Conspiracy theories are probably as old as humankind, and some have taken on mythical proportions – the gunman on the grassy knoll when Kennedy was shot or astronauts actually not landing on the moon.
In recent years, some have suggested that 9/11 was an inside job among U.S. officials while others maintain that Barak Obama wasn’t born in the States, disqualifying him to be president.
Many of these comments appear to be based on a suspicion towards government and often we snicker along or roll our eyes because reluctance about the government is something we all generally harbour at times, whether it’s the taxman or some new law.
But in the last little while, the whole concept of conspiracy theories has taken on a dark overtone that targets average citizens who are unfortunate victims of crime.
Specifically, 548 people were injured during the mass shooting at a Las Vegas concert. Many have undergone extensive, life-saving surgery while for most, the memories of seeing friends, loved ones and strangers gunned down will never disappear. But on top of this, they are now being traumatized all over again by Internet trolls.
Many are being described as crisis actors, including Lake Country’s Braden Matejka, who was shot in the head.
Under one image of Matejka, someone has written, “I’m a lying (expletive),” while someone else stated, “I hope you really get shot in the head.”
Matejka tried to enter into a discussion with the trolls, but it was futile and he eventually abandoned social media.
“He knows the keyboard warriors living in their grandmother’s basements have nothing better to do than victimize other people. There’s no talking to those people. They’re so gone in the thought process, there’s no reasoning with them,” said brother Brock.
And, unfortunately, Las Vegas isn’t the first time such a troubling situation has occurred.
Some people have the audacity to tell still grieving parents that their children weren’t gunned down at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in 2012.
For the life of me, I fail to understand what people think they gain by lashing out at someone who has been shot or lost a loved one? Does it give them some twisted sense of superiority or do they take pleasure in the misery of others?
I don’t know Braden Matejka, but we have common acquaintances in his hometown of Enderby, and from everything I have heard he is a well-liked, hard-working individual. He is now struggling with a concussion.
“His vision gets blurred and he has headaches, and that’s going to take time to get over,” said brother Brock.
Obviously, conspiracy theories have spiked as the Internet and social media gain an increasing hold on our lives, and the distinction between the facts and fake news become blurred.
Yes, we should question what we hear and read, and make up our own minds. But that said, never forget to be compassionate and to care for others. Very real people are hurting from very real circumstances and that should never be minimized.
