On a "meta" level, keeping the popularity of conspiracy theory out of the general consciousness is actually an important--even vital--part of the conspiracies themselves.
The idea concerns something called "common knowledge of the fraud". That is, when confronted by some fraud (or here, conspiracy theory), your thoughts and actions will differ greatly based simply on whether you estimate that understanding to be common knowledge, or that you stand alone or with few others.
I see "conspiracy theorists" constantly congratulating themselves on their knowledge of conspiracies, which always indicates to me they completely fail to understand this aspect. Personal knowledge is necessary, but hardly sufficient.
I tend to agree. When people become "conspiracy theorists" as part of their identity, they act like they have secret knowledge that makes them special. It really doesn't.
On a "meta" level, keeping the popularity of conspiracy theory out of the general consciousness is actually an important--even vital--part of the conspiracies themselves.
The idea concerns something called "common knowledge of the fraud". That is, when confronted by some fraud (or here, conspiracy theory), your thoughts and actions will differ greatly based simply on whether you estimate that understanding to be common knowledge, or that you stand alone or with few others.
I see "conspiracy theorists" constantly congratulating themselves on their knowledge of conspiracies, which always indicates to me they completely fail to understand this aspect. Personal knowledge is necessary, but hardly sufficient.
I tend to agree. When people become "conspiracy theorists" as part of their identity, they act like they have secret knowledge that makes them special. It really doesn't.
Laughable