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18 Flat Earthers and Conspiracy Theories

Flat Earthers and the with incontrovertible evidence that it is not. That corporations with unregulated political power
is because it has less to do with its shape and far should not be trusted.
Psychology Behind more to do with a deep-seated suspicion of Kate Starbird, Assistant Professor of

anyone in a position of authority such as Human Centered Design & Engineering at UW,
Conspiracy Theories mainstream scientists. And conspiracy theorists, tackles this notion of anti-globalism and its
flat-Earthers included, seek to authenticate these pervasiveness online in a piece she wrote earlier
Continued from Page 17 suspicions at the expense of reason and logic. this year titled “Information Wars: A Window
“So much of conspiracy theories have to into the Alternative Media Ecosystem.” Her
do with confirmation bias. The theories research, which deals with how rumors are
“If you’re a curious mind, truth adds
themselves will mutate in light of evidence spread online during crisis events, indicates that
depth and clarity to your life. And that’s what
flat Earth did for me. It answered so many presented,” Leman continued. “If you’re a alternative narratives and conspiracy theories
questions I had that I could not resolve on my devout conspiracy theorist, you will deny the (including flat Earth) have a strong “botnet”
own.” He agonized over questions like “Where veracity of that evidence, or you’ll begin to presence and are linked to a large number of
question people’s motivation for providing that distinct online domains such as infowars.com,
is the curve?” (answer: everywhere) and “If the
evidence in the first place.” That’s just it. People newsbusters.org, and veteranstoday.com. This
Van Allen radiation belt is so deadly, how did the
become so attached to their identity and their botnet is responsible for coordinating hundreds
Apollo program get through it without
beliefs that they are unprepared to consider an of accounts tweeting “alternative narrative
shielding?” (answer: with enough speed that the
alternative explanation, even if demonstrated to content.” And information shared within this
spacecraft proved adequate protection) until
them by science. This is why it is so difficult to seemingly fringe information ecosystem is
concluding that the Earth had to be flat, and the
powers that be were manipulating the public to argue with someone who believes that vaccines entering the public sphere at large via social
believe that it was round. At a time when fake cause autism and that the Earth is flat. Scientific media.
news and alternative facts abound, when consensus has no bearing on their frame of mind “In some of the more conspiracy-
because it is the very institution of mainstream focused sites,” she writes, “the term (globalism)
political ignorance is as pervasive as purportedly
science that they harbor misgivings about in the was used to suggest connections to a global
democratic zeal, we confuse pursuit of passion
first place. conspiracy by rich, powerful people who
for pursuit of truth. So when flat-Earthers claim
One trait that is most prominent amongst manipulated the world for their benefit.
that they are trying to unveil the truth, this may
conspiracy theorists is a strong distrust of Globalism was also tied to corporatism — in
be the case, but their passionate intensity is
authority. Once they have decided that other words, the ways in which large, multi-
impairing their ability to regard the world
objectively. They are seeing what they want to officialdom has deceived them in one way, other national companies exert power over the world.
see. distressing world events lead them to a similar And the term was also connected, implicitly and
“Conspiracy theories build on conclusion.“If someone believes in one explicitly, to mainstream media.” Curiosity, it
conspiracy theory,” says Leman, “they’re more seems, can easily mutate into paranoia.
uncertainty and mistrust,” said Leman when I
likely to believe in others.” Just like Mark
asked him what fuels conspiracy and keeps
Sargent and his ideological leap from JFK to flat (Continued on Page 23)
theories afloat. I was finding it difficult to
Earth. What binds these theories is an anti-
understand how anyone could possibly believe For All The News Headlines
globalist agenda. They adhere to the same
the Earth is flat, especially when confronted
overarching conviction that multinational CanadianNewsNetwork.net