BBC explains the best way to handle dimwit conspiracy theorists over Christmas.
Mon 10:16 pm +00:00, 21 Dec 2020 10How should you talk to friends and relatives who believe conspiracy theories? Remember – medical experts say shouting increases the chance of spreading coronavirus. Yet another reason to keep things low-key.

You’re dreading the moment.
As your uncle passes the roast potatoes, he casually mentions that a coronavirus vaccine will be used to inject microchips into our bodies to track us.
Or maybe it’s that point when a friend, after a couple of pints, starts talking about how Covid-19 “doesn’t exist”. Or when pudding is ruined as a long-lost cousin starts spinning lurid tales about QAnon and elite Satanists eating babies.
The recent rules changes have upended holiday plans for many of us, but you still may find yourself grappling with such situations over the next few days – talking not about legitimate political questions and debates, but outlandish plots and fictions.
So how do you talk to people about conspiracy theories without ruining Christmas?

1: Keep calm
While it’s important to confront falsehoods, it’s never useful if things end up in a flaming row.
“My number one rule would be to not spoil Christmas,” says Mick West, author of Escaping the Rabbit Hole. “An angry, heated conversation will leave everyone feeling rubbish and further cement conspiracy beliefs.”
Psychologist Jovan Byford, a lecturer at the Open University, notes that conspiracy theories often have a strong emotional dimension.
“They are not just about right and wrong,” he says, “but underpinned by feelings of resentment, anger and indignation over how the world works.”
And they’ve boomed this year, with many searching for grand explanations for the pandemic, American politics, and huge world events.
Catherine from the Isle of Wight understands that better than most. The 38-year-old used to be a big believer in conspiracies about vaccines being used to deliberately harm people. She’s since rejected such claims.
“It is extremely important to remain calm at all times,” she says. “Whoever you’re talking to is often just as passionate as you are about your own beliefs and will defend them to the grave.”
And also remember – medical experts say shouting increases the chance of spreading coronavirus. Yet another reason to keep things low-key.
- How I talk to the victims of conspiracy theories
- Coronavirus: How my mum became a conspiracy theory influencer
2: Don’t be dismissive
“Approach conversations with friends and family with empathy rather than ridicule,” says Claire Wardle from First Draft, a not-for-profit which fights misinformation. “Listen to what they have to say with patience.”
Her golden rule is: never publicly shame someone for their views. That’s likely to backfire.

“If you do decide to discuss conspiracy theories, don’t be dismissive of the other person’s beliefs,” Jovan Byford agrees. “Establish some common ground.”
Remember that people often believe conspiracy theories because deep down, they’re worried or anxious. Try to understand those feelings – particularly in a year like the one we’ve just had.
3: Encourage critical thinking
People who believe conspiracy theories often say: “I do my own research.”
The problem is that their research tends to consist of watching fringe YouTube videos, following random people on Facebook, and cherry-picking evidence from biased Twitter accounts.
But the spirit of doubt that pervades the conspiracy-minded internet is actually a key opening for rational thought, says Jovan Byford.
“Many people who believe in conspiracy theories see themselves as healthy sceptics and self-taught researchers into complex issues,” he says. “Present this as something that, in principle, you value and share.
“Your aim is not to make them less curious or sceptical, but to change what they are curious about, or sceptical of.”

That’s what helped Phil from Belfast. He used to be big into 9/11 conspiracies.
“I used to point out the fact that there were various experts who doubted official stories. This was very persuasive to me,” he explains. “Why would these experts lie?”
But then he began applying scepticism not to just “official sources” but also the alternative “experts” that was listening to.
He developed a deeper understanding of the scientific method and scepticism itself. Just because one expert believes something, doesn’t make it true.
“You can find experts and very intelligent people who lend credence to any position,” he says.
“Focus on those who are pushing these ideas, and what they might be getting,” says Claire Wardle. “For instance, financial gain by selling health supplements, or reputational gain in building a following.”
4: Ask questions
Fact-checking is important, but it’s often not the right approach when someone passionately believes in conspiracies. Questions are much more effective than assertions, experts say.
“Focusing on the tactics and techniques used by people pushing disinformation is a more effective way of addressing these conversations than trying to debunk the information,” Claire Wardle says.
Think of general queries that encourage people to think about what they believe. For instance, are some of their beliefs contradictory? Do the details of the theory they’re describing make much sense? Have they thought about the counter-evidence?
“By asking questions and getting people to realise the flaws, you ultimately get people to doubt their own confidence and open them up to hearing alternative views,” says former conspiracy believer Phil.

