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Comment by linearrust | Hacker News Reader

> The question I ask with these studies is "what is a conspiracy?"

Everyone here seems to be missing the 'essence' of the study and article. Do these conspiracy theorists influence global pandemic policy? Do flat earther conspiracy theorist affect global climate change policy?

That's what the article and the 'study' is ultimately implying. That lonely conspiracy theorist flat earthers are controlling global policy.

Some think reptilians are controlling the world. Nature and these 'researchers' think that lonely conspiracy theorists living in their mom's basements are secretly controlling the world.

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No one is claiming that "lonely conspiracy theorists living in their mom's basements are secretly controlling the world." But it is obvious that some conspiracy theories such as replacement theory, the trans "groomer" panic and COVID conspiracy theories have become mainstream within certain political demographics. QAnon actively hampers real efforts to combat sex abuse with their phantom fears of leftist sex-slave cabals. People within the Pentagon who believe in alien abductions and Skinwalker Ranch are interfering with legitimate counterintelligence work.

Pretending all conspiracy theorists are just "lonely" and harmless people who have no real effect on the world is simply naive.

> No one is claiming that "lonely conspiracy theorists living in their mom's basements are secretly controlling the world."

The article and the study is.

> But it is obvious that some conspiracy theories such as replacement theory, the trans "groomer" panic and COVID conspiracy theories have become mainstream within certain political demographics.

And certain conspiracy theories like 'lonely conspiracy theorists in living their mom's basements are secretlly controlling the world' have become mainstream within certain politcal demographics.

That's my point. Neither side are 'lonely conspiracy theorists'. Both sides are part of major political parties.

> Pretending all conspiracy theorists are just "lonely" and harmless people who have no real effect on the world is simply naive.

Yes. So stop being so naive. Most of these conspiracy theories on all sides are being pushed by major media outlets like nature and major political parties.

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