Wednesday Open Thread

4 thoughts on “Wednesday Open Thread”

1. Taxonomy of Conspiracy Theorists. H. Colleen Sinclair at Talking Points Memo

   There has been a lot of research on the types of people who believe conspiracy theories, and their reasons for doing so. But there’s a wrinkle: My colleagues and I have found that there are a number of people sharing conspiracies online who don’t believe their own content.

   They are opportunists. These people share conspiracy theories to promote conflict, cause chaos, recruit and radicalize potential followers, make money, harass, or even just to get attention.

   There are several types of this sort of conspiracy-spreader trying to influence you.

   Coaxing conspiracists: the extremists

   In our chapter of a new book on extremism and conspiracies, my colleagues and I discuss evidence that certain extremist groups intentionally use conspiracy theories to entice adherents. They are looking for a so-called “gateway conspiracy” that will lure someone into talking to them, and then be vulnerable to radicalization. They try out multiple conspiracies to see what sticks.

   Research shows that people with positive feelings for extremist groups are significantly more likely to knowingly share false content online. 

   Combative conspiracists: the disinformants

   Chaos conspiracists: the trolls

   Commercial conspiracists: the profiteers

   Common conspiracists: the attention-getters

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   1. So which one is Elon Musk?

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      1. I could only do this with ranked-choice voting: profiteer #1, attention-getter 2, disinformant 3, extremist 4, troll 5.

         The profiteer thing isn't so much about the word "profit" per se, but I think he's a Trumper in large part because he wants a tax break.

         I'm not sure I wouldn't reverse my 2 and 3, and my 4 and 5, if pressed. He's putting out holy hog lagoons worth of disinformation on twitter.

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      2. “which one“?????

          

         

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