Conspiracy theories

[earl]

Sorry but I disagree. Some of the views expressed are so far from reality they are not just opposing views. They clearly show a cognitive disability. If they were within my field of influence I would absolutely have them assessed.

There is a clear lack of rational and logical thought. I have a friend who is schizophrenic. I don't see how his illness is characterized as a mental health issue and some of the opinions on here aren't considered a mental health issue.

There has been depression in my family and although it is a serious issue it is actually considerably less an issue that some of the loony tune theories on here.

I mean these are complete breaks from reality. It's not an opinion. It's a complete break from reality. If it isn't a mental health issue what is it ?


You often find that a the strongest conspiracy theory believers are disenfranchised or those living on the edges of society. The theories provide a justification for where they find themselves. It is the fault of "The System", "The Illuminati choose who will be successful", "You have to be a member of some secret society to achieve a particular role", "The radical left supports everyone bar me".

It absolves the individual of all blame, allows them to solely act in their own self interests and reject any norms of society that are not appealing to them.

I agree with this. I'll add that my friend who is schizophrenic suffers from similar delusions.

I think it gives them a sense of belonging and a sense of having some special knowledge as well. So they may not be doing well in society but this gives them an excuse plus something to feel like they are special.

I'm not hearing any reason why this isn't a mental health issue though.

 

[Curly_Tiger]

The next great leap apart from the mental health issues and our general “feeble mindedness” is that our eugenicist friends here now believe we aren’t “doing well in society” are “disenfranchised” and “living on the edges of society”
What’s your solution for us guys? Re-education, shock therapy, sterilisation or maybe just get rid of us all
It’s seriously nonsense to generalise in this way as you parrot mainstream views but perhaps it allows you to feel secure following the nonsense they feed you to think that those that don’t go along with the so called norms are crazy, unsuccessful and shunned by society

 

[happy_tiger]

The old maxim “history is written by the winners” supports the premise that history has Indeed at times been falsified
I’d suggest you read into the Round Table of Cecil Rhodes and Alfred Milner to see how they infiltrated most areas of influence, one in particular being history academics
The constant call for mental health assistance for those who are open to alternative points of view is really quite distasteful

And then history is rewritten by movies .....

 

[Papacito]

Back in the day I had a relative that would spend every night alone in his backyard, away from his family with a telescope, trying to prove that aliens exist.

For the most part, it was harmless weirdness. For the other 20 hours of the day the alien obsession took a back seat to normal life.

Now social media detects if someone is interested in conspiracy theories and jams packs newsfeeds and timelines with more of the same, creating a self-reinforcing echo chamber of conspiracies, allowing you to binge on it 24/7.

There's no doubt in my mind that social media fuelled conspiracies have played a major role in tipping many people into a bad mental state.

 

[Tiger5150]

The old maxim “history is written by the winners” supports the premise that history has Indeed at times been falsified
I’d suggest you read into the Round Table of Cecil Rhodes and Alfred Milner to see how they infiltrated most areas of influence, one in particular being history academics
**The constant call for mental health assistance for those who are open to alternative points of view is really quite distasteful**

Highly distasteful! I’m sorry, but I think it’s an absolute disgrace to arrogantly and repeatedly brand people as having mental health issues simply because they have a different point of view to you, especially when there are many people in this world who are actually suffering from, and battling, very real mental health issues!

It is a topic that should not be treated lightly or just thrown out there willy nilly because you want to insult someone and the constant barbs on here about people being in need of mental health, because of what they post, is doing exactly that - treating a serious issue lightly and it’s bloody absurd.

If it isn't a mental health issue then what is it ? There is something wrong with these guys.

It is not a mental health issue and its I think offensive and narrow minded to write it off so blithely.

I do however understand the cognitive dissonancy involved in wondering how the hell do people believe these things (obvious conspiracy theories). My partner and I have acquantances who are actual serious QAnon and they keep sending up messages hoping to "open our eyes". I find it troubling and I also think how the hell do rational sane people believe these things?

IMO the biggest reason for the spike and currency of Conspiracy Theories is a result of two things.

1. The explosion in the volume, speed and availability of information as a result of the internet, social media and digital communication. This enables MASSIVE volume of all communication of all sorts to be sent past everyone.

2. The death of trust in reliable, impartial mainstream media. The corruption of mainstream and legacy media outlets means that reliable and impartial information is not available and most people either know it intrinsically or instinctively. As a result, people dont trust what they see/hear/read. Then if you cant trust what the media is telling you, this spills over into other pillars of trust in society. If you cant trust the media, why would yo utrust what the government is telling you, so on and so forth.

