A Prediction about Conspiracy Theories

Here’s something unusual: a prediction about a conspiracy theory that hasn't actually taken off yet. I wouldn’t be surprised, though, to learn that it’s already getting started in various quarters.

The theory is that climate change (or global warming, if you prefer) is not happening as a natural by-product of human activity but is actually a conspiracy, a planned effort by evil people to destroy the planetary environment, at our expense, for their own profit.

Already we can see early signs of a shift from denial to blame in what one could call climate populism – an approach to the problem and the politics operating with slogans but without solutions, with blame but without taking responsibility – a direct descendant of the populisms we know of today. To make an even sharper prediction: the climate populists of the near future might just turn out to be the same politicians and pundits that today fashion themselves as the most ardent deniers of anthropogenic climate change.

In other words, today’s climate-change deniers will become tomorrow’s climate-change-conspiracy theorists.

The author offers an example of a specific, early instance of this conspiracy theory ⎻ the claims made by certain people (including, if I remember correctly, many here on ATS) in relation to the Maui wildfire tragedy of last August.

The tragic wildfires in Maui, Hawaii of 2023 were followed by a deluge of conspiracy theories and disinformation. These range from the use of weather manipulation systems to space lasers ⎻ the list is weird, and quite long. A narrative repeatedly debunked by half a dozen high-profile news outlets claimed that weather manipulation systems would be used to force people into ‘smart cities’, where everything is solar powered, people are vegetarian, and governance is given to an AI (ahem, where do I sign up?) Others cited the use of obscure military space technology created and deployed by some ‘global elite’ (aka Jews) to generate natural disasters artificially.

The author seems to be working from an assumption that conspiracy theories are in general false, and in fact are essentially the same story, identically structured in every way except for the subject of the conspiracy (e.g. UFOs, Satanism, politics, history teaching, Pizzagate) and the people supposedly to blame for it (military intelligence, rich elites, Swamp Creatures, evil Dems, Hillary Clinton).

The common motifs in conspiracy theories – such as the malevolent and powerful outgroup, the intentional wrongdoing, the scheming behind the curtains coupled with a profound distrust for official sources of information – have been attractive elements in stories for millennia. Topics change, and this time the focus will likely be the climate crisis; but they will all make their re-appearance in the conspiracy theories of the future, as well.

Not many ATSers will agree with this. It seems to suggest that all conspiracy theories are false and conspiracy theorists are either deluded themselves or seeking to delude others, or maybe both. Still, it’s hard to deny that conspiracy theories do seem to assume a common structure and develop common features, and that people who believe in one conspiracy theory often tend to believe in others, too. We can see this for ourselves on ATS.

Psychological science found that one of the best predictors of a person believing in any given conspiracy theory is that they already believe in another one.

I post this to find out three things. One is, of course, whether people agree with the claim that climate denialism today is going to become forced-climate-change-conspiracy theory tomorrow. Second, whether that process has already begun ⎻ that is, whether some of you already believe that climate change is not natural but being forced upon the world by certain evil conspirators. Third ⎻ and, of course, most important ⎻ whether the prediction actually comes true; because, wherever it gets its start, it’s not going to be long before a forced-climate-change conspiracy makes it to an ATS thread. Who will bring it?

a reply to: Astyanax

Most conspiracy theories were proven to be correct. And yes, evil doers get away with it until the Truth comes out and their profitting schemes fall down like a house of cards. They'll play nice and deny everything until they are proven wrong with their negating tactics. Nice thread...S&F

a reply to: Astyanax

I think it shocked the PTB how quickly the C/T world took Covid and the safe and effective injection apart and quickly had that answers for a cure so we are seeing laws getting passed about spreading misleading information passed when most people are distracted with inflation and non stop wars .

The amount of sunlight hitting the ground since the 1950s has dropped by 50 % & anyone with half a brain could see how Un natural the fires were in Maui ,

Welcome to the information war

whether some of you already believe that climate change is not natural but being forced upon the world by certain evil conspirators.

a reply to: Astyanax
"IF" Co2 causes global warming. Then they are trying to accelerate global warming. I don't have any data on the Co2 amounts. But I don't see how, you can use more oil to mine minerals, refine those mineral. process those mineral. ship them and build electric cars, then charge them with fossil fuels and save on Co2 emissions. Consider need you massive machinery to do the above. Not to mention all the new concrete you will need. Which is 3rd in Co2 emission.

