So the wife asked me why people believe ridiculous stuff like

[Arthur_Frain]

“The Earth Is Flat”, or “The Moon Landing Was Staged”, or “Chemtrails”.

Anybody have a recommend for a good layman’s terms intro to crowd dynamics and psychology such that you could recommend?

Thanks in advance.

[Think. Again.]

1. That's an ironic question to ask on christmas.

[PJMcK]

6. Love your reply!

Happy December 25th!

[Think. Again.]

9. Cheers!

[Iggo]

2. Because most people are stupid.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Extraordinary Popular Delusions And the Madness of Crowds

Charles Mackay, 1841. It's really about investing mania and bubbles, but if delusions are your thing it's a good start and a classic.

[Arthur_Frain]

5. Thanks, I'll check that one out.

nt

[Frasier Balzov]

4. Paging Alex Jones.... Alex Jones to the courtesy phone....

[Skittles]

7. look how many people believe in virgin birth

enough said

[Yavin4]

8. Stupid people wanting credit for being smart by proposing dumb theories.

In general, people are lazy and stupid. They goofed off in school. Never did the reading. Never studied, but now that they're older, they want the same clout as the smart kids who did. So, they invent cockamamie theories thinking that it makes them look smart.

[vanamonde]

10. You might get some insight at

https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Main_Page

[yellowdogintexas]

11. I just tell them we know the earth isn't flat because the cats would have knocked everything off by now nt