Who believes in conspiracy theories? Statistically speaking: almost everyone.

A team of researchers recently showed several thousand Americans a list of 20 common conspiracy theories and asked if they believed them. These included false conspiracy theories about the John F. Kennedy assassination, 5G cellular wireless technology, Barack Obama’s birth certificate, covid-19 and climate change. The result: Nine in 10 Americans believed in at least one conspiracy theory.

The study — led by Adam Enders of the University of Louisville and Joseph Uscinski of the University of Miami — surveyed a representative sample of 2,023 Americans in March 2020 and 2,015 more in October 2020. This article uses questions from their surveys to test your knowledge — and your credulity.

So, can you tell fact from fiction, or will you fall down the rabbit hole? Scroll down to find out.

1/6Let’s get started: Which of the statements below is true?

Jeffrey Epstein, the billionaire accused of running an elite sex trafficking ring, was murdered to cover up the activities of his criminal network.

President John F. Kennedy was killed by a conspiracy rather than by a lone gunman.

The FBI kept tabs on civil rights leaders such as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., attempting to find compromising information and damage his reputation.

Regardless of who is officially in charge of the government and other organizations, there is a single group of people who secretly control events and rule the world together.

2/6Partisanship plays a role in what people believe: Both Republicans and Democrats are prone to believe conspiracy theories that make the other party look bad. Can you pick the true statement — or will you be blinded by party loyalty?

Republicans cheated their way to win the 2000, 2004 and 2016 presidential elections.

Hillary Clinton conspired to provide Russia with nuclear materials.

During Ronald Reagan’s presidency, government officials secretly and illegally sold weapons to Iran, and used the money to fund Nicaraguan revolutionaries.

Barack Obama faked his citizenship to become president.

Conspiracy theories follow a simple formula

Powerful people + Use deceitful or shadowy means + Benefit themselves or harm the public

Barack Obama  faked his citizenship  to become president.

Donald Trump  faked having covid-19  to help his chances at reelection.

Hillary Clinton  conspired  to give Russia access to nuclear materials.

Real-world events sometimes follow this formula as well. Example: The Reagan administration acted secretly and illegally in the Iran-contra affair, and the FBI did spy on King. But the key difference is that these real incidents are backed up by evidence, facts and witnesses.

Conspiracy theories are different. They’re just theories. Most have no evidence to support them. They often connect unrelated facts to create an impression of plausibility.

Yet almost everyone believes at least one. According to Enders, “One thing I notice a lot in talking to colleagues, journalists and students — people don’t realize that a lot of people just believe weird stuff. A lot of this commotion about conspiracy theories, especially in the last four or five years, is fueled by this complete misunderstanding of the basic contours of public opinion.”Story continues below advertisement

3/6Conspiracy theorists commonly seize on subjects that most people have little expertise in, such as health and science, and therefore cannot easily be debunked. Half of Americans believe one of the claims in the list below, but only one is backed by evidence. Which of these is true?

The dangers of genetically modified foods are being hidden from the public.

The U.S. government secretly dosed Americans with LSD in an attempt to develop mind control technology.

The AIDS virus was created and spread around the world on purpose by a secret organization.

The coronavirus was purposely created and released by powerful people as part of a conspiracy.

4/6Some conspiracy theories are like astrology — entertaining nonsense that ultimately doesn’t hurt anyone. But some are bizarre, sinister or downright offensive. Which of these statements, if any, is correct?

School shootings, such as those in Newtown, Conn., and Parkland, Fla., are “false flag” attacks perpetrated by the government.

The number of Jews killed by the Nazis during World War II has been exaggerated on purpose.

Satanic sex traffickers control the government.

None of the above

Some of these theories are transparently absurd: The Holocaust was not exaggerated, mass shootings were not faked, and Satan worshippers don’t control the government.

But the least believable conspiracy theories can have the biggest consequences. Holocaust deniers and believers in “false flag” theories often support political violence and exhibit sociopathic personality traits. Many of the rioters involved in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol showed some allegiance to QAnon — a belief system built on conspiracy theories about Satanists.

