LeliaThomas.Com

Conspiracy Theories vs. “Fact” vs. Reality

There’s a problem in our world, and it all boils down to complete belief in a number of realms. There is first “fact,” that which people tell you is true and, therefore, expect you to believe [typically] just on the basis of calling it a fact. The opposite end of this is the conspiratorial end, that which tells you everything you have been told has not only been a lie, but a deliberate one in an attempt to control and manipulate you. Reality, however, is almost always somewhere in between.

I often have to re-evaluate my thoughts on matters, because I find I can never quite believe everything in, well, anything. Humans are fallible, and so much of the world around us is so highly constructed–intentionally and unintentionally, alike–that there is great difficulty in actually defining something as 100 percent accurate, particularly the things of conceptual foundations.

Truth is often stranger than fiction, they say, but perhaps that’s because truth is usually somewhere in the middle, where very few people like to look. You find out that “facts” were not entirely factual, and that the opposing theories were often only right in their assumptions half of the time. And that scares a lot of people. It scares people to think that what brings them great comfort was perhaps born out of something grotesque or to think that horror bore beauty. It’s not comfortable, because it’s complex. It’s bigger than your brain can comprehend.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve watched a plethora of conspiracy theory videos, some more compelling than others, yet at the end, I’m almost always disappointed in the conclusions. No matter whether you buy into the “facts” or buy into the conspiracy theories, each story tells you that there is some enemy, and he or she is your sole enemy, and they are entirely evil. It’s your classic good vs. evil story, and again, it’s comfortable. Each side tells you that if you just know your enemy, and therefore know who’s side you need to be on, you can fight for what is right. And, of course, the concept of what is “right” is always completely clear, too. The problem is that life is not that simple. This is an argument I have with people quite often.

Take all of the many products that are made in China and exported to the world, particularly the US. Since I was able to read, I’ve always been fascinated at looking at where products have come from, what they are made of, and how many languages they cater to; if you pay attention in the US, you’ll be amazed at how much comes from China. Some people–and I think even I have, in the past–say that this is bad, that it supports a questionable government (implying that ours is not questionable in its actions!), that it closes down previously-booming American facilities and jobs; perhaps it is bad, ultimately, for a number of reasons. But it is not all bad or all good. It is not that simple, and the means of changing the current system is not that simple, either. People’s gut reaction is to blame government policies for our current infrastructure, but, in the case of this example, who has bought the products, therefore supporting, even promoting, the system? None of us is completely innocent or completely guilty in almost any situation. If only the world were so black and white!

On a much larger scale, I don’t think many things of the past will ever be known accurately. Even today, with our vast amounts of technology, the way we learn about things is always limited to the camera angles chosen, the scientists conducting the experiments, the funding behind projects; even the optimism or pessimism of those working on something can affect the final results. Yet many of us don’t question whatever realm of understanding we choose to believe in most, be that mainstream fact or subversive fringe beliefs. I think this is because questioning may lead us to doubt our previously all-encompassing beliefs.

I think once you realize you are unable to know everything or come to many definitive conclusions, you begin to learn more, because then words like possible and impossible, true and untrue, and many others cease to matter. Then, things just are as they are at that moment, and they may have been different in the past or may be different in the future, and they may not even be what you think they are now. Everything goes up for study, then, and little is taken at entire face value, especially depending on the amount of time you spend looking at it.

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” –Albert Einstein

Comments ordered from oldest to newest.

No comments yet.