Are conspiracy theories true?

I have always wondered why people believe in conspiracy theories.

Having been bombarded over the past few weeks by armchair experts' versions of "what is ACTUALLY going on", I started to read some literature on the topic.

Scientists who study this phenomenon say that people are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories in times of uncertainty and especially when they feel powerless.

As human beings we don’t like uncertainty or feeling out of control. We like to know that someone has a plan or that we can make our own plans.

Otherwise, life feels just too unpredictable and dangerous.

It is therefore not surprising that there is such a tsunami of conspiracy theories at the moment.

The narrative of conspiracy theories are all the same.

"A big evil person or persons hatching out an evil plan to control us (the masses) so that they can benefit while we suffer."

For example: The Chinese (or the CIA) engineered Covid-19. It was a way for America (or China) to gain globally. Bill Gates, in his quest for world domination, is creating a vaccine that will be tested in Africa and make all African males sterile.

Even though these conspiracy theories are often laughable, they still provide people with a sense of certainty.

"As bad as the plan might be, at least there is a plan," they argue.

And so they give people a (false) sense of control.

Since last week, social media has been rife with theories on why the government - through Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (NDZ) - changed its position on the sale of cigarettes.

At the press conference, she explained that the decision was taken after more than 2 000 submissions, many from medical experts.

But, South Africans “knew” better.

“She unilaterally overrode and undermined the president in an attempt to try and make herself president,” thousands of armchair analysts argued.

“She is in the pocket of the illegal cigarette trade” added others, supported by some journalists.

“The President is in big trouble in his own party - the crooks are taking control,” wrote so-called political analysts who should seriously do their homework.