- 10 commandments for discernment
- Mistakes commonly made
- Reasons we want to believe
- Conspiracies that really happened
- Spiritual advice for navigating the narrative
- Current unproven theories worth contemplating
Could you please write the shortest possible note on how to avoid conspiracy theory thinking?
ASK AI: To avoid conspiracy theory thinking:
1. Be skeptical and question information.
2. Seek evidence from reliable sources.
3. Consider multiple perspectives before forming opinions.
4. Avoid confirmation bias; be open to conflicting evidence.
5. Apply critical thinking and rationality.
6. Be cautious of cherry-picked or anecdotal evidence.
7. Verify claims before sharing or accepting them.
8. Recognize the importance of credible expertise.
9. Embrace Occam’s razor—favor simpler explanations.
10. Update beliefs based on new evidence. Remember, critical thinking and a rational approach are key to avoiding unfounded conspiracy theories.
What are the reasons that people believe in conspiracy theories or are attracted to them? What does it do for them psychologically?
ASK AI: People may be attracted to conspiracy theories for various reasons, and the psychological factors that contribute to belief in conspiracy theories can vary from person to person. Here are some common reasons:
1. **Need for control and certainty:** Conspiracy theories often offer a sense of control and certainty in a complex world. Believing in a hidden agenda or secret group can provide a seemingly clear explanation for events that may otherwise appear random or chaotic.
2. **Cognitive biases:** Human beings are prone to cognitive biases, such as confirmation bias (seeking information that confirms pre-existing beliefs) and pattern-seeking tendencies. Conspiracy theories can fulfill these biases by providing a seemingly coherent narrative that fits with one’s preconceived notions.
3. **Epistemic and existential uncertainty:** When faced with uncertainty or a lack of information, some individuals may turn to conspiracy theories to fill the gaps in their understanding. Conspiracy theories can provide a sense of security and closure, even if they lack empirical evidence.
4. **Distrust in authorities and institutions:** Distrust in governments, corporations, or other institutions can contribute to the belief in conspiracy theories. Past instances of wrongdoing or cover-ups have eroded trust, making some people more receptive to alternative narratives that question official accounts.
5. **Social identity and belonging:** Conspiracy theories can offer a sense of community and belonging. Believers may find comfort in connecting with like-minded individuals who share their views, forming social bonds around a shared skepticism of mainstream narratives.
6. **Perceived uniqueness and special knowledge:** Believing in conspiracy theories can give individuals a sense of being “in the know” and possessing exclusive information that others are unaware of. It can create a feeling of superiority and uniqueness, enhancing self-esteem.
7. **Emotional and psychological needs:** Conspiracy theories can serve emotional and psychological needs, providing a sense of purpose, excitement, or empowerment. They may offer an outlet for frustration, fear, or anger by attributing blame to a specific group or entity.
It’s important to note that not all individuals who believe in conspiracy theories share the same motivations or psychological profiles. People’s reasons for embracing conspiracy theories can be complex and multifaceted, influenced by a combination of personal experiences, social factors, and psychological tendencies.
What are the top mistakes that conspiracy theorists make?
ASK AI: Conspiracy theorists can make several common mistakes in their thinking and reasoning. Here are some of the top mistakes:
1. **Confirmation bias:** Conspiracy theorists often interpret information in a way that confirms their pre-existing beliefs while ignoring or dismissing contradictory evidence. They may selectively focus on information that supports their conspiracy theories while disregarding rational and evidence-based explanations.
2. **Cherry-picking evidence:** Conspiracy theorists tend to selectively choose isolated pieces of evidence that seem to support their claims while disregarding the broader context or contradictory evidence. This cherry-picking approach can lead to a skewed interpretation of events.
3. **Lack of critical thinking and skepticism:** Conspiracy theorists often fail to critically evaluate the credibility and reliability of the sources and information they rely on. They may accept claims without questioning the evidence or employing logical reasoning.
4. **Overreliance on coincidence:** Conspiracy theorists often attribute too much significance to coincidences, perceiving patterns and connections where none exist. While coincidences can occur, they do not necessarily indicate a deliberate conspiracy or hidden agenda.
