WASHINGTON: His tales of conspiracy theories initially seemed harmless. Stories of secret organisations plotting to take over the world, about the good guys working to save it, and proof hidden in plain sight. For Ramona, her boyfriend Don’s tales were like a movie. Some things didn’t make sense, but she would nod along. The pair met in high school while working at the same fast-food place in western Tennessee and started dating a few years later. Don was good with engines, and Ramona wanted to be a teacher.
As Covid-19 swept the globe, Don began to believe that the pandemic and the global response to it were part of a conspiracy. He thought that the virus was leaked from a lab or was a bioweapon, and suspected that the vaccines were unsafe. At a scary time, Don’s conspiracy theories seemed plausible to Ramona. She admitted to feeling comforted by the explanation for what was going on, even though she didn’t realize what she was getting into.
This alternate reality nourished by conspiracy theories transformed Ramona’s life, leading her down a dark path of paranoia and loneliness. Don and Ramona became isolated from friends and family, preparing for a grim future as they believed a “New World Order” was already underway. They began to stockpile food and supplies, and Don bought a rifle, a handgun, and ammunition.
One day in January 2021, Don read about a power outage in Vatican City on one of his conspiracy theory websites. This led to a scare, and the couple ended up loading their guns and dog into the car and driving off into the darkness. The AP spoke with over a dozen people who had their lives disrupted by conspiracy theories.
In order to make sense of the world, people choose what to believe and build a worldview to understand the past and present. But if people pick the wrong stories, they risk lying to themselves and others. Conspiracy theories are entertaining for some, but for others they lead to social isolation, paranoia, and distrust.
Ramona was studying for her education degree, and when her classes went online due to the pandemic, her boyfriend urged her to drop out and leave college. Alone and isolated, she began to read and talk more about conspiracy theories. This period of online learning led to her with the views consistent with QAnon’s sprawling conspiracy theory. As the pandemic continued, her anxiety increased, and she felt increasingly alone. Her social media habits amplified her anxiety, so she quit social media and joined a forum for recovering conspiracy theorists.
Leaving the online conspiracy theories behind, she reconnected with old friends, reenrolled in college, and eventually married an old high school friend. However, her journey was not easy, as her ex-boyfriend wasn’t pleased with her decision to leave conspiracy theories and go back to school. After a violent argument, she left and eventually moved on to a better life.
However, she still remembers the pain and fear she experienced, as well as the impact that conspiracy theories had on her life. She now teaches fifth grade and focuses on her students instead of late-night drills and imaginary threats.
