BBC Learnings · Section 7

How to talk about conspiracy theories

Tell me Sam, do you think Neil Armstrong really landed on the moon in 1969?

Level: C1 · 114 sentences

Transcript

  1. Tell me Sam, do you think Neil Armstrong really
  2. landed on the moon in 1969?
  3. I mean, that must be fake news!
  4. And who shot John F Kennedy?
  5. Surely the CIA were involved,
  6. unless it was the giant lizards controlling the government.
  7. Oh dear, it looks like reading online conspiracies
  8. has sent Neil down the rabbit hole,
  9. an expression used to describe a situation
  10. which seems interesting and uncomplicated at first,
  11. but ends up becoming strange, confusing,
  12. and hard to escape from. Luckily,
  13. in this program, we'll be hearing some advice
  14. on how to talk to people
  15. who've become convinced by online conspiracies.
  16. It seems that during times of crisis,
  17. as people feel uncertain and fearful,
  18. they actively look for information to feel more secure.
  19. Nowadays, this information is often found online.
  20. And while there are reliable facts out there,
  21. there's also a lot of misinformation.
  22. Somebody who's the target of many conspiracy theories is Microsoft's Bill Gates,
  23. and our BBC fact-checkers have been busy debunking, or exposing,
  24. some of the more bizarre accusations made against him.
  25. But what strange behaviour has Bill Gates been accused of recently?
  26. That's my quiz question for today.
  27. Is it...
  28. or c being involved in the assassination of John F Kennedy?
  29. They all sound pretty silly to me,
  30. but I'll guess b being an alien lizard.
  31. OK, Sam, if you say so.
  32. We'll find out the answer later.
  33. Now, I'm not the only one who's been doing some internet research.
  34. Ever since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic,
  35. there's been an avalanche of online conspiracies
  36. linking Bill Gates to the coronavirus.
  37. Here's Mariana Spring,
  38. presenter of BBC World Service programme Trending, to tell us more.
  39. The Microsoft founder is a rich and powerful person
  40. and he's funded research into vaccines.
  41. That's why he's become a target.
  42. Some of the claims are bonkers,
  43. that he wants to use the virus
  44. as a pretext to microchip everyone in the world.
  45. Others say a vaccine would actually kill
  46. people rather than save their lives.
  47. These ideas are without any evidence.
  48. We should treat them with the disdain they deserve.
  49. Some conspiracies claim that Bill Gates
  50. wants to implant microchips in people,
  51. and that he's using the coronavirus as a pretext –
  52. a pretend reason for doing something
  53. that is used to hide the real reason.
  54. Claims like these are described as bonkers –
  55. an informal way to say silly, stupid or crazy,
  56. and should therefore be treated with disdain – disliking something
  57. because you feel it does not deserve your attention or respect.
  58. But while you might not believe such bonkers theories yourself,
  59. it's not hard to see how people looking
  60. for answers can get sucked down online rabbit holes.
  61. So, how would you deal with someone spreading baseless conspiracies
  62. about Covid vaccines or Bill Gates?
  63. The BBC's Trending programme spoke to Dr Jovan Byford,
  64. senior psychology lecturer with The Open University, about it.
  65. He thinks it's important to separate the conspiracy from the theorist.
  66. The former, the belief, we have to dismiss.
  67. But the latter, the person, is more complex.
  68. Here's BBC Trending's presenter, Marianna Spring,
  69. again to sum up Dr Byford's advice.
  70. How do you talk to someone who's at risk
  71. of being sucked into the rabbit hole?
  72. First, establish a basis of understanding.
  73. Approach them on their own terms
  74. and avoid sweeping dismissals or saying you're wrong.
  75. Try not to judge and try to get
  76. to the bottom of the often legitimate concern
  77. at the heart of the conspiracy.
  78. Present them with facts and research.
  79. Try to do this neutrally.
  80. You can't force anyone to change their mind,
  81. but you can make sure they have valid information.
  82. While some conspiracies may be harmless, others are more dangerous.
  83. People thinking that vaccines will kill them
  84. might worsen the coronavirus situation worldwide,
  85. so we need to get to the bottom of these claims,
  86. discover the real but sometimes hidden reason why something happens.
  87. A good way to engage people
  88. in discussion is to avoid sweeping claims or statements,
  89. speaking or writing about things in a way
  90. that is too general and does not
  91. carefully consider all the relevant facts.
  92. And by doing so calmly and neutrally,
  93. you might persuade them to reconsider
  94. the funny business Bill Gates is supposedly involved with.
  95. Ah yes, you mean our quiz question.
  96. I asked you what Bill Gates has recently
  97. been accused of by conspiracy theorists.
  98. And I said B, being an alien lizard,
  99. but thinking about it now, that seems pretty unlikely.
  100. In fact, the answer was C, being a member of the Chinese Communist Party.
  101. OK, so today we've been hearing advice
  102. on how to deal with online conspiracy theories,
  103. some of which are totally bonkers,
  104. silly, stupid and crazy, or involve a complicated pretext,
  105. pretend reason used to hide someone's true motivation.
  106. These can be treated with disdain,
  107. dislike because they are unworthy of our attention or respect.
  108. But with so many conspiracies online, it's easy
  109. to get lost down the rabbit hole.
  110. Intrigued by a situation which seems interesting
  111. but ends up confusing and hard to escape from.
  112. It's important to get to the bottom of these theories,
  113. discover the real but hidden reason behind them.
  114. And to present people with facts, avoiding sweeping or over-generalised statements.