Here's a quiz that exposes how well you deal with the conspiracy theory landscape. Not only can it be useful for you, you can use these questions to feel out where your antagonists fall in the landscape. There's also some good information on how to "smell out" a potential false conspiracy theory.
Conspiracy theories follow a simple formula
Powerful people + Use deceitful or shadowy means + Benefit themselves or harm the public
Barack Obama faked his citizenship to become president.
Donald Trump faked having covid-19 to help his chances at reelection.
Hillary Clinton conspired to give Russia access to nuclear materials.
Real-world events sometimes follow this formula as well. Example: The Reagan administration acted secretly and illegally in the Iran-contra affair, and the FBI did spy on King. But the key difference is that these real incidents are backed up by evidence, facts and witnesses.
Conspiracy theories are different. They’re just theories. Most have no evidence to support them. They often connect unrelated facts to create an impression of plausibility.
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These theories have consequences. Since the 2020 election, Republicans have pursued election “audits” — recounts aimed at casting doubt on Joe Biden’s win. Other conspiracy theories, such as anti-vaccine narratives, threaten public health.
Eventually, you’ll run into a conspiracy theory that appeals to you politically or psychologically. So be careful and double-check your sources — or you could fall down the rabbit hole, too.
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