Once the trust in the media and govt is gone, when something happens, like a global pandemic, that doesnt make sense and it doesnt seem normal and something just doesnt seem right, and you instinctively feel what the media has been telling you for years has been rubbish, then when someone presents you some pre-digested hypothesis with cherry picked data or information in the absense of critical investigation, then THAT thing is the one that makes the most sense.

 

[gallagher]

Mistrust of the NRL media is displayed here on a daily basis but I don't see those posters being labelled as having mental issues.

 

[jadtiger]

Mistrust of the NRL media is displayed here on a daily basis but I don't see those posters being labelled as having mental issues.

You are probably correct but the majority of supporters from every club would agree that the authors of the misinformation(journos) have massive mental issues and live in as fake a world as Q-Anon

 

[gallagher]

Mistrust of the NRL media is displayed here on a daily basis but I don't see those posters being labelled as having mental issues.


You are probably correct but the majority of supporters from every club would agree that the authors of the misinformation(journos) have massive mental issues and live in as fake a world as Q-Anon

As long as people click on those journalists stories or retweet , or post it on other social media pages then that section of the media will continue down that line.
Who's the crazy ones?

 

[Tiger5150]

Mistrust of the NRL media is displayed here on a daily basis but I don't see those posters being labelled as having mental issues.

I know you are being humorous but its actually a pretty good example of my point. We dont trust the NRL media, we think they have an agenda and this distrust spills into trust of the actual NRL organisation. Additionally, here, other forums, social media etc, how many times have you seen a reference to Nick Politis playing golf, sombreros etc? The end result is that there is a pretty widely held view that there is an NRL conspiracy to assist a handful of clubs whereas if there was integrity and trust in both the NRL media and following on the organisation, this theory could quite possibly be seen as a wild conspiracy theory (It probably is).

 

[earl]

Mistrust of the NRL media is displayed here on a daily basis but I don't see those posters being labelled as having mental issues.


I know you are being humorous but its actually a pretty good example of my point. We dont trust the NRL media, we think they have an agenda and this distrust spills into trust of the actual NRL organisation. Additionally, here, other forums, social media etc, how many times have you seen a reference to Nick Politis playing golf, sombreros etc? The end result is that there is a pretty widely held view that there is an NRL conspiracy to assist a handful of clubs whereas if there was integrity and trust in both the NRL media and following on the organisation, this theory could quite possibly be seen as a wild conspiracy theory (It probably is).

To me this shows the issue with conspiracy theorists and how they get it so wrong. I distrust the media. I don't though go and create loony tunes theories with no facts.

It's like they double down on stupidity. They don't go the other way and mistrust the media and wait until facts come out. They make stuff up and believe information with no facts at all.

I've still yet to see an argument that it is not a mental health issue. It shows a lack of ability to accept reality. I'm not talking about opinions because these aren't opinions. To have an opinion to me requires an acceptance of facts and then you can debate an opinion based on the facts.

 

[Spud_Murphy]

The old maxim “history is written by the winners” supports the premise that history has Indeed at times been falsified
I’d suggest you read into the Round Table of Cecil Rhodes and Alfred Milner to see how they infiltrated most areas of influence, one in particular being history academics
**The constant call for mental health assistance for those who are open to alternative points of view is really quite distasteful**

Highly distasteful! I’m sorry, but I think it’s an absolute disgrace to arrogantly and repeatedly brand people as having mental health issues simply because they have a different point of view to you, especially when there are many people in this world who are actually suffering from, and battling, very real mental health issues!

It is a topic that should not be treated lightly or just thrown out there willy nilly because you want to insult someone and the constant barbs on here about people being in need of mental health, because of what they post, is doing exactly that - treating a serious issue lightly and it’s bloody absurd.

If it isn't a mental health issue then what is it ? **There is something wrong with these guys.**

In your educated opinion?

 

[Tiger5150]

Mistrust of the NRL media is displayed here on a daily basis but I don't see those posters being labelled as having mental issues.


I know you are being humorous but its actually a pretty good example of my point. We dont trust the NRL media, we think they have an agenda and this distrust spills into trust of the actual NRL organisation. Additionally, here, other forums, social media etc, how many times have you seen a reference to Nick Politis playing golf, sombreros etc? The end result is that there is a pretty widely held view that there is an NRL conspiracy to assist a handful of clubs whereas if there was integrity and trust in both the NRL media and following on the organisation, this theory could quite possibly be seen as a wild conspiracy theory (It probably is).

