Conspiracy Nation

Just finished reading Ariel Bogle and Cam Wilson's Conspiracy Nation. The book takes a tour through Australia's unique blend of conspiracy theories, how they spread, and how the lines between unique theories get blurred.

I don't like how Australia seems to import every culture war BS talking point we can from the US. While we seem to do the same thing with conspiracy theories, the book does a great job of showing how we develop our own home grown ones (eg Port Arthur truthers), and how the seeds of ideas from overseas morph and take on their own personality in Australia (eg Qanon et al). It's also really interesting how different ideas blur and morph together.

The most important lesson from the book is that these conspiracy theories and the grifters who peddle them have real and serious consequences. Going into the book I was expecting a fun tour of the crazies, but the book hits hard, diving into the beliefs that ultimately lead to murder. I had underestimated, or been ignorant of, the seriousness of where the beliefs can take people, so in that sense the book is an eye opener.

The other point which is hard to believe is the research shows that the Internet hasn't made more people believe in conspiracy theories. This is a hard one to swallow because, well, look around. The internet may not have caused more people to believe, but it's definitely provided a platform for people to dive right in. Where in the past, someone may have kept their ideas to themselves, or rambled incoherently to whoever was polite enough to listen, nowadays people can find community. Social media forms a nice echo chamber, amplifying what might have otherwise been lightly held beliefs. Groups and group chats let people find each other, egg each other on, and spread new theories to minds primed to believe them.

The book's really well researched and put together. You should read it.

Plus we all get to have a laugh at Pete Evans.