THE OTHER SIDE
As some experts have been stating openly for some years now, information and the manner in which it is used is the most powerful tool to influence minds and actions of the people. One could even argue that information is more powerful than even the most destructive conventional weapons as the decision to use such weapons is based on information. Though many nations cannot drop out of the race to enhance their armed forces further, most have developed their own ways to capitalise on the power of information and the effect of disinformation.
Conspiracy theories are one phenomenon that appear to have grown in influence in recent years. A conspiracy theory is considered to be a theory that explains a set of circumstances or an event as something brought about by a secret plot usually by powerful conspirators. They range from fantastic sounding ideas like ‘lizard people’ living among us and controlling politics to one of the comparatively recent theory –QAnon which basically centered around the idea of the previous US president Donald Trump waging a secret battle versus elite Satanist paedophiles in government, business and the media. Not all conspiracy theories are untrue like the one about the CIA conducting mind control experiments on unaware citizens during the 1950s and 60s which was later found to be correct.
However, whereas some conspiracy theories may bring about negligible changes in the people who believe in them, others may have a more serious impact. The followers of QAnon were among those leading the recent storming of the Capitol Hill in the USA apart from being involved in disturbances which also saw followers of other such fuelled agitations. The influence such ideas have can be gauged from the fact that they have followers in various countries including India. Such theories have created a global fraternity of people who also believe that the latest viral pandemic is a conspiracy too. A neuroscientist or psychiatrist can explain aspects like the tendency to view patterns where none exist, the naturally higher levels of dopamine and the proclivity for confirmation bias in people who tend to be strong believers even in unfounded conspiracy theories. Some conspiracy theorists cleverly mix credible facts with illogical factoids, which makes one wonder whether such theories are perpetuated by people actually wanting to conceal the uncomfortable facts by mixing them with fantastic contents to discredit the whole mixture. Whatever the case be, the reality being faced regularly is the repercussions of disinformation and calculated moves influencing people in ways that are not really desirable.
Take the example of the agitation being carried out against the farm laws. If one digs even a bit without bias into the issue, the past and ideological evidence related to some of those leading the movement, a person’s opinion will surely be affected. Of course, one can also find things to criticise about the government, other politicians and tycoons but some rich people pretending to be poor and directing others to oppose some other rich people for making money is highly questionable to say the least. Whether one likes it or not, it is a common human tendency to blame other people or forces beyond our control for our own problems. However, when such blame is illogical, it will not lead to anything fruitful. The government is doing its bit to tackle this, at times successfully, sometimes with delayed results and sometimes unsuccessfully. What remains to be seen is whether we also become alert and go beyond conspiracy theories and modified factoids.
Saturday, 23 January 2021 | Paritosh Kimothi | Dehradun
