Coronavirus conspiracy theories make Fauci the villain, because someone has to be

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s leading expert on infectious diseases, has established himself as the authoritative public face of the Trump administration’s coronavirus response.

For some, however, he has taken on a different role. In recent weeks, Fauci has emerged as the latest target in the vast web of COVID-19-related conspiracy theories that have been circulating on social media since reports of the coronavirus first began to emerge out of Wuhan, China, in January. Like other coronavirus villains, from the Chinese government to Bill Gates, Fauci has been charged with an array of nefarious activity, all of it implausible and some of it mutually contradictory. According to some theories, for example, he’s both played a role in creating the coronavirus and exaggerated the risks of a “fake” pandemic. According to widely viewed and shared YouTube videos, Facebook posts and memes, Fauci’s alleged motives include ties to “big pharma,” a financial stake in a future coronavirus vaccine and involvement in a “deep state” plot to destroy the economy and influence the presidential election in November.

Experts warn that recent efforts to undermine scientists and public health officials like Fauci have the potential to further compound the dangers of misinformation, which has spread alongside the coronavirus as a dangerous comorbidity to the pandemic itself.

“Trust ... is one of the most important factors to handle such a pandemic,” said Pia Lamberty, a PhD student at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, in Germany, who studies the psychology of conspiracy beliefs. “If people do not believe what [the experts] say, they are less likely to follow their recommendations.”

https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus-conspiracy-theories-make-fauci-the-villain-because-someone-has-to-be-140013416.html

There's always going to be the tinfoil hat crowd.

[The Magistrate]

1. The Youtube People Really Ought To Shut This Crap Down, Sir

There is no excuse for pumping this sort of poison into the public square.

[SheltieLover]

3. I concur!

👍

This patriarchal system always has to blame someone or something, and it is always about attempting to hook their psychic projections onto someone else.

[LuvNewcastle]

2. I've heard that there have been threats against him.

There are too many people in this country who would rather believe in conspiracy theories than in finding out the truth. The truth isn't exciting enough for them, I guess. These stories are like brain poison. I believe in freedom of speech, but I wish there was a way to discourage people from spreading this nonsense to people with poor critical thinking skills. It would certainly help if critical thinking was taught in the public schools.

[SheltieLover]

4. That would sure help!

IMHO, much of the issue with these freaks is that they never matured to reach higher levels of moral reasoning (Kohlberg's theory).

They need someone to tell them how to behave, what to think, even what to say. Sickening.