Very sad to read (I think the grandfather isn't relevant to conspiracy theories though, it was IMO a different though similar problem of feeling alienated with a perspective certain people (institutions, authorities, local govt, health dept, etc) were not there to help him.)
Much of this emerging problem of conspiracy and BS mania the last decade IMHO is psychological manipulation capitalising on a less well educated / informed population than it was in the 70s, and the older population now more often not being as sharp as they once were or not equipped to deal with the information overload that the near endless News in various forms can be.
Roughly summing up, for the many people dealing with a family member who has gravitated to news items and other stories that have a very different narrative: more often it's the appeal of a seemingly simple answer all wrapped up as being some person or group's is to blame, any logic pointed their way is met with denial, cognitive dissonance or wishful thinking syndrome. (What I've experience with my own father it's most often in the form of they don't like ... anyhow, this validates it.)
I refer to the psychological manipulation more often as zombie grooming and less sheep grooming which aims to slowly transform the more vulnerable into zombies / sheep that'll do their bidding even if it's the lowest level, it still counts to their greater aspirations and motivations which are 99% political or involving the big money end of town. People are quick to blame the net / web / online crapfest but I see the problems starting more in certain tv and radio media areas which can expand to other more reputable news if folks there haven't engaged their thinking caps.
One would think the manipulation would be easily spotted and dealt with when a stitch saves nine, but much is designed to fly well under the radar, what most of us might disregard as some poorly informed news team, is actually something aimed just for their targeted audience they plan to groom.
The problem is akin to saturating the air with alarm bells or sirens a person is familiar with, and that the faint voice nearby saying it's just some DH with their finger on a button doesn't seem at all important or relevant.
Much of this emerging problem of conspiracy and BS mania the last decade IMHO is psychological manipulation capitalising on a less well educated / informed population than it was in the 70s, and the older population now more often not being as sharp as they once were or not equipped to deal with the information overload that the near endless News in various forms can be.
Roughly summing up, for the many people dealing with a family member who has gravitated to news items and other stories that have a very different narrative: more often it's the appeal of a seemingly simple answer all wrapped up as being some person or group's is to blame, any logic pointed their way is met with denial, cognitive dissonance or wishful thinking syndrome. (What I've experience with my own father it's most often in the form of they don't like ... anyhow, this validates it.)
I refer to the psychological manipulation more often as zombie grooming and less sheep grooming which aims to slowly transform the more vulnerable into zombies / sheep that'll do their bidding even if it's the lowest level, it still counts to their greater aspirations and motivations which are 99% political or involving the big money end of town. People are quick to blame the net / web / online crapfest but I see the problems starting more in certain tv and radio media areas which can expand to other more reputable news if folks there haven't engaged their thinking caps.
One would think the manipulation would be easily spotted and dealt with when a stitch saves nine, but much is designed to fly well under the radar, what most of us might disregard as some poorly informed news team, is actually something aimed just for their targeted audience they plan to groom.
The problem is akin to saturating the air with alarm bells or sirens a person is familiar with, and that the faint voice nearby saying it's just some DH with their finger on a button doesn't seem at all important or relevant.