Conspiracy Quote by Thomas M. Nichols
““Arguing at length with a conspiracy theorist is not only fruitless but sometimes dangerous, and I do not recommend it. It’s a treadmill of nonsense that can exhaust even the most tenacious teacher. Such theories are the ultimate bulwark against expertise, because of course every expert who contradicts the theory is ipso facto part of the conspiracy.””
About This Quote
Source Podcast: Interview on discourse, 2021
Arguing with conspiracy theorists wastes energy and can be dangerous; they reject expertise and view experts as conspirators.
In simple terms: Debate with conspiracists is futile.
Key Takeaway
Avoid unproductive arguments.
Themes
critical thinking
conspiracy
expertise
communication
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
educational
practical
When to use this quote
- online forums
- classroom discussions
- media consumption
- public policy
Key Concepts
sociology
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- When is it worthwhile to engage?
- How can you protect yourself from misinformation?
A Different Perspective
May dismiss potential for dialogue.
![“Before 2013, if you said the NSA was making records of everybody's phone calls and the [Government Communications Headquarters] was monitoring lawyers and journalists, people raised eyebrows and called you a conspiracy theorist. Those days are over.” quote by Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e0e/edward-snowden-555_communication_before-2013-if-you-said-the-nsa-was-maki_1387484.jpg)
