Tell me, Sam, do you think Neil Armstrong really landed on the Moon in 1969? I mean, that must be fake news! And who shot JFK? Surely the CIA were involved? Unless it was the giant lizards controlling the government!
Oh dear! It looks like reading online conspiracies has sent Neil down the rabbit hole – an expression used to describe a situation which seems interesting and uncomplicated at first but ends up becoming strange, confusing and hard to escape from. Luckily in this programme we’ll be hearing some advice on how to talk to people who’ve become convinced by online conspiracies.
It seems that during times of crisis, as people feel uncertain and fearful, they actively look for information to feel more secure.
似乎在危机时期，当人们感到不确定和恐惧时，他们会积极寻找信息以感到更安全。
Sam(山姆)
Nowadays this information is often found online, and while there are reliable facts out there, there’s also a lot of misinformation.
如今，这些信息经常在网上找到，虽然那里有可靠的事实，但也有很多错误信息。
Neil(尼尔)
Somebody who’s the target of many conspiracy theories is Microsoft’s Bill Gates and our BBC fact checkers have been busy debunking - or exposing – some of the more bizarre accusations made against him. But what strange behaviour has Bill Gates been accused of recently? That’s my quiz question for today. Is it: a) being a member of the XXX Communist Party?; b) being an alien lizard? or, c) being involved in the assassination of JFK?
They all sounds pretty silly to me but I’ll guess b) being an alien lizard.
对我来说，它们听起来都很傻，但我猜 b） 是一只外星蜥蜴。
Neil(尼尔)
OK, Sam, if you say so! We’ll find out the answer later. Now, I’m not the only one who’s been doing some internet research. Ever since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic there’s been an avalanche of online conspiracies linking Bill Gates to the coronavirus. Here’s Marianna Spring, presenter of BBC World Service programme, Trending, to tell us more:
好吧，山姆，如果你这么说的话！我们稍后会找到答案。现在，我不是唯一一个一直在做一些互联网研究的人。自 Covid 大流行爆发以来，将比尔盖茨与冠状病毒联系起来的在线阴谋层出不穷。以下是 BBC 世界服务节目 Trending 的主持人 Marianna Spring 告诉我们更多信息：
Marianna Spring(玛丽安娜·斯普林)
The Microsoft founder is a rich and powerful person and he’s funded research into vaccines – that’s why he’s become a target. Some of the claims are bonkers – that he wants to use the virus as a pretext to microchip everyone in the world. Others say a vaccine would actually kill people rather than save their lives. These ideas are without any evidence. We should treat them with the disdain they deserve.
Some conspiracies claim that Bill Gates wants to implant microchips in people and that he’s using the coronavirus as a pretext - a pretend reason for doing something that is used to hide the real reason.
Claims like these are described as bonkers – an informal way to say silly, stupid or crazy, and should therefore be treated with disdain - disliking something because you feel it does not deserve your attention or respect.
But while you might not believe such bonkers theories yourself, it’s not hard to see how people looking for answers can get sucked down online rabbit holes.
但是，虽然你自己可能不相信这种疯狂的理论，但不难看出寻找答案的人是如何被吸进在线兔子洞的。
Neil(尼尔)
So how would you deal some someone spreading baseless conspiracies about Covid vaccines or Bill Gates? The BBC’s Trending programme spoke to Dr Jovan Byford, senior psychology lecturer with the Open University, about it.
He thinks it’s important to separate the conspiracy from the theorist. The former, the belief, we have to dismiss, but the latter, the person, is more complex.
他认为将阴谋与理论家区分开来很重要。前者，信念，我们必须摒弃，但后者，人，更复杂。
Neil(尼尔)
Here’s BBC Trending's presenter, Marianna Spring, again to sum up Dr Byford’s advice:
以下是 BBC Trending 的主持人 Marianna Spring 再次总结 Byford 博士的建议：
Marianna Spring(玛丽安娜·斯普林)
How do you talk to someone who’s at risk of being sucked into the rabbit hole? First, establish a basis of understanding. Approach them on their own terms and avoid sweeping dismissals or saying, “you’re wrong!”. Try not to judge. And try to get to the bottom of the often legitimate concern at the heart of the conspiracy. Present them with facts and research. Try to do this neutrally. You can’t force anyone to change their mind but you can make sure they have valid information.
While some conspiracies may be harmless, others are more dangerous. People thinking that vaccines will kill them might worsen the coronavirus situation worldwide, so we need to get to the bottom of these claims - discover the real but sometimes hidden reason why something happens.
A good way to engage people in discussion is to avoid sweeping claims or statements - speaking or writing about things in a way that is too general and does not carefully consider all the relevant facts.
And by doing so calmly and neutrally you might persuade them to reconsider the funny business Bill Gates is supposedly involved with.
通过冷静和中立地这样做，你可能会说服他们重新考虑比尔盖茨应该参与的有趣业务。
Neil(尼尔)
Ah yes, you mean our quiz question. I ask you what Bill Gates has recently been accused of by conspiracy theorists.
啊，是的，你是说我们的测验问题。我问你比尔盖茨最近被阴谋论者指控了什么。
Sam(山姆)
And I said b) being an alien lizard. But thinking about it now, that seems pretty unlikely!
我说b）是一只外星蜥蜴。但现在想想，这似乎不太可能！
Neil(尼尔)
In fact the answer was a) being a member of the XXX Communist Party.
事实上，答案是a）是共产党员。
Sam(山姆)
OK. So today we’ve been hearing advice on how to deal with online conspiracy theories, some of which are totally bonkers – silly, stupid and crazy - or involve a complicated pretext – a pretend reason used to hide someone’s true motivation.
These can be treated with disdain – dislike because they are unworthy of our attention or respect.
这些可以被蔑视 —— 不喜欢，因为它们不值得我们关注或尊重。
Sam(山姆)
But with so many conspiracies online, it’s easy to get lost down the rabbit hole – intrigued by a situation which seems interesting but ends up confusing and hard to escape from.
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