Refuted conspiracy theories persist for decades after being debunked

Evidence

Unfortunately, Hitler was not wrong when he wrote in Mein Kampf that ‘the grossly impudent lie always leaves traces behind it, even after it has been nailed down’. As Jason Ali’s case illustrates, the false conspiracy theory, or ‘colossal untruth’, is still with us today, and remains popular with many modern-day Holocaust deniers. — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 240

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: AIDS conspiracy claims persisted word-for-word across two decades in focus groups. — Anna Merlan, Republic of Lies, 182; One false memoir triggered two decades of false ritual-abuse accusations — Anna Merlan, Republic of Lies, 276; Computer-Antichrist rumors grew so common even believers later repudiated them — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic…, 259 (+7 more)

Broader Connections

• A conspiracy theory’s originator can be discredited while the theory itself survives #corroborates (0.95) — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 311
• Factual correction of conspiracism usually fails or backfires #expands (0.85) — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 119
• Conspiracy belief rates may be stable while their reach has exploded #expands (0.80) — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 227
• Conspiracy beliefs stay stable while conspiracy talk shifts with power #expands (0.80) — Joseph E. Uscinski and Joseph M. Parent, American Conspiracy Theories, 749
• Conspiracy believers abandon specific claims while retaining a core that something must be wrong #qualifies (0.75) — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 214