5. **Lack of Occam’s razor:** Occam’s razor is the principle that, all else being equal, the simplest explanation is usually the correct one. Conspiracy theorists often prefer convoluted and complex explanations over simpler, more plausible ones, assuming that elaborate conspiracies are more likely than ordinary events.
6. **Misunderstanding or misusing scientific concepts:** Conspiracy theorists may misinterpret or misapply scientific concepts to support their claims. They may take scientific uncertainty or incomplete knowledge as evidence of a conspiracy, disregarding the evolving nature of scientific understanding.
7. **Disregard for established facts:** Conspiracy theorists often reject well-established facts, such as scientific consensus or historical events, in favor of alternative explanations that align with their beliefs. They may rely on unfounded speculation rather than credible evidence.
8. **Lack of peer review and expert consensus:** Conspiracy theorists often dismiss the importance of peer-reviewed research and expert consensus in favor of fringe sources or individuals who support their views. This undermines the rigorous process of scientific inquiry and scholarly consensus.
9. **Persecution complex:** Conspiracy theorists may develop a sense of persecution, believing that their ideas are being suppressed or that they are being targeted by powerful forces. This can make it difficult for them to engage in constructive dialogue or consider alternative perspectives.
10. **Failure to update beliefs:** Conspiracy theorists often cling to their beliefs even when confronted with new evidence that contradicts their views. They may engage in ad hoc rationalizations to maintain their conspiracy theories rather than revising their beliefs based on new information. It’s important to note that not all conspiracy theories are baseless, and some have turned out to be true in the past. However, the mistakes mentioned above are common pitfalls that can undermine critical thinking and lead to unfounded beliefs.
What are some conspiracy theories that have turned out to be true?
ASK AI: While the majority of conspiracy theories lack credible evidence and are often debunked, there have been instances where certain conspiracy theories were eventually proven to be true or had elements of truth to them. Here are a few examples:
1. **Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment:** The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment was a study conducted by the U.S. Public Health Service from 1932 to 1972. It involved withholding treatment for syphilis from African American men to observe the natural progression of the disease. This unethical experiment was exposed in the media in the 1970s, leading to public outrage and changes in research ethics.
2. **Operation Northwoods:** Operation Northwoods was a proposed plan by the U.S. Department of Defense in the 1960s to stage false-flag terrorist attacks on American soil and blame them on Cuba. The plan included hijacking airplanes, attacking U.S. military and civilian targets, and creating a pretext for military intervention in Cuba. Although the plan was never implemented, declassified documents confirmed its existence.
3. **MK-Ultra:** MK-Ultra was a covert CIA program conducted from the 1950s to the 1970s that aimed to explore mind control techniques through the use of drugs, psychological manipulation, and other means. The existence of this program was revealed in the 1970s during congressional investigations.
4. **Iran-Contra Affair:** The Iran-Contra Affair was a political scandal in the 1980s involving the U.S. government’s secret arms sales to Iran, despite an arms embargo, in exchange for the release of American hostages. The proceeds from these sales were then funneled to support the Contras in Nicaragua, despite a congressional ban on such funding.
5. **Watergate Scandal:** The Watergate Scandal occurred in the 1970s when a group of individuals connected to the administration of U.S. President Richard Nixon broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex. It was later revealed that the break-in was part of a broader effort to gather intelligence and engage in illegal activities to gain an advantage in the upcoming elections. The scandal led to Nixon’s resignation.
6. **COINTELPRO:** The FBI’s Counterintelligence Program, active from 1956 to 1971, aimed to infiltrate and disrupt various political and social organizations, including civil rights groups and anti-war movements. The program’s existence was revealed through leaked documents.
7. **Edward Snowden’s Revelations:** In 2013, former NSA contractor Edward Snowden leaked classified documents revealing the extent of global surveillance programs conducted by intelligence agencies, including the widespread collection of private citizens’ data. His disclosures confirmed long-standing concerns about government surveillance.