To me this shows the issue with conspiracy theorists and how they get it so wrong. I distrust the media. I don't though go and create loony tunes theories with no facts.

It's like they double down on stupidity. They don't go the other way and mistrust the media and wait until facts come out. They make stuff up and believe information with no facts at all.

I've still yet to see an argument that it is not a mental health issue. It shows a lack of ability to accept reality. I'm not talking about opinions because these aren't opinions. **To have an opinion to me requires an acceptance of facts and then you can debate an opinion based on the facts.**

Irony, thy name is Earl

 

[earl]

The old maxim “history is written by the winners” supports the premise that history has Indeed at times been falsified
I’d suggest you read into the Round Table of Cecil Rhodes and Alfred Milner to see how they infiltrated most areas of influence, one in particular being history academics
**The constant call for mental health assistance for those who are open to alternative points of view is really quite distasteful**

Highly distasteful! I’m sorry, but I think it’s an absolute disgrace to arrogantly and repeatedly brand people as having mental health issues simply because they have a different point of view to you, especially when there are many people in this world who are actually suffering from, and battling, very real mental health issues!

It is a topic that should not be treated lightly or just thrown out there willy nilly because you want to insult someone and the constant barbs on here about people being in need of mental health, because of what they post, is doing exactly that - treating a serious issue lightly and it’s bloody absurd.

If it isn't a mental health issue then what is it ? **There is something wrong with these guys.**

In your educated opinion?

Yes. It is a break from reality. A good example is the voting in America. I mean it was a fair election but the loony tune brigade made up that it was fake.

Isn't that a break from reality ?

 

[earl]

Mistrust of the NRL media is displayed here on a daily basis but I don't see those posters being labelled as having mental issues.


I know you are being humorous but its actually a pretty good example of my point. We dont trust the NRL media, we think they have an agenda and this distrust spills into trust of the actual NRL organisation. Additionally, here, other forums, social media etc, how many times have you seen a reference to Nick Politis playing golf, sombreros etc? The end result is that there is a pretty widely held view that there is an NRL conspiracy to assist a handful of clubs whereas if there was integrity and trust in both the NRL media and following on the organisation, this theory could quite possibly be seen as a wild conspiracy theory (It probably is).

To me this shows the issue with conspiracy theorists and how they get it so wrong. I distrust the media. I don't though go and create loony tunes theories with no facts.

It's like they double down on stupidity. They don't go the other way and mistrust the media and wait until facts come out. They make stuff up and believe information with no facts at all.

I've still yet to see an argument that it is not a mental health issue. It shows a lack of ability to accept reality. I'm not talking about opinions because these aren't opinions. **To have an opinion to me requires an acceptance of facts and then you can debate an opinion based on the facts.**


Irony, thy name is Earl

I don't see the irony at all. Happy to discuss. Maybe via PM because that might be easier.

 

[BZN]

I use money to buy PIES...has not let me down yet..

I think pies should be the index all currencies are measured against.

You haven't had a pie until you have been to the Travellers Rest at Gin Gin ...and you haven't had flat white until you stop at the 24 hour stop at Gin Gin


Wow - sounds like Gin Gin is the culinary centre of the universe. I can see Rick Stein doing a discovery tour of Gin Gin's delectable delights soon.

:+1: :clap: :ghost: :rolling_on_the_floor_laughing:

 

[Tiger5150]

Mistrust of the NRL media is displayed here on a daily basis but I don't see those posters being labelled as having mental issues.


I know you are being humorous but its actually a pretty good example of my point. We dont trust the NRL media, we think they have an agenda and this distrust spills into trust of the actual NRL organisation. Additionally, here, other forums, social media etc, how many times have you seen a reference to Nick Politis playing golf, sombreros etc? The end result is that there is a pretty widely held view that there is an NRL conspiracy to assist a handful of clubs whereas if there was integrity and trust in both the NRL media and following on the organisation, this theory could quite possibly be seen as a wild conspiracy theory (It probably is).

To me this shows the issue with conspiracy theorists and how they get it so wrong. I distrust the media. I don't though go and create loony tunes theories with no facts.

It's like they double down on stupidity. They don't go the other way and mistrust the media and wait until facts come out. They make stuff up and believe information with no facts at all.

I've still yet to see an argument that it is not a mental health issue. It shows a lack of ability to accept reality. I'm not talking about opinions because these aren't opinions. **To have an opinion to me requires an acceptance of facts and then you can debate an opinion based on the facts.**


Irony, thy name is Earl

I don't see the irony at all. Happy to discuss. Maybe via PM because that might be easier.

