Reasons to have hope, and to junk conspiracy theories

December is upon us and we are nearing the end of 2020. Pope Francis invites us to respond with hope to the struggles and sacrifice we made this year. There are, in fact, a number of reasons to hope that things will be better.

It started in November when Joe Biden won the presidency of the United States. Although his term has yet to start this coming January 20, there are already signs of a general policy shift to address climate change, a major Biden agenda. Expected major shifts in US manufacturing processes and R&D priorities in line with Biden’s climate change agenda will benefit the world. China may be the world leader in terms of manufacturing output, but American companies still produce the best products and services in terms of both quality and quantity. Already, General Motors has dropped its support for Trump climate rollbacks and now aligns with Biden, according to a New York Times (NYT) report.

Another reason to have hope is that the COVID-19 vaccines are finally at hand. Mass distribution will be a challenge in the months to come. But starting this month, authorities in many countries are expected to give the green light for an emergency rollout of the vaccines at least to those in the frontlines.

It is very important to note, however, that while a vaccine can bring the pandemic under control, it merely complements the other public health measures that we have, not replace them, says the World Health Organization. As we slowly regain new normalcy, we must still wear masks, observe proper hygiene, keep a safe distance from people outside our households, and avoid crowded indoor settings.

While our hopes are lifted because of the vaccines, it remains to be seen how many people will submit themselves to vaccination. The Royal Society journal Open Science has revealed in a study that a significant percentage of people in many countries subscribe to conspiracy theories about the origin of the vaccines.

Don’t let these conspiracy theories dash your hopes. Their alternative stories against vaccines don’t make sense compared to the hard science behind virus research. The fundamental flaw of conspiracy-theory believers is their being patently inconsistent in dealing with unproven facts. If the medical findings do not fit their world view, they question at every point the evidence behind these findings. If these fit their preconceived notions, they don’t bother to question the evidence behind their own theories.

Another basic flaw in their behavior is their utter lack of sense of accountability. When you question them about their methods in arriving at a conclusion, two things can happen. Either they take your questioning as a personal attack against them, or they demand that you debunk their theory in which case you are set in for a trap because you can’t disprove a “proof” that has not been shown.

Experts, however, advise against scolding or mocking friends or family members who peddle conspiracy theories. Don’t argue with them, says Mike Rothschild, a conspiracy theory researcher quoted by the NYT. Create some cognitive dissonance instead, by subtly inviting them to explain their theories and compare them with historical facts on record.

Conspiracy theories are driven by people’s insecurity and fear. Most likely, those who are attracted to conspiracy theories are fearful of the world around them, unable to explain anymore what is happening. Reach out to such friends if you think they need help. But be ready to walk away if their constant disinformation already endangers your life or health.