Many of us become frustrated, or actually find an ill-advised humor on conspiracy theories propagated and spread like a fungal disease among too many Americans, having been primed for decades now by certain nefarious voices who manipulate and deceive. Unfortunately this opening statement has a tint of conspiracy within it, and herein lies part of the difficulty.
But we all, regardless of views, must deal with the facts that conspiracy theory use is one common method, of some sixty, of Federation of Russian information warfare techniques used in the Putin-era, documented against certain European countries. A 2018 article by Dr. Kirin Avramov, @avramovok, in Information & Security, An International Journal, goes into depth on this subject.
Interestingly enough, American conspiracy theories were used as a seed, as the basis for Russian disinformation in enhancing and amplifying conspiracy theories targeting European countries. As Avramov writes “conspiracy theories are highly appealing on [an] emotional level, as they seek to provoke powerful feelings connected to [a] sense of security, identity and overall sense of purpose and direction. Thus, they become potent instruments to polarize and divide targeted publics making them very prone to intended “alternative influence.”
We must refrain from being an instrument. There is a certain insidiousness in helping spread nefarious information, it certainly cannot be justified. We must own our information, and be certain of its veracity.
“Conquer thyself; till thou hast done that thou art a slave; for it is almost as well for thee to be in subjection to another's appetite as thy own.” — Robert Burton (1576-1610), English philosopher, humorist and original writer.
16th Post February 25, 2023.