We see them around every corner–dark conspiracy theories behind almost every major political figure and group. The internet is known to deep dive into these theories and explore every possible explanation for certain situations. Many people indulge in these theories, both for personal knowledge and even for entertainment purposes. Oftentimes, we forget that despite them being theories, and not proven facts, they can be dangerous for all those involved.
Some conspiracy theories do not hold as much weight, and are more for explanation of strange phenomena or simply entertainment purposes. One of the most popular theories is the Mandela Effect, which is based on a large group of individuals misremembering the date that Nelson Mandela passed away. This theory has been contributed to other situations, such as remembering a logo in a different way or thinking an event occurred one way, but it actually happened much differently. Conspiracy theories are made about many topics, such as the media, brands, and allies. The problem occurs when this theory is applied to dark areas of human behavior, especially in a political aspect.
Right now, conspiracy theories are everywhere regarding Jeffrey Epstein and the files being released. A major theory concerns ‘Pizzagate,’ which are allegations that well-known politicians and celebrities ran a satanic child and sex trafficking ring. This theory began during the 2016 Presidential Election, when emails were released of individuals talking about pizza in strange ways. As the Epstein files continue to be released, the same code names were used, leading many to believe that ‘pizza’ is a code for acts of pedophelia and abuse. As more emails are released, the theories begin to get darker, where allegations of murder, rape, and horrific abuse committed by high-powered individuals are made. These theories have led to pizza restaurants in the Washington D.C. areas to be harassed by the public, and individuals releasing statements claiming their innocence towards the allegations.
High-profile conspiracy theories often surround injuries of high-powered individuals. There have been theories regarding the assasination of political figures, such as John F. Kennedy, and attempted assassinations of political figures, such as Donald Trump in 2024. In the Kennedy theory, individuals theorize that a lone gunman did not act alone in the shooting. Theories claim that the CIA, Mafia, or foreign governments were involved in the shooting, and some even theorize that Lyndon B. Johnson was involved. For the Trump theory, it is theorized that the shooting was staged, including fake blood and a fake shooter, in order to gain more voters for the Trump administration.
While these theories can be interesting to read about and to discuss, it can have a huge impact on those involved, their families, and the victims in certain cases. Digging up old information can bring back memories, especially for victims, and cause more public attention to those trying to move past an event. Conspiracy theories are usually tied into real-world situations that individuals suffered from, and bringing them back to the surface can be harmful for them.
When discussing conspiracy theories, it is important to remain respectful towards individuals, and look for the real information. Continuing to add on to baseless theories causes danger, and causes us to gain fake knowledge on real events.
