As the world grew more connected, conspiracy theories shifted from local to distant targets.
Evidence
The Rome fire myth also illustrates something else: people historically developed conspiracy theories about local phenomena, things that happened right in front of them. As our world has gotten larger and more connected, we tend to theorize about distant people, places, and events. Our theories are so broad they encompass the galaxy itself and the most distant reaches of space: UFO conspiracism has been a beloved American pastime for nearly a century. — Anna Merlan, Republic of Lies, 72
Categorization
- XREF: Signal that conspiracism tracks felt loss of control as social scale expands - connects to broader identity/threat mechanism claims in the vault. — connects to: Social media turned conspiracy theories from distant abstractions into targets for direct harassment. — Anna Merlan, Republic of Lies, 73; Twentieth-century American conspiracy theories shifted from alien out-groups to the government itself. — Anna Merlan, Republic of Lies, 75; The New World Order conspiracy reached mainstream discourse through the UFO subculture. — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic…, 402 (+1 more)
Broader Connections
- The New World Order conspiracy reached mainstream discourse through the UFO subculture.
#exemplifies(0.72) — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 402 - UFO believers were an unexpected new audience drawn into New World Order conspiracy theory
#exemplifies(0.72) — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 398 - Twentieth-century American conspiracy theories shifted from alien out-groups to the government itself.
#corroborates(0.70) — Anna Merlan, Republic of Lies, 75