Mate I went 47 rounds with you the other night with literally the highest level of facts possible (peer reviewed scientific research publications) and you wouldnt accept these facts in debating an opinion. That is the irony.

I think its unlikely anything will change if we do it again so I suggest we spare the good people the boring and unedifying spectacle of Earl v 5150 II.

 

[dazza65]

@dgilly - I still don't see the negative that you are talking about and I don't understand why anyone would lend money without getting a return.

I understand you believe it's against your principles to make money from lending money but my argument is if you don't make money why lend ? Why would anyone save money ? When you state the whole banking system is against you I think that's nonsense. I work for a big bank and we've been trying so hard to help out people impacted via COVID. I have no problems with knocking banks as well.

I don't see you making a clear point about what is wrong with the current system. Do you have a realistic alternative ?

My solution is to not have usury. I've said that like 2-3 times now. Money should not be lent at interest it should be loaned by the government without interest. I said that already. That is a completely viable alternative.

As for banks helping people with covid, that has nothing to do with this at all. I said the fractional reserve banking system is rigged against us.

If you still don't know what I'm saying I can't help you anymore

You aren't really making a point here though. You are stating you don't like usury but that is like stating you don't like people making a profit from businesses. You are entitled to your opinion but mate that ain't the way the world works and it isn't that way for a reason.

Yep the system is rigged against people who don't save money and go into debt but that is life.

Sorry dude but I don't see that you have a cognizant argument and you definitely don't have an alternative.

You just simply don’t understand this system. I’ve said my alternative so many times and each time you say I don’t have an alternative. Plenty of societies have abolished usury.

There is a big different between free markets and making a profit vs controlling the currency we use so that the world is forever in debt to you.

It has nothing to do with banks like CommBank, this is bigger picture. The big 4 banks just play within the game they have to play. I’m talking about the banking system that determines the financial system.

If you don’t understand what abolish usury means by now I just can’t help you.

I have said it so many times I’m not sure if you’re trying to be ignorant or not

I understand the system completely and utterly. I also have a degree in commerce with a major in economics. I see nothing wrong with the system at all.

You keep trying to tell me there is something wrong with the system but I don't see it. You cannot articulate what is wrong other than state usury. You haven't made a cognizant point.

If anyone else can make sense of what you are stating or you can make sense of it then go for it.

Thanks @Earl for taking the time to write what I have been wanting to say since the beginning of this usary “discussion” but I had neither the time nor energy to debate it further.

 

[BZN]

Sorry but I disagree. Some of the views expressed are so far from reality they are not just opposing views. They clearly show a cognitive disability. If they were within my field of influence I would absolutely have them assessed.

There is a clear lack of rational and logical thought. I have a friend who is schizophrenic. I don't see how his illness is characterized as a mental health issue and some of the opinions on here aren't considered a mental health issue.

There has been depression in my family and although it is a serious issue it is actually considerably less an issue that some of the loony tune theories on here.

I mean these are complete breaks from reality. It's not an opinion. It's a complete break from reality. If it isn't a mental health issue what is it ?


You often find that a the strongest conspiracy theory believers are disenfranchised or those living on the edges of society. The theories provide a justification for where they find themselves. It is the fault of "The System", "The Illuminati choose who will be successful", "You have to be a member of some secret society to achieve a particular role", "The radical left supports everyone bar me".

It absolves the individual of all blame, allows them to solely act in their own self interests and reject any norms of society that are not appealing to them.

G'day Harvey : a well written post :+1: , but you will have to explain the last paragraph to me. I'm a bit thick sometimes :blush:

 

[earl]

Mistrust of the NRL media is displayed here on a daily basis but I don't see those posters being labelled as having mental issues.


I know you are being humorous but its actually a pretty good example of my point. We dont trust the NRL media, we think they have an agenda and this distrust spills into trust of the actual NRL organisation. Additionally, here, other forums, social media etc, how many times have you seen a reference to Nick Politis playing golf, sombreros etc? The end result is that there is a pretty widely held view that there is an NRL conspiracy to assist a handful of clubs whereas if there was integrity and trust in both the NRL media and following on the organisation, this theory could quite possibly be seen as a wild conspiracy theory (It probably is).

To me this shows the issue with conspiracy theorists and how they get it so wrong. I distrust the media. I don't though go and create loony tunes theories with no facts.

It's like they double down on stupidity. They don't go the other way and mistrust the media and wait until facts come out. They make stuff up and believe information with no facts at all.

