How so? Genuine question lol, not being snarky

So while on the actual facts it’s so clearly bullshit, on an emotional level it’s very continuous with the medieval and renaissance beliefs that weather events had congruity with human moral actions, the people of a sinful city get hit by floods for example. Similar to Mandate of Heaven concept 1/2

In the modern era, which really focuses on the idea that the world is something humans can effectively understand and manipulate to an arbitrary extent(which we have become good at!). This ancient association of weather w humans gets translated into humans having direct control over the weather!

Wow, hadn't thought of it like that. I do find the emotion behind conspiracy theories to be fairly sweet but sad. Pushing insane explanations onto the discomfort of chaos as a coping mechanism is endearing—at least, in children it is. When adults act like infants they mask their ignorante with rage.

Alternately you could say that we've supplanted Zeus in our own imagination

Yeah that too

"Weather: it just sort of happens," the idea that humankind, through the entire long arc of our history, just cannot quite come to terms with

And conspiracy theories don’t operate at the rational level but are a non-rational frame that people can get trapped in that rational explanation is useless for getting them out of. Everything becomes associations and connections that just “feel true”

The closest thing I've found to have a discussion with someone who is rabbit holed... is to just ask them questions. For example. I had a friend who was super anti vax. So, one day he was taking his dog to the vet to get vaccinated. I asked why he believes in dog vaccination. He paused a bit 1/2

And his response was, "Dogs are different"... To which I asked about an anecdote he used earlier about dogs (something about if it's safe for me it's safe for my dog), some dumb shit like that. I simply confused him. About a week later he messaged me... I'd changed his dumb ass mind 😂😂😂 one more

Was it scientific? No, he changed his mind because he thinks the anatomy of a dog is the same as his... But, his kids are vaccinated now. So, I take that as a win. Careful though, it can backfire super quick. I chased other friends deeper into the rabbit he 😂😂😂 I'll take my one success tho.

Oh that’s such a good example. You don’t truly reason with it, you just try to apply an equal and opposite emotion

Also ty for your service lol omg

A control illusion. That makes sense.