennedy Jr comes to mind. Air America provided comparable commentary before it went under. Jill Stein and the Green Party is where all the liberal conspiracy nuts seem to land. Ground zero for the anti-vax movement was Marin County. The left is home to the 9/11 truther movement.

To say that the left is immune from fringe conspiracy theorists is to approach the question dishonestly.

First, there were mainstream people on the Left that were pushing anti-vax which is why Kennedy was brought up. He has a radio show that is on over 40 stations, written many articles that were posted on major sites.

2nd, he clearly pointed out that he was saying that the Left is not immune, not that the Left was equal.

 

[pmv]

I was all ready to be fair and claim 'both sides', but...it just isn't true, not today, not in the present era in the US. It may well have been the case in the past that mad theories were present about equally on both fringes, and outside the West, but these days, in the US, the right have a far larger share of their number who believe in outright fantastical nonsense.

Though I have encountered a few allegedly left-wing 'jet fuel doesn't melt steel beams' theorists. And outside the US I think it's more even - there exist left-wing Holocaust deniers in France, for example, and post-Soviet Russia seems to have created some very odd alliances with bonkers theories shared across the political spectrum.