Indian Summer said:"Basically, no, I don't think making a special forum for conspiracy theories would be helpful. As @TofuRobot just pointed out, who has the right to decide a topic should fall into the CT category? The mods? We're not really experts on that sort of thing, and it would just create more work for us, and probably end up hurting some poor poster's feelings in the process. I also feel like we have more than enough forums already, so I don't particularly want to add another one."
By allowing CT to flourish on here, VF is providing its de-facto support for such theories.
The amount of lies and misinformation on COVID-19 has already slowed down the progress of fighting it, resulting in a lot of needless suffering and death.
Does VF really want to be a part of that?
Unlike the moon landing, flat earth and birther conspiracies, CT on COVID-19 is materially harmful.
Is avoiding "hurting the feelings" of CTer's really wort it?
CTer's at best have psychological issues, and at worst spread such nonsense out of malicious intent. They should not be encouraged, or at least given so much leeway.
Understanding the Psychology of Conspiracy Theories: Part 1
Q&A: What kind of personality type believes in conspiracy theories?
www.psychologytoday.com
Conspiracy Theories Might Sound Crazy, But Here’s Why Experts Say We Cannot Ignore Them
'It’s too consequential for us not to deal with it'
time.com
Profiling a Conspiracy Theorist: Why Some People Believe
Some people are habitual conspiracy thinkers – there's a plan behind everything, and it's usually malevolent. One scientist set out to understand who is likely to ascribe to these theories.
www.livescience.com
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