I think it's less about real life versus the internet and more about how much a conspiracy theory aligns with prevailing thought.
There were no problems regurgitating the Donald Trump pee tape conspiracy theory when they were bombarded with it from multiple media outlets. everyone else believed it, so it was okay to believe it yourself.
at the same time, if you were someone who asserted the Wuhan lab leak theory, which made tons of sense given the evidence, you were a conspiracy nut Job because people were bombarded with media outlets telling them it wasn't true.
Even then it was online and the media. I've not had one case where anyone thought that the Wuhan lab leak theory made you a nut Job. Even those that did not believe it thought it was a reasonable idea to have.
I think it's less about real life versus the internet and more about how much a conspiracy theory aligns with prevailing thought.
There were no problems regurgitating the Donald Trump pee tape conspiracy theory when they were bombarded with it from multiple media outlets. everyone else believed it, so it was okay to believe it yourself.
at the same time, if you were someone who asserted the Wuhan lab leak theory, which made tons of sense given the evidence, you were a conspiracy nut Job because people were bombarded with media outlets telling them it wasn't true.
Even then it was online and the media. I've not had one case where anyone thought that the Wuhan lab leak theory made you a nut Job. Even those that did not believe it thought it was a reasonable idea to have.