# I bet my conspiracy theorist friend $100 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 22, 2016, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388 "2016-05-22T19:16:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/41 "2016-05-24T12:54:41Z")
What do you get out of this kind of friendship where the fundamentals are at such polar opposites? ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2016, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/42 "2016-05-24T13:40:09Z")
Entertainment? ---
**Author:** ![owlfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@owlfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlfan)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/43 "2016-05-25T00:04:00Z")
We have a lot in common on the job, similar philosophy of how to do our job and similar work ethic. We are nurses and it’s good to have people that you know you can rely on. I guess that’s the glue that keeps us friends. Now I feel like kind of a bitch for posting this :(. But not so much that I won’t come back later and tell you all how it came out. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/44 "2016-05-25T00:49:30Z")
i work for a Mason. Am I doomed or saved? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/45 "2016-05-25T01:55:30Z")
The KJV thing makes her sound like someone my dad talks to. He’s the type to let people talk. But sometimes he just has to share their beliefs. He’s not worried about some conspiracy, though. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/46 "2016-05-25T04:19:54Z")
> [@Chihuahua](#): > > Wait… What? You’ve never heard of that? Most fundamentalists are literalists and where I come from in Texas, you couldn’t turn around without bumping into one. And I was also raised that way, but I’ve gone over to the dark side of liberal Christianity. I’m a heretic. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/47 "2016-05-25T14:04:11Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > If I can stop laughing long enough to type an answer, I remember exactly the same story being spread about Bush 41, Clinton and Bush 43, which means it’s _at least_ 28 years old. It’s probably older than that, but I wasn’t listening back then. > \ Thats nothing, going backwards didn’t some people want to make George Washington King? And going forwards I have already read some people worried that if Trump wins the election it will be the last presidential election in America. Much as I dislike Trump, I wonder why politicians engender so much fear among opponents. ---
**Author:** ![Chihuahua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@Chihuahua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chihuahua)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/48 "2016-05-25T14:22:37Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > You’ve never heard of that? Most fundamentalists are literalists and where I come from in Texas, you couldn’t turn around without bumping into one. And I was also raised that way, but I’ve gone over to the dark side of liberal Christianity. I’m a heretic. I was surprised because I think of conspiracy theorists and religious conservatives as being diametrically opposed. The entire premise of conspiracy theorists is that they bill themselves as free-thinking skeptics. I find it very inconsistent that a person would relentlessly question the “truth” about the government and yet not apply that same scrutiny to religion. But the more I think about it, research has already demonstrated that conspiracy theorists are not great critical thinkers or skeptics of any sort, but rather extremely gullible people who just happen to buy into a contrarian narrative. Belief in conspiracy theories stems from a need to see reason and motive behind any random event, and the larger belief that everything that happens in life must have been “caused” by someone organizing it all at a higher level. I suppose in that sense, at least, Christianity and conspiracy theorists would find some common ground. ---
**Author:** ![Tzigone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Tzigone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzigone)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/49 "2016-05-25T17:59:40Z")
> [@](#): > > The entire premise of conspiracy theorists is that they bill themselves as free-thinking skeptics. I find it very inconsistent that a person would relentlessly question the “truth” about the government and yet not apply that same scrutiny to religion. Sadly, a large number of American conspiracy theories (not all, by any means), tie the conspiracy the Antichrist (really, the Beast of Revelation), Bible Code/prophecy, and the End Times. Can’t speak as to other countries. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/50 "2016-05-25T18:25:21Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Who is holding the money? _Bumped because you didn’t answer_ To me, this isn’t real yet. Show me two crisp $100 bills on a table with some hand written agreement in some throw away imagr account and some indication of who is holding the money… or your friend is just Bloviating. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/51 "2016-05-25T19:17:19Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > _Bumped because you didn’t answer_ > > To me, this isn’t real yet. > > Show me two crisp $100 bills on a table with some hand written agreement in some throw away imagr account and some indication of who is holding the money… or your friend is just Bloviating. In my experience, a bet between friends doesn’t need the money held - if I’m betting someone I don’t know well, we may get an intermediary. Otherwise, it isn’t much of a friendship. ---
**Author:** ![owlfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@owlfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlfan)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/52 "2016-05-25T22:34:02Z")
> [@Tzigone](#): > > Sadly, a large number of American conspiracy theories (not all, by any means), tie the conspiracy the Antichrist (really, the Beast of Revelation), Bible Code/prophecy, and the End Times. Can’t speak as to other countries. This is her exactly. She is convinced that the Second Coming will be very soon, and all the conspiracy theories she believes in are pointing to it. ---
**Author:** ![owlfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@owlfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlfan)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2016, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/53 "2016-05-25T22:35:52Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > In my experience, a bet between friends doesn’t need the money held - if I’m betting someone I don’t know well, we may get an intermediary. Otherwise, it isn’t much of a friendship. No one is holding the money. We shook on it.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![owlfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@owlfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlfan)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2016, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/54 "2016-11-20T01:17:35Z")
This is an update to my post about my bet with my coworker. I don’t know how to do a link! “I have a friend who believes every whacky thing on the conspiracy theory websites. Jade Helm, chemtrails, FEMA camps, Michele Obama is really a man, Sandy Hook was a hoax, etc. Her latest Facebook post was a guy trying to prove that the earth is flat!! She now says that there will be no election this year because Obama is going to declare martial law, cancel the election, and continue to be the president. So I bet her $100 that none of that will happen. So, should I collect on election day or wait until inauguration day?” So the update is this. We agreed to wait until the inauguration to settle:) She told my cryptically that there is a lot going on that she has trying to warn us about but she is tired of trying to convince us. So I will have to update again in January. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2016, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/55 "2016-11-20T01:30:29Z")
I’m honestly surprised she hasn’t already claimed the election is invalid. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2016, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/56 "2016-11-20T01:37:29Z")
Technically I’d say that you won the bet as soon as Election Day ended, but since she agreed to postpone to Inauguration Day, it will be interesting to see if she tries to move the goalposts again after that. And you bet too little; should have upped the stakes with a couple more zeroes at the end of that sum. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2016, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/57 "2016-11-20T01:49:48Z")
I’m in the technically you won camp…not run by FEMA. There was an election; you won. I’d offer her double or nothing on whether Obama is still President on the 21st of Jan. He might be being sneaky and been lulling people to sleep with a fake election before seizing power. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2016, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/58 "2016-11-20T02:42:33Z")
> [@owlfan](#): > > She told my cryptically that there is a lot going on that she has trying to warn us about but she is tired of trying to convince us. So I will have to update again in January. The day after the inauguration, she’ll tell you that “Donald Trump” is just an android that Obama transferred his brain into and you owe her a hundred dollars. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2016, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/59 "2016-11-20T03:52:47Z")
I wish that Trump had half of Obama’s brains. I really do. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2016, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388/60 "2016-11-20T05:55:33Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I wish that Trump had half of Obama’s brains. I really do. No you don’t. Any idea how dangerous he’d be if he were smart? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-bet-my-conspiracy-theorist-friend-100/755388.md?page=4)