This would be a double-edge sword tho, since they likely end up having even wilder conspiracy theories, even believing in untrue ones, since they would just think there is an even bigger government hiding more secrets one level deeper.
If it’s a conspiracy theory about an authoritarian country, then there’s a pretty big chance that it’s true.
Now, here’s why MBS will ascend to godhood in 2067…
I mean, between the official narrative of Kim Jong Un being a God and a conspiracy theory about Kim being the Devil, the latter is still more accurate, even when both are insane positions.
They’re probably more worried about when they’ll be killed for it.
Conspiracy theories are a mental health problem, not an information problem. When Obama was in office, there were lots of conspiracies about the oligarchic deep state. Now, an actual oligarch is running the country and essentially self-appointed himself in a position where he can remove any dissent against him, but conspiracy theorists have been quiet about it.
Conspiracy theorists invent things that aren’t real because being “in the know” is exciting, not because of the actual information they may or may not be receiving.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_abuse_of_psychiatry
“Dissident? Must be a crazy schizo.” -Authoritarian Governments
Conspiracy theories are just a symptom of low trust in the government. Of course the government admitting to have lied would erode that trust even further.
But are they really conspiracy theories at that point? If the government really is doing something bad secretly, and you’re trying to uncover the truth, then you’re just doing investigative journalism.
On the other hand, you’re also the dissident rebel who is trying to overthrow the government… oh that means you’re actively participating in a conspiracy against the government. If people have theories about your activities, they are the conspiracy theorists in this case.
But are they really conspiracy theories at that point?
I mean, they still kinda are conspiracy theoroes until you have evidence.
For example: I’m a Chinese American born in PRC, but in a different timeline, I might not have had the chance to immigrate to the US, but due to me still have a vendetta against the CCP (long story short: I was the 2nd born child during the One Child Policy and they tried to terminate me before I was born), and because there wouldn’t be any news critical of the CCP, I would deduce that they have censorship going on. So because I wouldn’t trust the CCP, I might eventually come up theories about the government killing people, but unless I had access to outside news, I wouldn’t know it’s called Tianamen Square Massacre, it would just be a theory until I had the info to confirm it…
(I mean, my parents heard about an “incident” during 1989, but of course, they didn’t know what happened, so all I would have is just a very vague theory)
Is there not?
Shhh don’t tell them 🤫
This is not as far fetched as it seems. China has been incredibly unhelpful with investigating the origins of COVID.
