Conspiracist assent is a debased form of political participation rather than paralysis

Evidence

A steady dose of conspiracism encourages the disposition to see the worst intentions at work all the time, regardless of evidence. This has been called cynicism. Still, it is not paralyzing cynicism. Assent to conspiracist claims represents a desire to join in a kind of political activity, albeit in a debased and sterile form. — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 133

Categorization

• XREF: Aligns with the reader’s interest in folk politics and forms of belonging discussed across earlier books on trust and social capital. — connects to: New conspiracists replace organized political action with mass repetition and assent — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying: The New…, 79; Public assent, not private belief, is what drives conspiracism’s political effects. — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying: The New…, 123; Conspiracy beliefs erode democratic participation and breed extremism — Holm Gero Hümmler, Ulrike Schiesser, Fact and Prejudice: How to Communicate…, 287 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Public assent, not private belief, is what drives conspiracism’s political effects. #corroborates (0.90) — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 123
• Conspiracy beliefs erode democratic participation and breed extremism #contradicts (0.85) — Holm Gero Hümmler, Ulrike Schiesser, Fact and Prejudice, 287
• Political action requires shared common sense that conspiracism destroys #complicates (0.75) — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 292