I've still yet to see an argument that it is not a mental health issue. It shows a lack of ability to accept reality. I'm not talking about opinions because these aren't opinions. **To have an opinion to me requires an acceptance of facts and then you can debate an opinion based on the facts.**


Irony, thy name is Earl

I don't see the irony at all. Happy to discuss. Maybe via PM because that might be easier.


Mate I went 47 rounds with you the other night with literally the highest level of facts possible (peer reviewed scientific research publications) and wouldnt accept these facts in debating an opinion. That is the irony.

I think its unlikely anything will change if we do it again so I suggest we spare the good people the boring and unedifying spectacle of Earl v 5150 II.

I don't want to go into this but you honestly aren't being honest at all here. You didn't even provide peer reviewed papers. I mean you keep stating this like you believe it but it's simply not true. I read them and they weren't peer reviewed papers.

You have an opinion that those articles didn't back up at all.

I accept that the virus could have been studied in a lab and gotten out that way although that is unlikely.

Let's not do it again though.

I'll add this so hopefully the peer reviewed nonsense stops:-

This is a peer review article:- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4797993/
These aren't:- https://www.nature.com/news/us-suspends-risky-disease-research-1.16192
https://www.nature.com/news/engineered-bat-virus-stirs-debate-over-risky-research-1.18787

I'd also state that I agree that viruses can leak via laboratories and the research is in my opinion risky. I also will wait until the facts come out prior to concluding that the virus was bred and spread via laboratory research. I will also err on the side of the majority science opinion which is that the virus evolved via animals into humans.

If the facts come out and the virus came via a lab I would accept that completely.

 

[Tiger5150]

Mistrust of the NRL media is displayed here on a daily basis but I don't see those posters being labelled as having mental issues.


I know you are being humorous but its actually a pretty good example of my point. We dont trust the NRL media, we think they have an agenda and this distrust spills into trust of the actual NRL organisation. Additionally, here, other forums, social media etc, how many times have you seen a reference to Nick Politis playing golf, sombreros etc? The end result is that there is a pretty widely held view that there is an NRL conspiracy to assist a handful of clubs whereas if there was integrity and trust in both the NRL media and following on the organisation, this theory could quite possibly be seen as a wild conspiracy theory (It probably is).

To me this shows the issue with conspiracy theorists and how they get it so wrong. I distrust the media. I don't though go and create loony tunes theories with no facts.

It's like they double down on stupidity. They don't go the other way and mistrust the media and wait until facts come out. They make stuff up and believe information with no facts at all.

I've still yet to see an argument that it is not a mental health issue. It shows a lack of ability to accept reality. I'm not talking about opinions because these aren't opinions. **To have an opinion to me requires an acceptance of facts and then you can debate an opinion based on the facts.**


Irony, thy name is Earl

I don't see the irony at all. Happy to discuss. Maybe via PM because that might be easier.


Mate I went 47 rounds with you the other night with literally the highest level of facts possible (peer reviewed scientific research publications) and wouldnt accept these facts in debating an opinion. That is the irony.

I think its unlikely anything will change if we do it again so I suggest we spare the good people the boring and unedifying spectacle of Earl v 5150 II.

Thank you! Thank you for exactly proving my point about you, facts and (delicious) irony!


I don't want to go into this but ***you honestly aren't being honest at all here***. ***You didn't even provide peer reviewed papers***. I mean ***you keep stating this like you believe it but it's simply not true***. I read them and they weren't peer reviewed papers.


Ok, so facts? **Im** not being honest? I didnt provide peer reviewed papers? I state it like I believe it but Im lying?

This is what I posted to you 3 days ago.


I'll add this so hopefully the peer reviewed nonsense stops:-

This is a peer review article:- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4797993/
These aren't:- https://www.nature.com/news/us-suspends-risky-disease-research-1.16192
https://www.nature.com/news/engineered-bat-virus-stirs-debate-over-risky-research-1.18787


Ok, so let me get this straight.......

To prove I am ***lying*** about posting peer reviewed scientific publications and that I dont know what peer reviewed publications are (I have AQF Level 8 Scientific qualifications from Uni Melb and read peer reviewed research every day for my job), you list as an example of a peer reviewed publication, ***the same peer reviewed article that I posted to you*** as supporting my point??

Ok you are either one of the best trolls Ive encountered here or anywhere, or you are a special kind of special.

I recently read a post here where someone said *"To have an opinion to me requires an acceptance of facts and then you can debate an opinion based on the facts."* **IRONICALLY** I agree with this poster and its clear that a debate is impossible with you.

Lets give everyone else a break.