It seems interesting that, at least amongst people I know, the "deniers" about things like covid and climate change are also the first to believe daft conspiracy theories.
Why are some people so resistant to one set of idea and so open to other ideas?
Most of these 'movements' are merely contrarian in my opinion, is any perceived 'elite' for something? You're against! Are they against? You're all for it!
A prime example is Covid-19 and hydroxychloroquine, on the one hand the virus is 'just a flu' because scientists and politicians say it's dangerous, on the other hand hydroxychloroquine is highly effective because scientists say it's either useless or dangerous. It reminds me of Orwell's idea of doublethink, holding two thoughts contradictory to each other but still accepting it as the truth.
From my experience of talking to such denialists and conspirologists, it just comforts them to be a part of smaller group, so they feel like the chosen ones, like they know a secret that the most humanity doesn't.
Of three COVID denialists that I personally know, two are flat earth believers and one believes in secret world government led by jews.
If you only believe things because they're endorsed by your favored authorities, then your thinking is no better than theirs except that the authorities your culture told you trust happened to be more reliable than theirs.
Why are some people so resistant to one set of idea and so open to other ideas?