Most Americans aren’t drawn to these dark ideas — instead, they more casually rely on false theories to explain tragedies including terrorist attacks or presidential deaths; or they enjoy nasty rumors about their political opponents. The belief in one false theory does not necessarily mean the belief in an alternate reality. But it sometimes can.

As Enders told us: “The political and psychological and social motivations that fuel beliefs in conspiracy theories are shared among all people.”Story continues below advertisement

5/6Let’s try another one: Which of the three statements below is true?

The U.S. government knew hundreds of Black men in Alabama had syphilis, but told them they had “bad blood” and withheld treatment as part of a medical experiment.

President Donald Trump faked having covid-19 in order to help his chances at reelection.

Donald Trump colluded with Russians to steal the presidency in 2016.

6/6Conspiracy theories often help powerful people — sometimes by putting other powerful people in the crosshairs, or by playing on prejudices. Which of these statements is correct?

A powerful family, the Rothschilds, through their wealth, controls governments, wars and many countries’ economies.

There is a “deep state” embedded in the government that operates in secret and without oversight.

Fossil fuel companies like Exxon knew about climate change for decades, but spread misinformation about the issue to deflect blame and influence environmental policies.

Even reasonable people fall for conspiracy theories. During George W. Bush’s presidency, half of Democrats said Bush let the 9/11 attacks happen so he could start wars. Two-thirds of Republicans believe the “big lie” — that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump.

These theories have consequences. Since the 2020 election, Republicans have pursued election “audits” — recounts aimed at casting doubt on Joe Biden’s win. Other conspiracy theories, such as anti-vaccine narratives, threaten public health.

Eventually, you’ll run into a conspiracy theory that appeals to you politically or psychologically. So be careful and double-check your sources — or you could fall down the rabbit hole, too.

mannys-blog excerpt:

While I could probably get in a little trouble for copying their whole article, I just found it so interesting I wanted to share it. I took the test and I’m proud to say I aced it. I urge you to take the test and find out how freaking funny the answers are, or maybe scary funny, that kind of nervous laughter that makes you wonder, well, WTF…… Click on WTF to find out the WTF. It will take you to the test and answers.

Jeffrey Clark, who led the Justice Department’s civil division, was working with President Trump to devise ways to cast doubt on the election results

So this is what the civil division does, make people doubt their sanity. Doesn’t sound very civil.

Surprising character traits that indicate a high IQ

BY Stars Insider 

Reading a lot

1. We’re starting out obvious, but many smart people love to get lost in a good book. Plus, reading itself has been proven to increase intelligence.

My take: This is misleading because I eat a lot of different kind of cereal and sometimes those puzzles in the back don’t contain many words

2. Modesty

The Dunning-Kruger effect began with the discovery that the most competent students under-estimated their competence because they found the tasks easy, while less competent students overestimated their competence greatly.

My take: I have never over estimated a damn thing in my life, I always knew I couldn’t do it and if I didn’t remember, my mother was right there to tell me

3. The mouth of a sailor

There’s a common misconception that people who swear a lot have a limited vocabulary. Studies have shown, however, that swearing may in fact display a more intelligent use of language as an added feature that an articulate speaker can use to maximize communication effectiveness.

My take: I knew when I joined the Air Force it was dumb move. The Navy makes you smart.

4. Empathetic

For a long time, experts considered IQ and emotional intelligence as separate, and it became a stereotype that smart people were lacking in social skills. But more recent studies have shown that people with high IQs also demonstrate high EQs, specifically regarding empathy. Highly intelligent people are good at being attuned to the needs and feelings of others and acting in a way that is sensitive to those needs. They’re typically very interested in learning more about people.

My take: I’ve been called empathetic, or something that sounds similar if you remove the em sound.

5. Self-control

Studies show that people with higher IQs can curb impulses better, usually with a better sense of planning, goals, and forethought. An experiment published in Psychological Science offered test groups two options: one with smaller but immediate results, or a greater prize further down the line. The participants with the higher IQ scores opted to wait, displaying greater restraint.

My take: I almost never eat dinner before dessert, save the big meal for the end… self -control folks. Doesn’t bode well for WTF…..

