This notion of ‘conspiracy theories’, especially as it is utilized in today’s digitalized society, is nothing more than an ongoing means and/or mechanism to silence opposition or opinion that counters the prevailing narrative, talking points, etc.
The last two years of this COVID BS is a prime example in that anything that countered the prevailing COVID narrative was labeled ‘conspiracy theories,’ ‘extremism’, ‘disinformation,’ etc. AND then was censored, blocked, banned, removed, etc.
This ongoing means and/or mechanism is primarily utilized by governments and digital social platforms that are government shills, pawns, etc. OPPOSITION to the prevailing narrative. talking points, etc. WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. And it’s moving incrementally further in that they will (and are) labeling such as ‘ideological extremism’. Case in point:
“Ideological extremism describes ideologies that challenge dominant, mainstream beliefs and values. Currently, the term tends to denote zealous opposition to liberal democratic norms, practices, and values which define the socio-political culture in Australia and other Western nations. By opposing the fundamental core of a state’s political culture, ideological extremism has the potential to erode social cohesion and liberal democracy.”
https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/empowering-enabling-and-exacerbating-extremism-the-dark-side-of-digitisation/
Good comment. Right on the money.