The Coronavirus COVID-19 reality has changed life in too many ways to count. We’ve been affected by unprecedented situations without having prepared coping mechanisms or expectations about what could, would, or should happen with this medical problem. Responses to brand new complications are unscripted, unpracticed, and ad lib. It’s not unlike the experiences of newborns thrust into a world with ever-changing and inexplicable temperatures, tastes, aches, pains, colors, smells, sounds, textures, and so on, and lacking the physical strength, motor skills, or awareness for best dealing with all that.
The Learning Curve
t takes time and practice to develop all sorts of physical and inner strengths, comprehension, and an awareness of choices, at any age. People have learning curves to master.
Like newborns, we’re feeling, thinking, and finding our ways in the new world around us. We are learning from errors and developing coping mechanisms, expectations, and either a sense of acceptance, resignation, or adventure. In worst-case scenarios however, some people express dismissiveness.
Dismissiveness can translate into conspiracy theories such as those about “Plandemics.” The theories are based on fear, doubt, a desire for credible, comprehensible information, and a lack of control over personal life or life in general. Medical experts are still learning critically important information about the COVID-19 infection, vaccines for preventing it, and then informing the public of new learned information. That’s not preventing anti-vaccine conspiracy theories from being concocted, though. The problem is pervasive worldwide.
Social Media Undermines Good sense and Clear Thinking
“The Social Dilemma” Netflix documentary points out that much of today’s conspiracy theory problems developed on social media that became forums for anti-social behavior. Mental health experts are speaking up and writing articles about the problem. A Wall Street Journal Social-Media Algorithms Rule How We See the World. Good Luck Trying to Stop Them article also points out how the problem evolved. If the above information overwhelms you, here’s a simple explanation: “Boil the frog slowly” has long been a folksy metaphor for gradually developing problems that entrap unsuspecting people. Anti-social media apparently succeeded with that project.
Cyclical Arguments as Intimidation Tactics
Despite the above realities, conspiracy theorists are conning people into believing that public and non-public figures want to harm, enslave, and/or do medical experiments on the public at large – with or without vaccines. Cyclical arguments based on a few intentionally misconstrued facts and frightening predictions are a conspiracy theorist’s recipe for foisting guilt trips on their believers. Empty your suitcase. You’re not going for the ride or the fear fest no matter which conspiracy you learn of, not even the 5G thing.
Watch this space for Part 2: Defining Terms and Issues
