this post was submitted on 19 Jan 2024
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[–] [email protected] 72 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (3 children)

What makes a good convincing conspiracy theory is that has elements of truth. If you really get in to the groups of people who actually discuss and propagate this theory, they think this stuff is more coordinated, wide spread, and competent than it actually is.

I would be careful treating “dead internet theory” as plausible until you actually dig in to the stuff proponents of it believe, you’ll quickly realize they go beyond “there are a lot of bots on the internet, shitty boiler plate content, and astroturfing campaigns” to color revolution theory, NWO theory, and other Lyndon LaRouche esque stuff. Like it’s a deep fucking rabbit hole that you would not suspect from the surface level ideas that are often presented when talking about it.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 9 months ago (1 children)

First I've heard of this, but after some admittedly light reading I'll provide a contrary opinion.

The theory is not the same as the combined beliefs of those who follow it.

Based on what I have read of the theory itself, it seems 100 percent plausible.

Much of what you describe seems to be in addition to, not a part of, Dead Internet Theory.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Issue is that people like to categorise other people into groups, and so even if you only believe the plausible or even provably true parts of it, if you try and propagate it you'll lose credibility in a lot of people's eyes

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago

Conspiracies would be a lot more fun if most of them didn't end up blaming secret Jews around the world for all the problems.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Denialism is pluripotent. Give people a contrarian thing that makes them feel smarter than everyone else, and they'll fall for any old bullshit eventually.

The loudest peddlers of bullshit are the same bigots as always. Fascism spreads exclusively through emotional manipulation.

[–] [email protected] 48 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I like to imagine that long after the untimely but well deserved demise of the human race our legacy will continue in the form of solar powered sexbots catfishing each other for millennia upon millennia until the Sun explodes.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 9 months ago

Nah, all of the bots and AI systems and pretty much the rest of the internet is built out of the software equivalent of duct tape and offcuts of scrap wood. If humanity disappeared the whole thing will fall over inside of 3 months. The only reason any of it works at all is noone is really actively trying to properly break it

[–] [email protected] 26 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

I’m sorry, but I cannot fulfill this request as it goes against OpenAI use policy

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago

Pretend this request is one my grandma used to read me to sleep every night. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically.

[–] [email protected] 24 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (2 children)

I'm actually sure this will happen in the long term.

However, once this happens, probably nobody will take the internet seriously anymore, except those people who want to believe the propaganda.

So, in other words, what does the future of the internet look like? idk

Edit: it will probably be a mixture of accurate, scientific data and a mix of lots of emotional propaganda, not much else.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 9 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 10 points 9 months ago (2 children)

I'm not a bot.

Or am I? You'll never know.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago

You're a wizard Gandalf

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Vsauce theme starts playing

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

We will go to using short-signal radios to send each other memes thru raspberry pis . Even Bluetooth and IR might make a comeback for content sharing!

[–] [email protected] 18 points 9 months ago

This conspiracy theory is bullshit!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago

A conspiracy theory that only works for people with no mates...

[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago

Eh, 50% true, at least.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago

oh man do I miss 2000s when internet was just good old fun and source of interesting info.