When the topic of COVID gets discussed between *Sarah and a close family member of hers, it usually ends in an argument. That’s because said family member is a .
“You name it, she believes it,” Sarah said.
“Literally think of any crackpot conspiracy and I would say she’d defend it, she has even mused about whether it’s all a big conspiracy to protect a major pedophile ring - something about kids being transported in closets, I don’t know, it sounded insane.”
have been circulating around the world since the pandemic started. Some theories , that it’s a conspiracy between China and the World Health Organisation to plunge the world into a crisis and work against President Donald Trump. Others believe the virus was grown in a laboratory in China, which was deliberately released to infect the world. Another theory has linked the virus to the installation of .
Here in Australia some residents have fought back against authority, refusing to wear masks while out in public, crossing borders illegally and refusing to social distance or self-isolate. But as the likelihood of a vaccine grows, so too have the anti-vax theories – most notably that Bill Gates wants to vaccinate the world and implant microchips in us all.
“She supports all the theories, but I think her favourite one is the ‘Bill Gates Plandemic’, in that she thinks Bill Gates released the pandemic so he could eventually ‘vaccinate the world’ and control us somehow,” Sarah told Insight.
Microsoft founder Bill Gates has been the target of many coronavirus conspiracy theories. Source: AAP
Sarah says she has tried to reason with this family member on numerous occasions – but to no avail. As a result, she says their once close relationship has been irrevocably fractured.
“I’ve never seen her behave this irrationally before, to be honest, it makes me incredibly sad.”
Sarah admits that it’s been a tough year for this person. Along with the stress of the pandemic, there was a death in the family and other family members have had significant health problems and have needed her care. Sarah says she can understand “why she would want to latch onto conspiracies considering the stress she's been under”.
For *Tom, COVID conspiracy theories have entered his house in the form of a housemate who believes that COVID isn’t real.
Their group housemate chat, once used to ask someone to grab something from the shops, has now become a place where conspiracy theories are shared and *Tom and the other housemates are asked to join the fight for humanity.
The kitchen and dining room has also become a place where views about COVID not being real and the vaccine being a way to control people, are openly shared.
As a result Tom says he, and his other housemates, now avoid interactions with this person where possible.
“If a conversation is steering that way I’ll just say “look I don’t really want to talk about this right now” and it shuts down a conversation that probably once would have existed.”
Tom says he no longer sees the point in trying to reason with the housemate.
“I find it really hard to deny the progression of scientists who have worked really hard for probably hundreds of years to develop these things called vaccines and who have dedicated their whole lives to better humanity.”
“I find it really hard to reason with people who have done no research themselves then go against what a lot of people have worked really hard at.”
When belief systems don’t match
Anastasia Panayiotidis, general manager of clinical services at , says the events of 2020 have destabilised many people’s basic faiths and trust in life.
“The pandemic actually touches on people’s deepest fears and anxieties really about life and death,” Panayiotidis, who has a background as a psychologist and family therapist, told Insight.
“What happens is people feel they lose control of their life and when the government steps in and creates certain regulations and measures to try and keep us safe …. some people actually feel that control is being taken away from them and a conspiracy theory gives them a sense of control and independence.
“It contains that anxiety and manages it, it’s almost like a parallel universe is created as well, a parallel reality that’s an alternate reality to the one that exists because the actual way things are is a bit frightening.”
Panayiotidis advises against trying to convince a conspiracy theorist that they are wrong, which can lead to conflict.
“It’s important to remember that you actually do love that person, and you have a bond with that person, but they do have a right and an entitlement to their own belief system which may differ from yours significantly and may be informed by other realities.”
“No amount of rationality or facts or information can often shift someone’s thinking because it’s actually emotionally laden and laden with primitive and anxiety laden emotions.”
Panayiotidis instead suggests trying to have a conversation with the person where you listen to their views, ask questions, expand the conversation without judgment, share your own views, and then respectfully agree to disagree.
An anti-mask protester shouts at police in Melbourne. Source: AFP
Some questions Panayiotidis finds helpful to ask are;
- I’m really curious as to where this thought comes from
- I’m really wondering how you’ve come to that conclusion?
- I’m curious about what you might have read about this situation?
- Who else holds this view?
- Are there other people who also subscribe to this view?
- What forums have you discussed this view in?
- I’m wondering what the consequences are of holding such a theory or philosophy?
- What would it mean for us if we all believed in this?
With many of the COVID conspiracy theories being circulated on the internet, Panayiotidis advises against trying to engage online.
“You’re going into a bottomless pit there and you’re going into a black hole, you’ll engage in a conversation that will go on forever and it could actually create anxiety for yourself and become a pain point, become very painful, it could unravel you.”
“You’ve got to monitor your online use and not let it dominate your life because it can become obsessive … it can actually create distress for people who are informed more by science and medicine and research.”
As for Sarah, she’s not sure when this conspiracy theory side to her family member will cease. All she knows is that it’s equal parts frustrating and devastating to watch.
“She is a good person, the most caring, nurturing person I know, to hear stuff come out of her mouth that is also spruiked by the most evil, horrific people – it breaks my heart.”
*Names have been changed due to the sensitive nature of this article
Readers seeking support with mental health can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. More information is available at . supports people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