6. Curiousness

Displaying an insatiable curiosity has been linked with a high IQ, which makes sense because it aligns with a passion for learning.

My take: Always been curious, the jack in the box toy, didn’t put it down for 8 hours one time, then Hurricane Ida hit NJ and it got lost. This one does bode well for WTF

7. Comfortable alone

Introverts rejoice! A 2016 study published in the British Journal of Psychology suggests that smarter people tend to derive less satisfaction than most people do from socializing. They relish their solitude

My take: Whether I like it or not, and this whole time I thought it was because of my face and body odor, it turns out that I’m just fukcing smart.

8. Thinking outside the box

Many famously intelligent people have been considered weird or arrogant because they have a tendency to break or bend rules, thought patterns, and traditions. But that’s how they find the best solutions!

My take: I always think outside the box. I mean who the fuck goes in a box to think, that’s for playing fort and shit like that.

9. Messy

A cluttered desk used to be a sign of a cluttered mind, but more recent studies are suggesting the opposite is true. In a 2012 research project, the Netherlands’ University of Groningen found that people thrive intellectually in a cluttered environment, and the disorganization forces the brain to focus more.

My take: Does that mean that housekeepers are dumb dumbs or the fact that I had to hire one makes me a genius that isn’t at all lazy like some mothers like to say

10. Observant

According to psychologists, it’s about how the brain processes information, and highly intelligent people spend more time concerned with what they’re observing than what they’re presenting.

My take: I once binge watched all the episodes of the Big Bang theory and understood almost all of it, observant…

11. Creativity

It’s easy to think of intelligence and creativity as separate because they’re controlled by opposite sides of the brain. But, in fact, people with high IQs use both qualities together to achieve their goals. Even Albert Einstein said imagination is more important than knowledge, “For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.”

My take: Do Legos count????

12. Night owl

The late nights and later mornings lifestyle is often seen as the antithesis to success, but some psychologists suggest that the more intelligent among us can bend our biological clocks so that they are more able to reach personal targets.

My take: What the fuck does antithesis mean, that’s a made up word, this article is a trap….

13. Aware of limits

You might assume that smarter people are less likely to say “I don’t know,” but the opposite is true. Many sources say intellectuals are actually best at acknowledging their limits. And they aren’t afraid to admit them! This ties into curiosity, because admitting you don’t know something becomes easier when you genuinely want to learn.

My take: That’s funny, the guy that stole my wallet said the same thing when I asked why he had it. Who knew he went to Harvard…

14. Open-minded

With regards to opinions, those with higher IQs are said to be more receptive to new ideas. That is partly due to the fact that they will not accept things on face value, and prefer to look at evidence from all sides first. Only after presented with a diverse selection of opinions do highly intelligent people make up their own minds. This process is called delay discounting.

My take: This is true of me. I generally wait for that discounting thing… or I just buy used.

15. Trust in their judgment

After that opinion is made, however, intelligent people are not likely to be swayed. They have already made a considered and calculated choice, and they stick with it.

My take: I rarely change my mind.. wait, do I, no, I never change my mind… maybe sometimes… no never, mmmm, let me do that delay discounting thing.

16. Cat people

While dog people are more likely to be active and social, some psychologists suggest that cat people tend to have higher IQs along with being more introverted and sensitive.

My take: Bull shit… Dogs… Why get a pet that’s smarter than you

17. Really funny

In 2011, researchers from the University of New Mexico found that comedic writers had high verbal intelligence scores, and a follow-up study found the same in stand-up comedians.

My take: So who knew, Ukraine got it right, we, evidently, keep getting it wrong.

18. Dark humor

Interestingly, a 2017 study  found that people who score higher on tests of verbal and nonverbal intelligence are most likely to enjoy and understand dark humor.

My take: Racist…. I don’t like singling out particular group of funny, all funny is funny. Next thing you know light humor makes you evil.

19. Generosity

Some psychologists suggest that people with higher IQs are more giving because they generally have greater resources, they can expect to recover what they have given later on, and they tend to be more concerned with the public good and joint benefits.

