The Power of Disinformation
Unpacking the Persistence of Conspiracy Theories in the Modern World
B. N. Dent
NOW, I HAVE NO DOUBT that the world would be a far less interesting place if we were depleted of conspiracy theories and all the fake news which regularly pervade the media, but imagine how much more productive and advanced our society would be if these deceitful ideas were never conceived.
What if all of the individuals who dedicated their lives to looking for BigFoot or the Loch Ness Monster instead put those thousands of, let’s face it, wasted hours into pursuing a career in social work. But hey, I guess you can’t get in the way of one’s true passion, however ridiculous it may seem.
This same idea of true value and utility can be said about many other walks of life, particularly in the entertainment industry. Will the additional season of your favourite TV show truly be essential to the development of humanity? Probably not, but it serves an important function nonetheless – it keeps you entertained. This scenario underscores the broader concept that not everything in life needs to have profound implications or utility; sometimes, the joy of entertainment and relaxation is of genuine value. That being said, in light of the recent sham surrounding the “discovery” of a 1,000-year-old extra-terrestrial which transpired just a month ago, I think that with regards to conspiracy theories, there needs to be a firm line drawn to separate entertainment and absurdity from genuinely plausible belief. For if we fail to draw this line in our current world, where people are ever more impressionable to the ideas presented in the media, then what we get are individuals focused on the wrong things at the wrong times. Case and point, some voting-age Australians having a greater vested interest in the physical characteristics of a likely fraudulent Alien fossil than the inner workings of a historical referendum.
To provide some context on this recent imbecilic conspiracy theory, just a month ago in the middle of September a hearing was held where Mexico’s Congress heard testimony regarding the possibility that extra-terrestrials might exist and were presented with the alleged remains of non-human beings in an extraordinary hearing marking the country’s first congressional event on aliens and UFOs. These remains were presented by Mexican journalist José Jaime Maussan who claimed that the remains were discovered back in 2017 in Peru and were allegedly 1,000 years old. He also swore under oath that they were non-human remains. The two main threats to the credibility of these findings are: firstly, that the bodies look extremely similar to the alien in Steven Spielberg’s 1982 blockbuster film ET. Secondly, and more prominently, the journalist spearheading the presentation of the findings had previously been involved in the spread of the Nazca Mummy Story in 2017 – a similar situation which turned out to be a sham.
A 2022 study conducted by political scientist Joseph Uscinski suggested that the frequency of conspiracy theories is actually on the rise. But should we be surprised by this? Personally, I would have thought that the frequency of conspiracy theories would have followed a trend inversely proportional to the rise in technology. With the prevalence of great technology, we have such easy access to large amounts of knowledge, and with this boundless knowledge at our fingertips, I would think that our ability to discern fact from fiction would be heightened. Maybe we have just become more bored as of late, and in our aimlessness, we are looking for any idea to grab onto in order to provide some purpose or entertainment, who knows? If you are going to indulge in some conspiracy theories, at least pick some interesting ones. If interested, I would suggest looking into the infamous Alex Jones, and some of his insights into the world.
Alex Jones Cooking