8. **Operation Paperclip:** After World War II, the U.S. government secretly recruited numerous German scientists, including some who had been involved in war crimes, to work on various projects, including rocketry and intelligence operations. The program’s existence was initially denied but later acknowledged.
9. **The Gulf of Tonkin Incident:** The alleged attack on U.S. Navy ships by North Vietnamese patrol boats in 1964, which served as a justification for increased U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, has since been revealed to have been greatly exaggerated. Declassified documents and testimonies confirmed the deception.
10. **Tobacco Industry Manipulation:** For decades, tobacco companies concealed evidence of the harmful effects of smoking and manipulated scientific research to downplay the risks. Internal documents and whistleblower testimonies exposed these practices and led to significant public health reforms.
(Then, I ask a.i. for more….)
11. **Operation Mockingbird:** This alleged CIA program, which operated during the Cold War era, aimed to influence and control media organizations to disseminate propaganda and shape public opinion. While the full extent of the program is still debated, declassified documents have confirmed the CIA’s efforts to manipulate media.
12. **The Manhattan Project:** During World War II, the U.S. government secretly developed atomic weapons under the Manhattan Project. The project was kept classified until the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, revealing the existence of atomic weapons.
13. **Operation Gladio:** This was a clandestine NATO operation during the Cold War that involved the establishment of “stay-behind” armies in Europe, supposedly to counter potential Soviet invasions. However, these networks were later implicated in various covert activities, including false flag attacks and political manipulation.
14 **Operation CHAOS:** This CIA operation during the Vietnam War involved monitoring and infiltrating anti-war and civil rights groups in the United States. The existence of the program was initially denied but later exposed through declassified documents.
15. **Operation Ajax:** In 1953, the U.S. and British intelligence agencies orchestrated a coup d’état in Iran to overthrow the democratically elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mossadegh, and reinstate the Shah. Declassified documents confirmed the role of Western intelligence agencies in this operation. 8. Operation Fast and Furious: This controversial ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives) program allowed firearms to be trafficked into Mexico in an effort to track and dismantle drug cartels. The operation faced criticism and was later confirmed to have resulted in the mishandling and loss of weapons.
16. **Operation CHATTER:** This CIA program, conducted in the 1950s, involved the research and development of mind-altering drugs, including LSD, for potential use in interrogation and mind control. The existence of the program was initially denied but later acknowledged through declassified documents.
17. **Operation Snow White:** This was a large-scale infiltration of the Church of Scientology into various government agencies, including the IRS and Department of Justice, with the aim of removing or altering negative records about the church. The operation was exposed, leading to legal action and convictions.
(Then I ask about weather alteration projects that the government did in secret)
18. **Project Stormfury:** In the 1960s, the U.S. government conducted an experimental program known as Project Stormfury. The project aimed to investigate whether cloud seeding with silver iodide could weaken or modify hurricanes. While the results were inconclusive, the project did involve intentional weather modification efforts.
19. **Operation Popeye:** During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military conducted a classified weather modification program called Operation Popeye. The goal was to extend the monsoon season over parts of Vietnam to hinder enemy troop movements along the Ho Chi Minh trail. The program involved cloud seeding to enhance rainfall, and its existence was later declassified.
20. **Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI):** SAI is a proposed geoengineering technique that involves injecting sulfate aerosols into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight and cool the Earth’s surface. While there have been no large-scale implementations of SAI, some small-scale experiments have been conducted to study its potential effects, such as the SPICE (Stratospheric Particle Injection for Climate Engineering) project. It’s important to distinguish between small-scale experiments or proposals and grandiose claims of large-scale secret geoengineering projects. The scientific community continues to study and assess the potential risks and benefits of geoengineering approaches, but there is no evidence to support widespread, covert geoengineering activities.
I think the metaphysical words of advice would be to be absolutely present to everything around you and be aware that the thoughts and narratives that are coming up in my own mind can be questioned and can be seen as just a dream. Do you have any metaphysical advice on how to not get caught up with trying to figure out complex political geopolitical and religious narratives?