In addition to all that. These Bio mass power plants, are tree burning power plants, about 300 in the USA, not counting the rest of the world.. They are actually burning green trees, as you can imagine, green trees don't burn to well. So the USA government allows the power companies to burn other things with those green trees. Like plastic, and other oil products, that are hard to get rid of. Speaking of plastic. No one is really recycling it, most states are burning it, as I imagine most of the rest of the world is too. Since the oceans are about full up. How much Co2 emissions could be saved just by banning plastic?

Planet of the humans
The above link is a free movie on youtube, It appears well done, and it looks like they did their homework. I beileve it's a far more realistic view of what's going on with green movement.

originally posted by: Skywatcher2011
a reply to: Astyanax

Most conspiracy theories were proven to be correct.
....

I'll bet you can't supply any evidence, study, or research that would support that assertion. Especially because you use the words "most" and "proven".

a reply to: Boomer1947

I'll bet you can't supply any evidence,

How about tobacco companies and pharmaceutical companies? Pharmaceutical companies pay fines for conspiracies every few years. Of course they admit no wrong, except for the opioids. They did have to sign a federal confession to conspiracy on that.

Says it all

originally posted by: Boomer1947

originally posted by: Skywatcher2011
a reply to: Astyanax

Most conspiracy theories were proven to be correct.
....

I'll bet you can't supply any evidence, study, or research that would support that assertion. Especially because you use the words "most" and "proven".

I've been longer on this site than you have so how about you do some research before trying to make me do the work for you...I'm not in the mood of serving someone who is feeling entitled to not having to work for their opinion any longer. I'll bet you cannot prove me false.

a reply to: Astyanax

Not many ATSers will agree with this. It seems to suggest that all conspiracy theories are false and conspiracy theorists are either deluded themselves or seeking to delude others, or maybe both.

Hmmm, where have I heard this before? Oh I know...
All Conspiracy Theories Are False
...A thread you did in 2014 that the owner at the time shut down because, and I quote...

So your just trolling for effect, ignoring refuting evidence.

Got it.

Thread closed.

The only difference is, you wrapped this one in climate change, but it's nice to know some things haven't changed in 9+ years. Your mind is still firmly closed.

a reply to: Astyanax

I gotta see it to believe it. All I will say is I don't care how many college degrees anyone has, I don't take anyone's word for fact. That includes climate scientists. I dont think the government or military is causing global warming. Why would they do that, if they could? If it even exists? Because they obviously have no solution for climate change other than eating bugs, 400 ft tall windmills, and driving electric cars which are not solutions at all as we have seen in recent history. So why would anyone purposely do that, knowing it will ruin the earth before a viable solution is found?

So no. I do believe in climate change, but that is not always a negative and that does not mean climate change is something that should be stopped. It is a natural process of the earth. I dont buy into all the hype of "by 2009 England will be underwater because of climate change" or "by 2014 Florida will float away because of climate change" just no. And anybody who believes this stuff after decades of programming probably deserves whatever they'll end up getting.

Climate change is inevitable. It is just long term weather trends.

Climate change being man made is political. Just a way for politicians to have more power.

The two subjects, while slightly related, are not the same thing.

Conspiracy theories have been proven correct too many times to dismiss them all outright. Today's conspiracy can be tomorrow's fact. It is not about believing, it is about finding evidence. To be proven right or wrong, the conspiracy is just the question that needs answered.

a reply to: Astyanax

Plausible and something I’ve been thinking the same for a while. Look at the Camp Fires in California, random houses, people seeing odd laser lights. The front was a downed power line, hard to dismiss.

Water scooping Fire aircraft, literally 10 miles away, with a lake next to the fires, denied to fly. This was before it got too windy to fly….

