Dealing with conspiracy theories

I recently read an interesting article in the Guardian, a UK-based newsletter, entitled "How to deal with a conspiracy theorist." It was an informative article giving several steps for dealing with people who believe, for example, that COVID-19 is a hoax or that wearing masks is worthless. conspiracy theorist

​It is a useful article and has links to other interesting and informative articles such as The Power Of Persuasion And Pre-Suasion To Produce Change and Neutralizing misinformation through inoculation: Exposing misleading argumentation techniques reduces their influence.

​Good ideas and helpful to know when many of your friends and family want to believe bullshit. But I'm asking myself, "Why? Why do these people ignore good information and refuse to believe well-documented scientific articles? Or why do people refuse to learn how to read a damn journal article?!" It's not like I haven't posted articles on how to read journal articles and it's not like I haven't published a book on how to protect yourself from scams from bad information: "Scam-Proof: Good Information & Critical Thinking for an Evidence-Based Life." It's available in paperback or Kindle and sells a copy or two every month.

​But I'm still asking, "Why?! Why do we need to be shown steps for persuading conspiracy theorists?! Why don't we just let them believe their nonsense, contract COVID-19 and get sick?" Several virulent COVID conspiracists have come down with the disease and some have died. I say it's just thinning the herd. Good riddance!

Okay, maybe that's kind of a bitchy outlook and I'm just feeling bitchy from all the gloomy weather we've been having here in south central Kentucky - unfortunately a common weather pattern here. I'm sick to death of it! But still people who enjoy lolling around in their ignorance or are actively nurturing it annoy the living shit out of me. Isn't it up to the individual to learn as much they can about a disease that as of this date (November 2020) has killed over a quarter of a million people in this country alone and can permanently damage critical bodily systems in those who survive?! Boggles the mind and makes me want to punch someone right in their unmasked nose! My arrest is imminent..

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