ASK AI: Navigating the complexities of political, geopolitical, and religious narratives while maintaining a balanced and grounded perspective can be challenging. Here are some metaphysical tips that may help you approach these issues in a thoughtful and centered manner:
1. **Practice mindfulness and self-awareness:** Cultivating mindfulness can help you observe your thoughts and emotions without getting overly attached to them. Being present in the moment can provide clarity and help you recognize when your mind is becoming entangled in complex narratives.
2. **Embrace uncertainty and impermanence:** Recognize that the nature of reality is complex and ever-changing. Embracing the inherent uncertainty and impermanence of political, geopolitical, and religious narratives can help you approach them with a more open and flexible mindset.
3. **Cultivate compassion and empathy:** Developing compassion and empathy for others, including those with differing viewpoints, can help foster understanding and reduce the urge to become overly fixated on specific narratives. This can also help you maintain a sense of connection and common humanity amidst diverse perspectives.
4. **Seek balance and moderation:** Strive to maintain a balanced and nuanced perspective on complex issues. Avoid becoming overly attached to extreme viewpoints or engaging in black-and-white thinking, and instead, seek a middle path that acknowledges the complexities and nuances of real-world situations.
5. **Engage in self-inquiry and introspection:** Regularly examine your own beliefs and assumptions, and be open to questioning them. Engaging in self-inquiry and introspection can help you cultivate a deeper understanding of your own motivations and thought patterns.
6. **Focus on personal growth and well-being:** Directing your energy toward personal growth, well-being, and meaningful relationships can provide a sense of fulfillment and purpose that transcends the complexities of political and geopolitical narratives.
7. **Connect with a supportive community:** Surrounding yourself with a supportive community of like-minded individuals who are also committed to personal growth and understanding can provide valuable perspective and emotional support.
By integrating these metaphysical principles into your approach to understanding complex narratives, you may find that you are better equipped to engage with these topics in a way that is grounded, compassionate, and mindful.
Current Theories Yet Unproven
Alright, dear readers. You know I’m a semi-intelligent, level-headed human. I don’t straight up believe the things below, but I know they have the potential to be true. Why? Because I have had some personal experiences of high strangeness, and I need to work on trusting myself and not giving my decisive power away to the media, a doctor, or the social pressure of groupthink to believe the normal narrative. If you click on any of the titles in bold below, you will be taken outside of this website to begin your own rabbit hole.
Microwave pulse technology– I occasionally receive thoughts in my head that are distinctly not my own. “Don’t believe every thought you think” has been a big part of my meditation practice. As I become more sensitive to my empathic sensory capabilities and tune in to the subtle nuances of bodily, aural, and emotive sensations, I begin to question where the source of these thoughts is. I think that people in the normal paradigm will think I’m schizophrenic, but this is not the case. Diet, sleep, and media are the most controllable sources of my own thoughts, so it’s possible that what I experienced was a combination of those controllable, self-inflicted elements. The article i have linked is written by a former navy seal who has practice with ESP and Astral projection. His history that he laid out there is debated in the normal-world, but pretty convincing as well!
satanic child abuse rituals– In this video, Ex-Banker Ronald Bernard talks about what he witnessed. This idea is so far-fetched and radical that it is the hardest thing for me to wrap my head around. (I don’t either, but burying my head in the sand doesn’t make reality not exist) The Epstein and P.Diddy scandal sure make you wonder why people would do this to children. Epstein’s connections to high-profile individuals, odd circumstances around his death (like the failure of security cameras and guards falling asleep), and the substantial stakes involved in his testimony have all fueled the theory that he was murdered to be silenced. I’ve also heard in-person testimony by a sincerely traumatized lady who left a high-income position in the finance sector. She was being invited to sex rituals. Kaia Ra, author of the Sophia Code, provides testimony of surviving satanic child abuse rituals. Because I’ve experienced a mystical grace, now I also can believe that its possible that dark forces really do exist and perhaps we are close to a hell-realm. However, I know that all is God, even Satan, therefore, I’m very confused about this aspect of existence. The most interesting part of the video is that “seemingly opposing parties are working closely together. You can see this when you see how much money flows between the organizations.” Secret services, ‘terrorist organizations’, democrats and republicans… These organizations are creating a lot of misery in the world, financing wars.
