Days of Darkness: How one woman escaped the conspiracy theory trap that has ensnared millions (AP)

[ificandream]

BY DAVID KLEPPER
Updated 7:26 AM PST, January 31, 2024

WASHINGTON (AP) — At first his stories seemed harmless. Tales about secret organizations plotting to take over the world, about the good guys working to save it, and about the proof that, if you knew where to look, was hiding in plain sight.

To Ramona, her boyfriend Don’s tales of conspiracy theories sounded like a movie. A lot of it didn’t make much sense, but Ramona would nod along anyway. Don enjoyed telling his stories and showing off what he’d read online. He always knew the answer.

The pair met while still in high school. They worked at the same fast-food place in Ramona’s hometown in western Tennessee. They started dating a few years later. Don was a big guy, good with engines, somebody who could fix anything. Ramona had always wanted to be a teacher and was enrolled at a nearby college. Sometimes she struggled with anxiety, but with Don she felt safe.

The couple moved in together as COVID-19 swept the globe. To Don, the pandemic and the global response to it were filled with clues pointing to some kind of conspiracy, orchestrated by America’s leaders and the media. Maybe the virus was accidentally leaked from a lab; maybe it was a bioweapon. Don also suspected the lockdowns had a nefarious purpose, and he believed the vaccines were unsafe, perhaps designed to kill.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/covid19-trump-conspiracy-theories-qanon-facebook-f79a3af0e04487890e3976fea6f03867
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It's definitely a sickness.

[calimary]

1. Yep. Definitely a sickness.

Seems like the only way to fully explain it - or try to understand it.

[Maraya1969]

2. This relative of mine was all into the conspiracies and we fought several times

Now I think she has passed some of the weirder ones but last time we spoke on the phone she was saying her and a friend were going to watch something on Martians, (something like that). So she asked me if I believe in Martians. I'm convinced that she like s to believe weird things but I am not sure why. Maybe it gives her something to do with her mind so she doesn't go nuts.

[tulipsandroses]

3. I'm glad she was able to escape the insanity

Some things that stuck out to me. Don became violent, Ramona was isolated from friends and family. He convinced her to drop out of school.
Typical abusive behavior. MAGA and the rest of the conspiracy nuts and religious cultists, fit typical abusive behavior patterns. One can only hope that there will be many more Ramonas that find their way out.

[tanyev]

4. Yes, props to Ramona for getting herself out of it

and away from Don, finally. So many are unwilling or unable.