How do you bring up a conspiracy theory to your family and friends?

I'll face it. When ever I come about a conspiracy theory to my family, they either refuse to listen or be completely ignorant and try to debunk everything I say. With my friends on the other hand, they listen (most of the time) to what I've got to say, no matter how wacky the theory is.

What happens when you bring up theories to your friends and family? How do you approach the situation? I seem to be up front like "The government is poisoning our minds" and they look at me and say mm, alright. Or they ask me dumb questions just so they can hear me rant on, then they change the conversation completely, and drive me insane!

I want to hear your experiences, techniques you way of approaching this situation!

i personally don't when i try to tell my family the ignore me. When i try to tell my friends they make fun of me for weeks (like good friends do )

[edit on 9-1-2009 by iced_blue]

I have found that it's best to keep your mouth shut about CTs when talking to ANYBODY. Most people are more than happy to live in their
world and they don't want anyone rocking their boat with some off the wall
BS.

Why do you think God made ATS.

I have the same problem, my family was talking about how the economy seemed to stabilize at dinner one night, and I said it was still going to get worse and they all looked at me like I was crazy. I have found though some of my family members are more open minded about certain conspiracies than others. Usually I just mind my own business unless something big has got my attention, when I do bring it up I usually start by talking about a news event/movie/book or something.

reply to post by whaaa

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This is very true. For the most part.. The best thing you can really do is drop small seeds. Grab things that have gone mainstream. While they are few and far apart you can get something like this together..

YouTube Link

This video, and others are totally based off the mainstream media.
Not much filler here..
I'm sure something like this could open the eyes, and this would work as a good seed.

But please note. Seeding takes years..
It took me close to 4-6 years just to get my family to come around.
And still there are times where I over do myself and they tell me to shut up.

Slowly!! Thats all I can offer you right now.. U2 me anytime if you like more knowledge..

It depends who you talk to. My mom is very open to it, and my grandpa is, and some of my teachers are. My boyfriend sometimes is open to it and he knows I come on ATS often, but he always says "Everything is a conspiracy to you!"

So essentially, yes, depends on who your friends and family are.

Well your real friends already know how crazy you are, and most of the time they will humor you if nothing else. Atleast my friends anyway. Family you have to pick and choose who you talk to. A lot of people just don't want to face it. They tell you you are crazy and ignore you because the truth is not alway nice.

But realize some theories are just theories not all are a quarter of the way believable, you just have to pick and choose wich ones you want to talk about.

it helps if you sound rational and down to earth while presenting the possibility that stuff may be happening instead of insisting that it is absolute truth. Subtle influence goes a hell of a lot farther than demanding that people listen.

Having a calm and collected demeanor without getting to passionate about what your talking about makes it look like you know what your talking about also.

I start out by asking a question. "what do you know about X" or "what do you think about X" That gives me an idea how interested and / or knowledgable they are on that subject. Then I ask if they want to know other viewpoints. That usually gets me to a point of giving them some sites to surf at their leisure. I don't start with ATS though. Then I get feedback from them later. Many times they will come to me with info I have told them as if they are telling me something new. Then I discuss the subject more deeply.
You just have to figure out how to approach each person differently.

I think. first thing is first.
Make sure your research is thorough and well thought out.
Small doses. Your not gonna convince anyone about media-
mind control and the new world order or anything while car
pooling.

I usually let people bring it up unknowingly. Talk politics and
go from there, most topics branch off there, seeing as they are
in control of what you see, touch, hear an consume.

Make a few points with any knowledge you may have, but don't
force feed it. I like to send an email to a alternative news source
relating to a topic. I'm not sending a link to an hour long video.

Like I said, small doses. Like the government does. Next time
around my family and friends are usually rather intrigued by
the information. They may not accept it, but most find it interesting.

I have have friends sending me links to things they think are of
importance now. Kinda cool. We never talked about this stuff but
lately it has proved to be thought provoking and insightful to
discuss with an open minded friend.


[edit on 9-1-2009 by cluckerspud]

Yes, it does. My brother is a police officer, and I get the impression that he is not even allowed to entertain the idea that an official story could be wrong.

When friends/family complain about how bad something is, I just smile and say, "It's going to get a lot worse". At least when it does, they ask, "how did you know that?". To which I reply, "because I know what's going on...".

Then you have their attention.

Slowly, but surely is the way. Whatever you do, don't overload them with information. If you do, their thinking process will just shut down.

You have to build the foundation before you can construct a building.

It is very simple - facts! Facts, facts, facts...only talk in facts and they cannot debunk you or make fun of you.

reply to post by asmall89

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They are trying to ignore reality, like an ostrich in the hole.