Conspiracy Theories, Anti-Vaxxers, and a Pandemic
Conspiracy theories are commonplace. They are appealing. Graham Lawton from New Scientist notes that : “Conspiracy theories can… be emotionally reassuring. They provide truthful-sounding explanations for events that otherwise seem inexplicable, random or capricious, and often make your political opponents look bad. They can also give believers a pleasing sense of superiority because they – and sometimes they alone – have seen through the lies and cover-ups to reveal the ‘truth’.” Some conspiracy theories are benign. Flat-earthers aren’t harming anyone else (although one flat earth proponent famously and tragically had his own life end in a misadventure ). However, some conspiracy theories are exceedingly dangerous. According to a 2020 March poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, “only about half of Americans say they would get a COVID-19 vaccine…. 31% simply weren’t sure if they’d get vaccinated. Another 1 in 5 said they’d refuse.”