Welcome everyone to Team 3’s lesson on conspiracy theories. We’re pretty sure everyone has a general idea about conspiracy theories or have at least heard those words before, but we want to expand on what you know. Through this, you’ll see why conspiracy theories exist and why people believe them, even the seemly far fetched ones.
An Introduction
Watch a video here:
Based on the reading for today, as well as this video, we want to address the foundations of conspiracy theories, but before we do that, we want to get a general idea of your knowledge of them.
Questions
- Do you believe in a conspiracy theory? If so, which one? If not, why not?
- Based on the reading (or the video), what was the most interesting detail that you discovered.
- What do you wish you knew about conspiracy theories?
Reading Discussion
Conspiracy Theories pretty much always been around. From even before Pythagoras to the Holocaust, conspiracy theories have surrounded us. From them, we learn what needs to be taught. Conspiracy theories help us develop and grow.
There are factors that determine if a conspiracy theory will be believed or not and according to the reading from The New York Times Magazine, that data is dependent on if conspiracies in general are believed, specifically if it involves someone out to get us, be it foreign or domestic.
When something is out of our control and has a negative effect, we lose power. We crave to have reassurance, but that comes with taking back control over what we originally had no influence over, such as terrorist attacks. One would think that the internet would have helped quell this, but it actually fueled the fire.
Discussion Questions
- What’s a conspiracy theory you believe has some positive effects? What about ones with negative effects?
- What’s the most unique theory you’ve heard about and how did you discover it?
Positives and Negatives
Did you know that besides having negative impacts, there are a lot of positive results that come from conspiracy theories? Everything in this world has a positive and negative take, it just depends on the perspective you take.
Positives
- With pressure some turn out to be true
- Tobacco companies and cancer
- government and the prohibition
- Conspiracy Theories are profitable
- Shane Dawson- worth $12 million, became very well known for his videos when he started doing conspiracy theories. Has continued a new series of videos about theories
- They are a way to shield yourself from the world and the reality that we are living in
- Princess Diana conspiracy theory
- New laws put into place
- “Personal Intrusion Act and the Privacy Protection Act of 1998. These laws stipulated criminal penalties for paparazzi if their conduct caused physical harm. For example, the Personal Intrusion Act, which was introduced by the late Sonny Bono, included a prison term of up to twenty years if the conduct of the paparazzi led to death”
- American History X
- New laws put into place
Negatives
- Holocaust
- Pretending it didn’t happen
- Anti-Semitic Behavior
- Neo-Nazis
- Disbelief of survivors
- Sandy Hook
- Pretending it didn’t happen
- Families of victims are still struggling
- Not being able to visit their children’s graves
- 9/11
- Pretending it didn’t happen
- It was an inside job
- President Bush knew about it
Counter Technology
There’s many different forms of counter technology for conspiracy theories now to disprove the incorrect ones and give support for the ones that are rightfully thought of.
- Research that proves/disproves theories
- Mandatory trips to historical sites such at Auschwitz
- Museums
- Laws (in some countries)
Watch the video here:
What are some other counter technologies that you feel should come into play with either proving or disproving different theories?
What is one thing you took away from this lesson that you could apply to your every day life?
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