Red flag warnings, plastered all over the news, even shows forecasted wind directions and locations. Any pyromaniac in the area now has information, it’s like they are broadcasting for pyros to come out. Again, back in 2020 or 21 was one of the worst fire seasons in Oregon Washington.

a reply to: Klassified

I agree that it must be very irksome to have someone from the real world pointing out the fallacies in the nonsense people post here. Now then: have you anything to add to the thread that isn't off-topic as well as offensive?

originally posted by: Astyanax
a reply to: Klassified

I agree that it must be very irksome to have someone from the real world pointing out the fallacies in the nonsense people post here. Now then: have you anything to add to the thread that isn't off-topic as well as offensive?

Considering the title of your OP and the amount of time you spent in it on conspiracy theories, I am absolutely on topic and right in pointing out your history of rejecting any evidence that doesn't confirm your bias, but I'll see myself out and leave you to it.

a reply to: Astyanax

Not all conspiracy theories, well most actually, come out to be truth, they either evolve after the fact of information has come out, are abandoned by the majority, or continue on in just out right denial.

Actual conspiracy against the public is rather boring tho, examples are tobacco company's in cahoots with government and health officials to make smoking seem "healthy", or food price fixing schemes by mega grocery corporations.
But some are rather eye opening but go under the radar, such as what happened in Japan in the 1980s, central bankers conspired against the public to sway the citizens in a new economic direction and got caught.

As for the climate change conspiracy theories, it's a big one that has many angles, which I can't really get on board with really, you'd have to be pretty deep into some of them to think humans don't have any sort of impact on the earth's climate. We have tons of evidence to suggest so. It's also not some grand mystery that governments and such are trying to sway the public away from fossil fuels and looking for more sustainable agriculture, it's being done right in front of our faces. And there's always going to be people who will want to capitalize on huge movements, that's not a mystery.

Problem with CO2 conspiracies is, nobody can absolutely prove CO2 is causing global warming. 🤓

originally posted by: BeyondKnowledge3
Climate change is inevitable. It is just long term weather trends.

Climate change being man made is political. Just a way for politicians to have more power.

The two subjects, while slightly related, are not the same thing.

Conspiracy theories have been proven correct too many times to dismiss them all outright. Today's conspiracy can be tomorrow's fact. It is not about believing, it is about finding evidence. To be proven right or wrong, the conspiracy is just the question that needs answered.

Excellent post.

I love the last paragraph.

To me, they don't want to answer the question, so attack the questioner.

The history of the world is conspiracies and wars started by conspirators. The current push in the culture to relegate conspiracy theorists to the realm of nut jobs only serves the conspirators.

It's not a conspiracy that the wealthiest among us have the greatest carbon footprint.

It's not a conspiracy that these same people have made vast fortunes via Global Warming scare tactics.

It's not a conspiracy that they selectively choose only the data that supports their claim and when global warming history was brought to light exposing thier fear mongering they changed the narrative to 'human caused climate change'.

It's not a conspiracy that no matter how many trillions of dollars they throw at the 'problem' it won't make one whit of difference since Mother Nature doesn't subscribe to their club or that people driven by climate guilt are too biased to see past the end of their noses and consider the known facts that said elite do everything they can to keep hidden.

There is a lot of money to make off of climate change deception.

Building all the new products that are climate change friendly is worse on the environment because people are replacing old seldom used things with new products with a way shorter life. Planned obsolescence is not environmental friendly at all.

People who buy electric cars will usually travel more if power is available because they will think their travel is environmentally neutral. Just because their set of tires lasts a couple of thousand miles more in hot weather an an oil change of six thousand miles on a gas car does not mean they are bad from what I read. Those special tires run a grand on most electric cars, where is the savings?

Just like always, the environmentally friendly crap is most often just a sales promotion to sell people something that is not real. We must learn to live locally, not to fly all over or jump in the car to travel half way across the country for a vacation or to see the kids all the time. I see way too many people flying all over and climate change people ignore these flyers, they want us to think us keeping the gas kitchen stove is killing the environment.

WE finally got a nice winter up here in the U.P of Michigan, all the promises of global warming did not make us warmer here. I think that the climate change BSers are torturing us Yoopers. They want us buried in snow every year up here, we want to share it with the rest of the country.