• Pons_Aelius@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      Same with the modern “The earth is flat” bullshit. It started as a 4chan troll in the early '00s.

      All are a weird corollary of Poe’s Law:

      without a clear indicator of the author’s intent, any parodic or sarcastic expression of extreme views can be mistaken by some readers for a sincere expression of those views.

      Pons_Aelius’s Corollary to Poe’s Law

      If you post a joke conspiracy theory, some idiot will believe it.

      • Fredselfish@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Yep now both are real conspiracys. I literally met people who believe birds aren’t real. When try explain it was prank they double down. Same for flat earthers.