How to deal with conspiracy theories?

Conspiracy theories are not only found in dubious internet forums. Also in the family group in Whatsapp or in the Freundeskreis sometimes questionable ideas appear. How do I handle this?

Berlin (dpa / tmn) - A number of conspiracy theories are circulating in the corona crisis. And sometimes it can happen that even relatives or friends spread crude theories in common WhatsApp groups. What is the correct way to deal with such a situation?

Despite all the outrage, a friendly tone is recommended: "As soon as the tone becomes rough, everything is actually lost," says Sebastian Herrmann, who has written a book on the subject. If someone close to you shares a questionable video in a WhatsApp group, you should not comment on it in the group, but seek direct conversation.

In the group, it is at best allowed to point out that contributions to such complex contexts should not be disseminated in a Whatsapp group. If a direct message is not possible, you should simply stay out of the debate.

It also makes sense to find a common ground with the other person and in this way to approach the topic. For example, you could start the conversation with the remark that you are also concerned about the topic and would like to talk about it. In the next step you could say at which point you disagree and explain it.

Praise at the beginning of the conversation, for example, is helpful. "Of course it shouldn't be a lie," says Herrmann. For example, you can emphasize which arguments you found good before explaining which points you disagree with.

Basically, the personal conversation should always be preferred to the written word: "A voice creates emotional closeness, you get nuances," says Herrmann. The potential for disputes is particularly high in discussions by email.

"The more trust there is between two people, the more you can change an attitude towards something," says Herrmann. It is not facts that change our opinions, but friendships.

But not everyone is open to such well-intentioned approaches: "There is no need to argue with the concrete heads," says Herrmann, also with a view to ideologists who offer their views to a large audience on the Internet. The silence about a crazy idea is the best thing you can do. Because these people were most afraid of that.