I have an ethical question about how to deal with conspiracy-theorists.

[DetlefK]

One of my hobbies are conspiracy-theories, especially Flat Earth, and I have listened to and chatted with some truly mentally deranged people. I'm talking borderline insane.
(One guy posted a video where he said with a calm voice and a big serene smile that all politicians should be assassinated. Not kidding.)

Now, there are two kinds of conspiracy-theorists:
* Most are simply uneducated or lack basic logical thinking, or use their belief to satisfy an emotional need (need to feel important, need to feel recognized, need for community...).
* And there are some conspiracy-theorists who do not believe in conspiracy-theories. They just pretend to believe in conspiracy-theories to create drama, to create publicity, that they can then leverage into money... by fleecing the actual believers for donations and dragging them ever-deeper down the rabbit-hole. These fakers are sometimes called "poe" in internet-lingo.



The fakers, the poes, aren't actual predators that would put evolutionary strain on the conspiracy-theorist community and drive people to leave it. (e.g. as people are leaving Scientology)

They are parasites that damage the believers undetected.

So, my question is: What is the more ethical thing to do?

* Should try to call out and reveal these fakers to prevent them from harming the true conspiracy-theorists (actual vulnerable people in actual need of psychological help)?

* Or should I leave the fakers alone and silently welcome the damage they inflict on the true conspiracy-theorists (actual bullshitters who have no qualms about ruining your life)?

How should we deal with horrible yet vulnerable people?

[tblue37]

1. My general principle: not my circus; not my monkeys. nt

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. "Not my circus; not my monkeys."

I had never heard that before. It's wonderful and I hope to think to use it in the future.

[Kali]

8. also "not my farm, not my pigs"

which in my family gets warped to "not my monkey farm"

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

9. Ohhhh! "Not my monkey farm" is even better!

[uriel1972]

11. except when they are running your government :(

[Glorfindel]

2. I vote for option B: "silently welcome the damage"

and the more damage the better. People " who have no qualms about ruining your life " don't deserve any protection. Personally, I don't want to interact with conspiracy theorists in any way, shape, or form. You're a much braver and more tolerant person than I am!

[SWBTATTReg]

3. Personally, over the years, I have watched many others do themselves in, far better than ...

anyone else could. Hence, my choice is leave alone what's cooking on the stovetop, and let it simmer and boil over.

By the way, interesting choice of hobbies, neat! I bet sometimes it can be a challenge to remain quiet throughout it all. I'd go nuts, which is why I avoid these types of things, let nuts be nuts, after all.

[Thomas Hurt]

5. These people are fanatics, if not religious fanatics, then akin to them...

you should not be engaging with jihadists, army of god, dominionists, or what have you.

I believe most of them are cowards but you might get one that is just crazy enough to stalk you or hurt you.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. A. Call them out when & as you see fit. It will help new victims avoid getting sucked into scams. nt

[Shermann]

7. I see it slightly differently

I think there are actually three groups. I spent about six months as a member of a conservative forum starting last year and learned quite a lot.

Group 1) The Masterminds. These are the conspiracists themselves that fully understand the fallacy of these positions but manufacture and weaponize them to control Groups 2 and 3 and gain political power.
Group 2) The Tagalongs. These people are smart enough to know they are being played, but have a Machiavellian political mindset. They see the other side as being so despicable as to make any means justified to defeat them. They help circle the wagons around their alternative news sites and puff air under the sails of the conspiracy theories.
Group 3) The Kool-Aid Drinkers. These are the truly gullible or otherwise flawed people who are played like pawns by Groups 1 and 2.

Groups 1 and 3 cannot be reasoned with. I have on rare occasion gotten a Group 2 member to concede what Group 1 was up to. Group 2 can potentially be convinced or shamed into abandoning their position, but with great difficulty. They have an entrenched disdain for the other side. This group may be the key to peeling the onion, but are camoflaged in with Group 1. Group 3 are easily identified. Avoid.

[safeinOhio]

10. I've shot down some crazy ones with

really crazy ideas. I first ask if they really believe what they are saying. In defense they say the truly do. Next I offer a wager of $1,000. Held by a neutral party and if it happens they get the money, if not I get it. When they give reasons for not putting up the money. I say I thought so. Has worked every time.

[Iggo]

12. Murder is a crime.

Oh! You mean tell on them or don't tell on them.

I say rat 'em out huge.