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Thursday, June 9, 2022

Mike Hosking: How much attention should we give conspiracy theorists?


It's an interesting conundrum.

The Herald yesterday led for an extended period of time with a piece written by The Spinoff about a story that had semi taken off about Jacinda Ardern and her trip to America, but more specifically to a company called BlackRock.

I would not have mentioned it. In fact, I didn’t, given I got the emails early yesterday in what was clearly yet another orchestrated attempt by crazies to pedal the latest conspiracy theory. The theory is, I think, I'm not entirely sure because it’s a waste of time going down the rabbit hole.

But the conspiracy theory in the broadest of senses is there is a one world type project and we are all being manipulated. More specifically, BlackRock, which is a heavyweight investment company, is thought by the crazies to own mainstream media, all pharmaceutical companies, and are part of the overarching conspiracy about this new world order.

Anyway, the Prime Minister went to meet them. The trouble with her going to meet them is if you follow any sort of news, you knew she went to meet them because it was widely covered.

The emails suggest it’s a conspiracy and no one knew about it. Not helping my day yesterday were the re-emergence of, once again, the conspiracy theory around Clarke Gayford, and his ankle bracelet.

That one goes back months. And once again was dispelled not only by the couple through various videos. There were photos of him with the Prime Minister at a time he was supposed to be under arrest, in rehab, behind bars, or off in some far-flung facility of undisclosed nature.

The ankle bracelet got quite some traction. I think the BlackRock thing will die a fairly quick death given it was so widely covered at the time in a legitimate way.

But here is my concern, how much coverage do you give the crazies? And by giving them coverage, do you not encourage them?

My perception, especially as a result of these past two years, is that there are people who simply won't be told or taught. Evidence is irrelevant, no matter how widely available that evidence is. They want to believe what they want to believe.

In the BlackRock case, the Ardern story and its email is just part of a series of headlines about other stories. You have to see the headlines to believe them, or not believe them as the case may be. If you can look at those headlines and not see them for what they are, there is no helping you. It's nuttiness written by nutters.

This isn't line-ball rumour, speculation, titillation, spin, and some deception. This is straight up and down, black and white, and so obviously made it up BS it's not funny.

It would be funny if more could see it for what it is but they can't. That is the worry, and adding to the worry is the fact so many appear to be part of the group.

Mike Hosking is a New Zealand television and radio broadcaster. He currently hosts The Mike Hosking Breakfast show on NewstalkZB on weekday mornings.


11 comments:

Janine said...

According to a Google search Mike, Blackrock have shares in most major media companies and also pharmaceutical companies. I wouldn't think it would hurt for an investigative journalist to do some probing and I'm not a conspiracy theorist. Kiwis might find this much more interesting than whether a certain TV1 newsreader(his exploits probed into apparently night after night) is employable or not.

Oh wait a minute...we don't have any investigative journalists anymore.

Anonymous said...

I reckon those two theories are being peddled by the Labour spin team. It's such obvious bullshit and they can use it to backup their claims about alt-right white supremacists spreading hate speech and misinformation online. But that might be a conspiracy theory.... Speaking of which how come the Herald published the BlackRock nonsense but not the Mahuta Nepotism claims? Are the editorial constraints of the PIJF a conspiracy theory too?

DeeM said...

Mike - the problem with "conspiracy" theories is they sometimes turn out to be true, despite the best attempts of the establishment to deny them. Probably one of the greatest is Galileo's assertion that the Earth goes round the Sun. Placed under house arrest, his reputation ruined...and all because the Church saw him as a threat.

Now there are two kinds of conspiracy theories:-
- the clearly nuts ones like Man never went to the Moon and landed on it....6 times. It was all filmed in a studio and countless people were part of it although none of them ever admitted to it.
- then there are the ones which can't currently be disproved. These are the theories that need investigating properly and independently.

The World doesn't really do that last bit anymore. Our media struggle to investigate what's on their sandwich for lunch and assumes that if Google says it's true it must be.

Be very careful about dismissing alternative theories Mike, unless you have absolute proof to the contrary.

Anonymous said...

DeeM, very good reply.
It would appear Mike is a victim of his own conspiracy.

Phil said...

With the Blackrock scenario there are interesting elements even if they mean nothing. The CEO of Blackrock, Larry Fink, is also on the Board of the WEF. Jacinda Ardern is a graduate of the WEF's Young Leaders programme. The sniff test would suggest that Jacinda's meeting was more than a random company pulled out of a hat.

Anonymous said...

I think you need to be careful here . Blackrock and vanguard are companies who hold huge amounts of pharmaceutical stock - you know the one we just invested billions in. Corruption and back scratching are politician’s lives , this is no different. Trouble is main stream is too busy doing what it’s told

Anonymous said...

Wow Mike....it appears you should be doing a little more research into Blackrock & the Vanguard Group or have you never heard of "where there's smoke, there's fire" especially in politics?? Geez...it's a little distressing being called a 'conspiracy theorist' by you of all people. Don't tell me they've now got you in their pocket as well??

Anonymous said...

Conspiracy theorist was coined by the CIA after JFK was assassinated, to shut people up. The same is happening today. Mike why are they going to such great lengths to shut us up???? That might be a good place to start.

Vicki said...

Mike there is a great documentary called Monopoly the great reset, I suggest you watch it and learn some things and do your research before you start calling people conspiracy theorists! Unless you also been handed a large chunk of that dosh the govt has sent MSM way.

Anonymous said...

Hey Mike, I reckon it’s time to do a little study on Blackrock.
With your help, we can wake up the country… it’s for your benefit. Q…What’s the difference between a conspiracy theory and the truth ?
A…About 3 months.

Anonymous said...

Notice his straw man argument:
He trails off on a tangent about the Gaylord allegation, and used that to dispel “conspiracy theories” as a whole. He never actually unpacked why the BlackRock concerns are incorrect. Whether it was widely covered or not is irrelevant. The fact is most news readers would brush over the BlackRock meeting, because MSM refuses to acknowledge the concerning connections between them and Ardern, and why they’re important.