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No theory too stupid

There is no theory too stupid to believe in. If there exists an idea about something, people will defend it. So I no longer wonder how people can believe in a theory that is so far removed from reality that you have to abandon all reason and logic to come to such a conclusion. You can apparently make every concept work in your head if you try hard enough. And it is more exciting to assign made-up explanations to events that happen for no specific reason and often out of randomness than to just admit that there was no great plan behind them. It gives us control.

"If the earth were flat, people would believe that it was a globe"

I even think it helps a theory to spread if it is stupid because people will think "There is no way someone can believe in this and go so strongly against the grain without being absolutely certain that it's the truth." This can lead to people investigating that theory. One little snippet of truth in a huge pile of misinformation can make you question some parts of the original generally agreed-upon theory, which makes you wonder "If this is true, what else are they hiding?".

Being part of a small exclusive club that has "uncovered" the truth that no one else can see is what makes people hold on to their ideas. Here they find community and even more arguments for their beliefs. If other people think the same, how wrong can it really be? There must be at least some truth to it. If they disclose this to their family or friends, it is even harder to go back now. Now they are seen as the "crazy one". Rather lean fully into it and show them their ignorance! We should be less aggressive towards those people, because that makes them recoil into their convictions even more. Going against was one of the initial appeals, so giving them the cold shoulder will not help at all.