My take: So you are saying that the rich people that use personal charities to offset their tax obligations are intelligent… sounds right

20. Talking to yourself

Contrary to the idea that it’s a sign of madness, talking to one’s self is actually said to be a sign of a high IQ and a useful thought technique for boosting memory.

My take: Then I’m the smartest motherfucker alive along with that dude that talked to his dog, I mean how many humans talk dog language, what was his name, his father’s name was Sam, that guy’s son….

21. Anxiety

Unfortunately, high levels of anxiety have been linked with high IQ levels, specifically with worries about social situations. But this isn’t fact, just a possible connection.

My take: So you have to be smart to worry, so all those dumb fucks don’t worry, then why do they run from the police…

22. First-born

Just a theory, but surely cause for yet more sibling rivalry, is Norway’s National Institute of Occupational Health’s study that suggests eldest children are usually the smarter ones. Not because of their genes, but because of how they are raised.

My Take: That would make Adam and Eve the smartest people to ever live, no?

23. Adaptability

Recent psychological research suggests intelligence depends on being able to change your own behaviors in order to cope more effectively with your environment.

My take: Climate change… do I need to say anymore… we’re all fucking stupid.

Republicans Argue D.C. Statehood Slippery Slope To District One Day Becoming Own Planet:Reported by the ONION

Friday 12:50PM

WASHINGTON—Speaking out against H.R. 51, which has now cleared the House and made its way to the Senate, congressional Republicans argued Friday that granting Washington, D.C. statehood would be a slippery slope to the District one day becoming its own planet. “If the tiny District of Columbia is admitted as the 51st state, what’s to stop it from going on to ask for recognition as a sovereign country, continent, or planetary body?” Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) said in an impassioned plea to senators, warning them to stop the bill or risk emboldening D.C. to slowly grow more spherical and, before long, call for its release from Earth’s gravitational pull. “Sure, we could give in to the District’s demands for representation in Congress, but pretty soon it will expect its own orbital path around the sun—a blatant power grab for Democrats that would throw off the balance of the whole solar system. It was just a few years ago that we acknowledged Pluto wasn’t big enough to be a planet. Do we now want to grant that status to a town of less than 70 square miles? Please.” Mace went on to add that if Democrats succeeded in passing H.R. 51, there would be nothing left to stop California from spiraling into its own liberal galaxy.

LOL… I think it’s a great idea for it to become a state. I think LA and NYC should do the same. It’s not about politics but about representation.

Ha Ha Ha… Zing…..

That was a good one

Lol… to the prosecution team (maybe not these particular people but some cohorts or people that work for, with or under them)…. Hola tetera, me gustaria presentarle la olla.

ahhh, the Keith’s of the world, you can’t live with them and you can live without them.

One of his many discrepancies, you might call them felonies, is that he scared a young Immigrant woman into having sex with him, even though most of his victims were white non-hispanic, or he would have her deported. Absolutely awful. I believe that the U.S. Attorney’s Office just made the case that … that particular act was illegal. Now go back to my first sentence and start all over.

You do have to wonder that if these people were just immigrants, would their have been the same resolution. My guess is no.

A news outlet reported that the President of the United States derided military veterans. There is no recording of this and I personally do not believe that it happened and will be labeled fake news. I understand the tactics used to persuade voters and both sides are guilty of being uncivil and contentious in a time when unity is really needed. I don’t think fake news is needed right now.

In response, the Demo Candidate VP Biden made a statement “If the revelations in today’s Atlantic article are true, then they are yet another marker of how deeply President Trump and I disagree about the role of the President of the United States,” Biden said. “I have long said that, as a nation, we have many obligations, but we only have one truly saved obligation — to prepare and equip those we send into harm’s way, and to care for them and their families.”

If both sides actually care what happens to military servicemen, then they can show their legitimacy by granting the deported American veterans, who put their lives on the line for this country and were then unceremoniously deported for infractions, a path back into this country. They gave all of themselves to protect our liberties and were good enough to serve in our military and after returning from war were deported for infractions that were most likely caused due to trauma during combat. Do the right thing and make these families whole. I’m sure that they are not asking for a free pass but a fair one.