Cloud-Seeding vs Contrails –This link takes you to my blog about cloud seeding vs contrails. It’s not any proof of anything, just a discussion on how to think about the differences of the two, and the environmental and health concerns that are raised regardless of what the initial motivation is. If any of the above things are true, it’s more likely that the cloud seeding has nefarious motivations. I tend to think that the horrors of this world are accidental and unfortunate, and that most people would rather have things be peachy: good health, clean environment, happy people… But when we see how money and power can affect our minds and motivations, we know very well that humans can be nefarious.
(no links provided, due to time)
Media Collusion with Governments or Corporations- Major news outlets work closely with governments or powerful corporations to promote specific narratives and suppress dissenting information. The ownership of major news outlets by large corporations, as well as documented instances of news stories being pulled or altered due to corporate interests, suggest that news content can be influenced by non-journalistic agendas. Additionally, the existence of media gatekeeping around sensitive topics has raised questions about the extent of independent journalism. This leads us to one I do have a link for: Government Fudging Covid Numbers– At this link, Dr. John Campbell introduces his channel. He is a retired nurse and a professor to nurses, who has spoken to the UK parliament about the fudged numbers, the mandates that have forced vaccines on many, and the reported numbers of “COVID” deaths, and the effects of the vaccines. It is a very treacherous conversation to partake in with people of different political leanings, but let’s get our tribal mentality and emotions out of the equation… Let’s acknowledge the pharmaceutical industry and the potential that the government has media with which to control public opinion. Things could be radically different than the perceived norms, because of their ability to control information across the board. The political divide that is taking hold of the U.S, and a lot of the world, may also be something that is created by those in control in order to divide and conquer.
Big Tech Censorship and Surveillance – Large tech companies, including Google, Meta, and Amazon, engage in censorship or data manipulation at the government’s behest to control public opinion or monitor citizens, often under the guise of content moderation or security. Documented cases of tech companies working with government agencies, the public acknowledgment of monitoring algorithms, and whistleblowers from within the industry (like Edward Snowden and Frances Haugen) lend credibility to this theory. Concerns over data privacy, surveillance, and political influence have made this topic an ongoing public debate.
Pharmaceutical Industry Influence on Health Policy- Pharmaceutical companies exert excessive influence on health policies and medical guidelines, sometimes promoting treatments or drugs that may not be the most beneficial to patients but are profitable. The pharmaceutical industry’s extensive lobbying efforts, documented cases of pushing medications with harmful side effects (e.g., the opioid crisis), and the revolving door between regulatory agencies and industry positions suggest that profit motives can influence public health decisions.
Corporate and Government Suppression of Alternative Energy Solutions- Oil companies, in collusion with some government agencies, suppress renewable energy innovations and patents to maintain dependence on fossil fuels. Energy technology advancements could potentially threaten powerful, established industries and political interests. There are historical precedents, such as the suppression of certain fuel-efficient technologies and the political influence of oil companies. Nikola Tesla’s research lab burning down due to J.P. Morgan being worried about his holding’s in copper is one such historical example. In “Who Killed the Electric Car” we saw the evidence that Firestone, General Electric, and others were responsible for creating a car-dependent suburban atmosphere in the United States. The railroads were bought up by car companies and were torn up, too!
UFOs and Government Secrecy –Governments possess evidence of extraterrestrial life and have withheld this information from the public. Perhaps they don’t really understand it, as Chris Bledsoe has suggested based on his experience with NASA and the CIA. Recent reports from the Pentagon acknowledging unexplained aerial phenomena (UAPs) lend some legitimacy to this idea. Longstanding secrecy around sites like Area 51 and mysterious documents declassified over the years have fueled speculation that governments may be withholding groundbreaking information. Personally, I’ve seen a few anomalous flying (and floating low to the ground) objects of light. You can read about my theories at this page.