5: Don’t expect immediate results
You might be hoping that a constructive conversation will end with some kind of epiphany over Christmas pudding – but don’t bet on it.
For those who have fallen deep down the conspiracy rabbit hole, getting out again can be a very long process.
“Be realistic about what you can achieve,” psychologist Jovan Byford warns. “Conspiracy theories instil in believers a sense of superiority. It’s an important generator of self-esteem – which will make them resistant to change.”
For fact-checker Claire Wardle, it’s not just about bruised egos. This year has been scary – and for many, conspiracy theories have been a source of comfort.
“Recognise that everyone has had their lives turned upside down, and is seeking explanations,” she says.
“Conspiracy theories tend to be simple, powerful stories that explain the world. Reality is complex and messy, which is harder for our brains to process.”
But the experts agree that even if you don’t see immediate results – don’t give up.
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I have no problems with idiots who think this is real and actually believe a mask protects them, but THEY RUINED MY LIFE, AND THAT PISSES ME OFF
Complicity Theorist
(noun) – a person who accepts the political narrative of the day unquestionably; consumes mainstream media without question; and is prone to submissiveness, outbursts of irrational fear, and public shaming of free-thinkers.
Cave Dwellers Wear Masques.
Plato’s Allegory of the Cave – Alex Gendler
https://youtu.be/1RWOpQXTltA
Complicity Theorists also suffer from a superiority complex, believing the way of the free thinker is mistaken and a little quaint. The BBC piece tries to reinforce this perception of superiority. It comes straight from the classroom. Copy what teacher says and you’ll get into university/a nice job and so on. Argue with teacher’s premises and you will be swiftly silenced. It is not comfortable to give up teacher’s approval and look dispassionately at your own intuitive knowledge. It’s far easier to brush it all away and keep collecting the salary cheques paid to keep you obeying. In fact it is necessary to act as a complicity theorist if you have decoded the conspiracy. Other like-minded people are now appearing in far greater numbers, as they realise their health and futures are not secured by obeying. In fact chances of survival are much higher if you follow your mind into accepting the world is basically a lie, and has been a lie for a very very long time.
I find it utterly nauseating that supposedly informed and intelligent adults would actually listen to this blatant propaganda based on obvious exaggerations and outright lies and not think for even one second that there’s an ulterior motive in play behind this infamous, yet non-existent ‘deadly pandemic’.
Just the ad-nauseam talk of ‘cases’ (not deaths or even serious infections) alone should be a huge red-flag for the most dim-witted masked zombie, let alone the way the BBC wastes millions of tax-payer dollars, producing more fear porn, such as this. pathetic piece of cringe-worthy ‘community service’ advice.
It never occurs to them to ponder: Why all this fuss over a handful of harmless nutters and ‘conspiracy theorists’?
Why are they going to all this trouble over a virus which almost no-one is at risk of becoming ill, let alone dying from, in the unlikely event they become infected.
It’s not the BBC or their propaganda that befuddles my mind, but more the fear-porn addicted public who lap it up and constantly crave for more!
Just a morbid bunch of stupid, imaginative and brain-dead masked zombies.
Oops.. . ?
unimaginative and brain-dead….
Yea – wish there was an Edit feature like Disqus and a few others.
“There’s a saying in Cuba: A lie repeated many times becomes the truth,” said Lenin
“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”Joseph Goebbels
Little chance of this happening. At least in the USSA. Nearly 100% compliance and acceptance (combined with a pathetic need to ‘go along and be accepted’), so the ‘arguements’ will be how much ‘better’ the USSA will be with Biden here and Trump gone, or how much ‘winning’ Israe….ooops….the USSA got with Trump and if he stays, how that will continue.
Face it; It’s OVER for the US.
I once watched a video on chimp behaviour. A group of about 20 chimps lived in a large enclosure, and behaved as closely as they could, to the way that wild chimps would. The scientists set up some rails along which a stuffed leopard on wheels could be moved. At the correct moment, the leopard was moved into the area where it could be seen by low ranking young chimps, who gave alarm calls. As the rest could see nothing to be alarmed over, the calls were ignored, always. When the leopard was seen by only a dominant chimp, and it gave a call, the whole troop reacted by climbing trees.
I believe that the vast majority of the TV watching society, ie 99% are trained from their school days onwards to react like the chimps, and as seen in this BBC example, are encouraged to view us as low ranking members of society with no authority. The TV is of course the dominant chimp.
I believe that most people can’t think, nor want to think, outside the box. It’s unsettling and frightening. The BBC is just reinforcing that feeling and giving them a strategy to help them avoid thinking.