Belief
Uscinski argues that the fixation of researchers on what causes belief is ironic: "Ironic because while belief is what researches have been most interested in, they have focused on the question what leads to belief, rather than the question, what does belief lead to." As such, he argues that researches sometimes ask the wrong questions.
Ironic conspiracy theories
Uscinski argues that many people engage with conspiracy theories in an "ironic fashion," meaning that they don't actually believe they are true but humor them.
The Irony of the Internet
The internet was a revolutionary creation, allowing people to access a wider sphere of knowledge. However, Uscinski shows how the use of the internet can lead to ignorance and to the distribution of false conspiracy theories.
The importance of conspiracy theories
In his opening paragraph, Uscinski argues that many people believe that conspiracy theories are not a big issue. However, although not seen as a threat, conspiracy theories are present in many aspects of our lives.
Political conspiracy theories
Uscinski comments on the ironic use of conspiracy theories by the Democrat party, saying "Clinton's accusations of coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign have remained salient for more than two years since they first arose, and have become a rallying cry for Democrats who feel the election was rigged against them." However, he states that this is ironic because the "Democrat elites were certain going into the election that rigging could not possibly take place."
