A conspiracy is the belief that some secret but influential organization is responsible for an event or phenomenon. Forbes.com says that 22% of Americans believe that there is something beyond what science or the general public says about certain events or theories.
Conspiracy theories come in many shapes and forms, ranging from the belief that Helen Keller wasn’t real, to the Illuminati using the Denver Airport as a place to meet.
According to the American Psychological Association, some people believe in certain conspiracies because of paranoia. However, this doesn’t mean that if someone believes in one, they are paranoid. An example is the idea that birds are government spies or aren’t living creatures.
This particular conspiracy stems from gen-z media when a man satirically said that birds aren’t real during a pro-Trump counter-protest. This conspiracy includes the idea that birds were wiped out by the government and replaced with surveillance drones that allow the government to spy on U.S. citizens.
While this is far-fetched, it shows the mistrust certain people have in the government and the paranoia that can stem from that, a common reason that conspiracies about the government arise.
Another theory that is hotly debated is the notion that Helen Keller wasn’t real. Though many sources including perkins.org, would say this is due to “ableism” [prejudice and discrimination against people with disabilities], it’s more likely because of ignorance.
Most people who believe this conspiracy about Keller have done no research into her successes. While some things may seem far-fetched for a deaf and blind girl, a little research makes them seem more possible.
“Write a book, fly a plane? People are so protective around her and she’s not even real,” junior Chloe Cannon, a firm believer in the Helen Keller conspiracy said. “In sixth grade, I wrote a research paper about it.”
While research proves otherwise, some still believe that Keller didn’t do all the things she claimed she had done.
On the local level, Hummel Park is a 30-minute drive from Elkhorn North and is home to a crazy conspiracy about people with albinism [a birth condition that results in an absence of pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes].
“They live in the trees at Hummel Park, they don’t have technology, clothes, or anything,” senior Morgan Egerton said.
Some believe they are cannibalistic and live in the trees of Hummel Park, preying on those unfortunate enough to visit. The group of cannibals has been there for years and developed without technology or any influence from the outside world.
The conspiracy has been circulating since the 1960’s according to onlyinyourstate.com and its relativity to Elkhorn makes it all the more concerning due to its proximity creating a higher perceived “threat” level and increased anxiety among believers.
Hummel Park has been a hotspot for folklore and conspiracy while just having an eerie nature in general. Many people who’ve walked the trails claim it is haunted and have had “supernatural” experiences.
“I think the first thing that comes to mind is something psychologists call confirmation bias,” psychology teacher Ashley Anderson said. “Which basically means that people may disregard information that goes against their beliefs while seeking out information that supports them”
Britnannica.com says that people have biased opinions about certain information whether they know it or not, and this bias affects the way they perceive information as true or false. This ties directly into conspiracies; they take an ordinary event, place, or person and form strong opinions on whether or not it is true.
Conspiracies can be dangerous as they amplify these often false beliefs and spread anxiety and misinformation. Theories wind out of control and become a much larger problem than something you see on the Tiktok “For You” page, becoming petitions, protests, and sometimes riots.
Global warming has been a growing concern in recent decades. As a result, the government has initiated a project that sprays sulphate particles into the lower stratosphere to combat it, according to CBS News.
Some believe that these “chemtrails” are a way for the government to control the minds of the masses, causing a lot of debate about the project as a whole. Misinformation is spread throughout social media platforms which statista.com says 63.8% of the world is on.
“Twitter or X doesn’t have any restrictions on false information on social media,” junior Sophia Sweeney said. “I saw this thing that 54% of U.S. adults always get their news from social media.”
