He thinks Covid is not real...amongst other conspiracies. To continue or cease talking? (dates, guy)

[Illyxo]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

I actually agree with him on some of those things. The problem with conspiracy theories is a lot of them are true. But a lot of times disinfirmation is deliberately mixed into them to discredit the people who talk about them. People are kind of lazy and like to think in black-or-white, all-or-nothing terms (including the conspiracy theorists). And the powers that be know this. So drawing attention to the misleading and craziest conspiracy theories is their way of getting people to ignore all of them.

In any case, I do think Covid is real. But the supression of cheap and effective drugs to prevent/treat it from being used (such as ivermectin) and censoring people who talk about it is an example of a real conspiracy that is playing out right under our noses.

That said, it sounds like he is pretty far out there compared to your life philosophy. I personally don't think a lot of aspects of his life philosophy are workable (i.e. anarchism) in the same way that I don't think communism is workable. But I'm not going to convince any communists (or far left socialists) or anarchists of that. If you are too far apart on life philosophy, chemistry isn't going to carry you, and the relationship won't work.

Yeah I can somehow see/understand your points,
My mum is refusing the vaccine herself...

For me however the fact that he does not even believe that Covid exists (what has explained the hoardes of people dying on ventilators? the extra deaths worldwide?) is just so illogical and far fetched that I worry about his logic when it comes to other things. Thinking that (in every country in the world) doctors, nurses, paramedics, pathologists, governments, businesses, people who were sick/died and had loved ones die, are somehow all conspiring on one big scam is just sorry to say, ludicrous.

[Illyxo]

Havent thought of it in this way...thanks for the insight! Very well could be.

[jbgusa]

Originally Posted by Illyxo

At the same time, he is a nice guy and we have good chemistry.

What has been your experience dating people who hold conspirational beliefs?

Set boundaries. Ask him to limit those kinds of discussions; you have only so much interest.

[mlj1225]

Originally Posted by Illyxo

Yeah I can somehow see/understand your points,
My mum is refusing the vaccine herself...

For me however the fact that he does not even believe that Covid exists (what has explained the hoardes of people dying on ventilators? the extra deaths worldwide?) is just so illogical and far fetched that I worry about his logic when it comes to other things. Thinking that (in every country in the world) doctors, nurses, paramedics, pathologists, governments, businesses, people who were sick/died and had loved ones die, are somehow all conspiring on one big scam is just sorry to say, ludicrous.

If his beliefs and values do not align with yours, why continue seeing him? Sounds like a set up for failure to me.

[johngolf]

Originally Posted by E-Twist

Drop him. There's no point in getting involved with someone that is so nutty. It might be interesting and even amusing at first, but eventually you will be gritting your teeth and wanting to tell him to get his head out of his tushie. As for meeting your family and friends.....your parents will worry and your friends will be laughing all over the place. Not that your friends should be the deciding factor. That should be his paranoia. Run! Hide!

I agree. Run fast and far away from him.

[Sonic_Spork]

The issue I've come to realize with conspiracy theorists, is that it does not stop at these particular things. There might be some schizo paranoia stuff there (as shelato mentioned) or they might just be gullible and easily persuaded to believe anything that vibes with what they want to hear in the moment. I've met multiple conspiracy nuts who were easily sucked into scams and taken for a lot of money. And, too, any time you have a conflict, they will stubbornly believe anything they've latched onto before they will believe the truth from you, especially if you cannot "prove" it.

So if they have a moment of insecurity that one day you could not meet up with them because a relative was having a crisis or you were sick or you had to work late or whatever, or if you had to stop and get some shopping done on the way home from work and they totaled up the minutes your commute should have taken and you did not answer a call, if basically life happened, but they got the idea into their head that you may be cheating, just because they are insecure and paranoid... Well you had better have some receipts or security cam footage or HARD EVIDENCE to prove that you were not. If you can't prove otherwise, you'll never convince them. Sometimes even if you can, it becomes just more evidence of an elaborate PLOT to do them wrong.

It's just way too easy for people with this mentality to turn on you in weird ways.

I've dealt with it before and I will never deal with it again.

[D217]

Originally Posted by Illyxo

Talking to a 36yo old man who works as a karate instructor but has a degree.
The other night he begged me not to get the second dose of the pfizer vaccine (I am autoimmune and at risk of Covid) because it was harmful. I understand people who are vaccine hesitant...but he also said Covid does not exist - people are presenting with symptoms that they are calling 'Covid.' He also has other bizarre views - aliens, new world order, the government plotting against us (we live in Australia), capitalism (we should be free to do what we want instead of working), encouraging anarchist ways of living, etc. On facebook, he posts a lot of rants about these things and when he provides a source, it is a study done by ONE person or dodgy looking news site, etc. The people on his facebook seem to find him annoying - often telling him to 'find a real job' and stop being a keyboard warrior.

I respect differnces of opinion - but can a relationship with someone like this ever work? Especially when you think differently, and your peer group (friends, family) hold similar beliefs to you?

I keep having images of introducing him to my family and my parents being like, congratulations, you have found yourself an idiot.

At the same time, he is a nice guy and we have good chemistry.

What has been your experience dating people who hold conspirational beliefs?

Pffffff. What a poser. Doesn't he know about Zuckerborg's facebook agenda??? HELLOOOOO??????

[Sand&Salt]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

I say go for it. What could possibly go wrong? LOL

LOL. If OP could keep a safe distance, might be good for entertainment. Not long-term though....that stuff gets boring.

[flynavyj]

Originally Posted by herenow1

Just change the subject when he talks about conspiracy theories and when he does don't say anything. If you get the vaccine don't tell him. I have friends that have conspiracy theories such as covid is fake and the vaccines cause more harm than good, like that and when the subject comes up I try to change the topic or ignore the topic. If they send me conspiracy links I just ignore it.

I get doing the "change the subject" with a friend - but WTF would anyone want to be in a romantic relationship with someone who's polar opposite - willing to accept far sided conspiracies - and generally creates an environment you deem not only unsafe, but unintelligent. Run girl!

A good friend of mine went off on a wild tangent about covid, vaccines, etc....he urged me not to get it...then started supporting his stance with math....his math was wrong....INSANELY wrong, and comically simple to find the error...after attempting to convince him of his mathematical mistake for an hour, i finally just left it with "you're not as smart as I thought you were"...him and I have reconciled over it, but the truth is, he's got some issues he needs to work out...helps him that his wife is in the exact same boat regarding her political stances and happiness to remain within a conspiracy...end result, your boyfriend (OP) needs to meet a person like THAT.

Don't try to "save him" from himself....but definitely don't get further involved if you can avoid it!

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by Seija

I think those images of what your parents would say to you are really your subconscious sending you a message.

Ooo, that was good.