Pejorative Ad Hominem Flag Waving
The Lazy Man’s Only Weapon
Let’s get one thing straight—when people throw around the term “conspiracy theorist,” they’re not trying to debate you. They’re trying to shut you up. It’s the intellectual equivalent of sticking fingers in your ears and shouting, “La la la, I can’t hear you!”
They’re not asking, “Is this claim valid?”
They’re saying, “I don’t want to think.”
The Playbook of the Power-Hungry
This isn’t new. It’s a script. A tired, lazy trick. They don’t want to engage with facts, evidence, or logic because that’s hard work. So what do they do? They slap a label on you:
• “Conspiracy theorist!” Translation: You’re crazy. Let’s move on.
• “Misinformation!” Translation: You’re right, and that scares me.
• “Fringe!” Translation: You’re over the target.
It’s not about truth. It’s about control.
The Real Psychology Here
Why does this work? Simple: fear. Not fear of your ideas—but fear of social rejection. Nobody wants to be “that guy.” But here’s the truth:
• Galileo? Conspiracy theorist.
• The Founding Fathers? Conspiracy theorists.
• Anyone who’s ever told the truth before it was popular? You guessed it.
The label isn’t about you. It’s about them. Their insecurity. Their fear of facing uncomfortable facts.
Flip the Script
When someone hits you with that label, don’t flinch. Lean in.
• “Is it a conspiracy theory, or are you just afraid to think for yourself?”
• “Funny how asking questions makes me dangerous, but ignoring answers makes you feel safe.”
Make them defend their lazy thinking. Shift the burden. Ask:
• “What part of the evidence do you disagree with?”
• “Is your problem with the facts or just that I’m the one pointing them out?”
Normalize Thinking Again
Look, skepticism isn’t radical. It’s common sense. The scientific method? Built on skepticism. Democracy? Requires skepticism. Journalism—real journalism—is skepticism with a notebook.
When did asking questions become a crime? Spoiler: When the answers made powerful people nervous.
Calling someone a “conspiracy theorist” doesn’t end the argument. It proves they never had one.
So the next time you hear that label, don’t back down. Stand taller. Because the truth? It’s usually hiding right behind the thing they’re afraid to question.
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