We tend to think of conspiracy theories as a phenomenon of the digital age. But the internet and mobile devices only allow them to be created and spread faster.
Conspiracy theories have likely been around as long as human civilization has. They are, at their root, just another form of rumors and gossip.
In the 15th century, Niccolo Machiavelli referred to conspiracy theories in his writing. Conspiracy theories about Freemasons go back to the 18th century.
Some of these conspiracy theories defy all logic and common sense. But others just might be possible.
Reddit user Fifa15Stan asked:
"What’s a conspiracy theory you’ve heard that seems way more believable the more you look into it?"
🎵 What's Bot Got To Do With It 🎶
"The Dead Internet Theory. Everyone online is really an AI bot. Except you, of course."
"Wikipedia is better than me with words: 'The dead Internet theory is a conspiracy theory that asserts, due to a coordinated and intentional effort, the internet now consists mainly of bot activity and automatically generated content manipulated by algorithmic curation to control the population and minimize organic human activity'."
~ maoussepatate
"Dead internet theory is more of a thought experiment right now."
"Could be possible in the future or now-ish on certain websites (Twitter/X)."
"But right now it's just a dumb buzzword. I'm tired of hearing about it."
~ Physical_Opposite445
Putin's Playbook
"Putin was behind the Russian Apartment Bombings in the late 90s and he orchestrated it to increase his popularity and legitimize his 1st presidential term."
~ FailingUpwards312
"That's pretty much been proven to be true."
"The explosives used were laced with Hexagen—the only factory which produces those explosives is guarded by the FSB."
"Putin's career —> KGB Lt. Col. —> FSB Director —> Russian President/Prime Minister/President."
"They also found 2 FSB agents planting explosives in a building in Ryazan only for them to get bailed out and be like, 'Eeyyyy good job! This was all a training exercise!'."
~ Pockets408
Coneheads
"Inactive construction sites are put up all across the USA because the Department of Transportation doesn't have a place to store all the orange traffic cones."
~ shotmenot
"This is such a low-impact conspiracy theory that I am absolutely forced to believe in its validity."
~ Amtherion
American Oligarchy
"That a bunch of billionaires are trying to expedite the fall of American democracy so it happens within their lifetime and they can profit from the aftermath."
~ manofoz
"Well, I would invite you to look up Curtis Yarvin's Butterfly Revolution. I think that's the one where he suggests using the bodies of the poor as bio-diesel."
"But it lays out the techbros plans for 'Freedom Cities'. He admitted their aim is technofeudalism."
"I mean, they haven't exactly been quiet about what they want. Pretty brazen, in fact."
~ Late_Again68
Hell On Earth
"We're all dead and in hell right now."
~ monkeyvselephant
"This is the bad place."
~ JplusL2020
21st Century Version Of Money In The Mattress
"The mattress store money laundering theory."
"Why are there so many empty mattress stores on every corner in America?"
"Who’s buying that many mattresses?"
"But I don’t think that it’s a theory, it’s just very obvious."
~ kl1myatina
Incompetence Is More Believable
"JFK's second gunman was actually an accidental discharge from a jumpy Secret Service agent who was inexperienced holding a new model of firearm that had a very light trigger."
"The cover-up isn't because they're part of the conspiracy to kill a US President. It's because the government had to save face."
~ stueh
"This one feels pretty valid—it comes from an examination of the scene by a ballistics expert once the police cleared it again for public access."
~ FoolsErrandRunner
Promoting Idiocy
"Dumb conspiracy theories happen on their own, but oligarchs and corrupts definitely love it and will help promote it (YouTube, Facebook), as they keep regular people so afraid of being called conspiracy theorists that they will pretend like conspiracies and corruption aren't a thing."
"Even when it's happening right out in the open. Then, free pass to steal all the billions."
"People hardly talk about just, conspiracies or corruption anymore, it's always conspiracy 'theories'. Free benefit of the doubt to the bad guys, no matter how obvious they are."
~ CommunicationTall921
AI Facial Recognition
"There was no McDonald's employee that sold out Luigi Mangione."
"The US is using illegal AI surveillance facial recognition technology that they don't want the public to know about yet."
~ JupiterTarts
UFOs
"100% something that happens with alien/UFO reports, is there’s definitely something going on."
"So the people in charge release a bunch of bogus sh*t so you can’t suss out what’s real and credible and what isn’t."
~ Jeramy_Jones
Leading The Charge
"Boomers all have lead poisoning from all the lead items they grew up with."
~ IYIaster15
"The lead poisoning is a fact."
"What’s debated is how much it has to do with the spike in violence we see during the 70s and 80s."
~ Cowboy_Dane
Finders Keepers
"There's a part of the government that—upon learning someone is catching on to a real conspiracy—will reach out to give them a tiny bit more real evidence/information."
"Then a lot of fake or easily disproveable information so the earlier 'true' info can be discredited."
"I can't remember the name of the group. I think it's called The Finders."
~ tanman729
Brave New World
"As a teacher, I absolutely believe that stifling the development of our youth is done on purpose in America."
"In public schools in poor areas, the focus is on 'sit down, shut up, do what you're told and don't ask questions'. Kids are taught to perform mindless repetitive tasks."
"Perfect education ... if you're educating cogs for a machine. What are rich kids taught in their private schools? Leadership, creativity, confidence."
"You have kids who go to 'public' schools in rich areas, and those schools have extensive libraries, computers, multimedia centers, art, music, etc.... Then you have other kids go to schools in poor areas, and they have broken chairs, 15-year-old textbooks, slop for lunch, and a curriculum of standardized testing."
"Tell me that's not Brave New World."
~ kirin-rex
Discrediting The Truth
"That the government or others with power create conspiracy theories that are CLOSE to the truth, but outlandish enough to be easily discredited."
"Then, if anyone gets close to the truth and tries to talk about it, they can be publicly dismissed by linking them to a ridiculous conspiracy theory."
"'Oh, you believe THAT (believable conspiracy theory)?' har-har-har. 'I bet you also believe (wildly implausible conspiracy theory) too!'."
~ kirin-rex
Veterans Deserve The Truth
"The U.S. government is still not telling the truth about the origins of Gulf War syndrome."
~ Lord-Glorfindel
"We know they gave Vietnam vets the runaround for years on Agent Orange."
"No reason to think they’re not doing the same to vets with Gulf War syndrome.
~ dlidge
What's a conspiracy theory that seems plausible to you?
