What Makes Conspiracy Theories Popular?

[Nope]

 A close friend expressed annoyance to me a couple days ago because some of her relatives are posting that the shooting in SC of a fleeing black man was somehow faked. When I asked her what they thought that the  dead man and the charged cop would gain by faking the murder, she said she didn't know. It confounded her that her relatives could somehow find a conspiracy in the video.

There are people who believe that the massacre in Sandy Hook was faked so I wonder if there is going to be a new round of crazy people believing the SC killing was faked? Luckily, I can't find anything online so hopefully the opinion of my friend's relatives won't spread.

What makes certain conspiracy theories gain popularity? Is there a reason that some conspiracies gain more of a following than others?

I went to a Christmas party and was waylaid by a woman who proceeded to explain to me that biblical numerology  predicted that Obama was the antiChrist. Because she took me off guard, I ended up not knowing how to politely leave the situation but it was somehow weirdly fascinating. Some people at my husband's work have tried to talk to him about 9-11 being an inside job. They aren't exactly arguing with him but seem to think that he is hiding his head in the sand because he doesn't accept their views. 

[Dystopia]

Because it gives people adrenaline. I've always wondered who came up with the "jews run the world" thing. If you go to google and search for anti-jew videos/sites you'll find individuals who never in their life identified as jews being labelled as evil jews - In this case I think it's a tool for supremacists to excuse their dominance because jews are destroying the white race.

I also think that some theories, while not proven may make some sense "logically" - What I mean is, they're not impossible to be true - For instance, the theory that the world wars were set up by world leaders to change mentalities, political systems and balance the demographics or number of people in the world is not proven true but it's not impossible to happen and it's certainly not devoid of logic.

[C4RM5]

Maybe some peope just don't want to accept that someone was in the wrong so they will be more willing to accept conspiracy theories. For example if someone thought police officers were doing a great job, without mistakes, they maybe more willing to believe it was a set up, rather than admit the police aren't always correct.

[One Above All]

Ego.

Conspiracy theorists believe they're special; that they know the truth, while everyone else is living a lie. They believe they managed to discern truth from fiction based on evidence that was hidden so that nobody could find it... except them, of course. They believe we're all being fooled by "Them" (every conspiracy theory has to have a bad guy named "Them" or "They" - the ones who don't want the truth to come out for some obviously nefarious purpose), and that "They" own (or are working their way toward owning) the world, and only the ones who know the truth can fight back. "They" have eyes and ears everywhere, but "They" can be defeated if the conspiracy theorists band together, because a handful of conspiracy theorists are more powerful than "Them".

In short, it's a power fantasy that little children have. Like playing video games where you get to be the hero that saves the world - the chosen one - only IRL. Nobody cares either way, though.

[Chad32]

Fear is the great motivator, and some people fear a giant untouchable organization that can come and swoop you away at any time. They're going to take your guns, brainwash your children, and kill you off when you reach a specified age.

[Alex K]

Ego.

Conspiracy theorists believe they're special; that they know the truth, while everyone else is living a lie. They believe they managed to discern truth from fiction based on evidence that was hidden so that nobody could find it... except them, of course. They believe we're all being fooled by "Them" (every conspiracy theory has to have a bad guy named "Them" or "They" - the ones who don't want the truth to come out for some obviously nefarious purpose), and that "They" own (or are working their way toward owning) the world, and only the ones who know the truth can fight back. "They" have eyes and ears everywhere, but "They" can be defeated if the conspiracy theorists band together, because a handful of conspiracy theorists are more powerful than "Them".

In short, it's a power fantasy that little children have. Like playing video games where you get to be the hero that saves the world - the chosen one - only IRL. Nobody cares either way, though.

Exactly, although I'd be more generous and say that it is simply very disconcerting to some people that the world seems to be chaotic and uncontrollable, and believing that it is, after all, a planned conspiracy, is somehow reassuring. Of course this feeds directly into the ego, because the conspiracy theorist has secret knowledge of the conspiracy which provides personal identity.

That's why I believe that deep down, the conspiracy theorist has no real interest in convincing everyone that the conspiracy is true, for this would negate the source of his or her identity. Being a part of an elite and a martyr is an important part of the appeal.

[Bad Wolf]

People are stupid. They don't properly comprehend the extent to which information is accessible. It is almost impossible to keep any large secrets in todays world of phone calls, texts, television and internet. They never actually analyse the situation properly, the motivations for the conspiracy (if they come up with any) are often not thought out or researched in any way. Conspiracies don't exist, at least, the ones that are so often paraded around don't.

[Alex K]

Conspiracies don't exist

I think we can safely say that 9/11 was a conspiracy.

[Iroscato]

I gotta say, it's hilarious watching fundies go up against the tinfoil hat brigade on youtube. Two opposing sides, each possessing infinite reserves of lunacy...brings a tear to my eye, it does...

[Dystopia]

9/11 is probably the most popular outspoken conspiracy theory (i.e. Bush combined the attacks with the arabs)

I also enjoy the theories about dead musicians being alive - Can't say it wouldn't be awesome but I would be mad at them for having stopped producing great music - Elvis, Jim Morrison, MJ, John Lennon, etc. Oh and let's not forget that Paul McCartney is a doppelgänger and the real one is dead