They are almost the opposite to conspiracy theories
I’d like to add a warning that even if something is “almost the opposite” to conspiracy theories, many people’s reaction will be very similar. Disagreeing with the mainstream is used as a heuristic for detecting conspiracy theorists; it doesn’t matter what made you disagree—whether you believe some bullshit, or you researched legitimate leaked documents and updated accordingly. For most people, both seem the same.
So, ironically, becoming more rational about politics can make people around you start seeing you as a conspiracy theorist.
I’d like to add a warning that even if something is “almost the opposite” to conspiracy theories, many people’s reaction will be very similar. Disagreeing with the mainstream is used as a heuristic for detecting conspiracy theorists; it doesn’t matter what made you disagree—whether you believe some bullshit, or you researched legitimate leaked documents and updated accordingly. For most people, both seem the same.
So, ironically, becoming more rational about politics can make people around you start seeing you as a conspiracy theorist.