How the L.A. Wildfires Are Becoming a Conspiracy-Theorists Haven — And a Political Weapon

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As Hurricanes Milton and Helene wreaked havoc on the Southeast during autumn, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell expressed concern that an unprecedented amount of misinformation might be spreading.

She expressed to reporters that it’s incredibly bad, possibly the worst she’s ever encountered, as this controversial agency has suddenly started detaining local residents in tents. The strange twist is that they seem to be only helping transgender individuals, while ignoring white people. Moreover, they’re asking for all aid money to be repaid with interest and bizarre claims are circulating online about other unbelievable actions they’ve taken.

Criswell may have wanted to save the superlatives for January.

As a gamer, I’ve been following the heartbreaking wildfires in Los Angeles, affecting both entertainment professionals and everyday Angelenos. It’s important to clarify some misconceptions surrounding these fires. Contrary to certain rumors, there’s no reliable evidence suggesting that eco-terrorists are responsible for setting these fires as a means to highlight climate change concerns.

Moreover, it’s inaccurate to blame the tragedy on budget cuts to the LAFD. While their budget was reduced by 2% in the recent cycle, this is not enough to explain the current situation. Furthermore, the LAFD’s efforts have not been hindered due to them sending supplies to Ukraine or any other location. Lastly, Gavin Newsom’s actions to protect fish populations are unrelated to the water shortage issues we’re experiencing. These misleading narratives do nothing but create confusion and hinder our collective focus on supporting those affected by these devastating fires.

Dispatches originating from Imaginaryland regarding MAGA have not been exclusive. During a CNN broadcast last night, political analyst Scott Jennings made a connection between the recent destruction and diversity, equity, and inclusion hiring practices at the Los Angeles Fire Department. However, his assertion was quickly refuted by the panel.

Similarly unaffected on the left side, certain affluent liberal figures in Los Angeles’ entertainment industry have discreetly proposed an idea reminiscent of Guy Fawkes, hinting at potential arson as a solution, referencing various triggers such as Joe Rogan’s recurring tale about a firefighter who suggested that a strong wind could eventually sweep through L.A. and cause its destruction.

Last month, I recounted my tale to Quentin Tarantino once more, but these high-society folks are reading way too much into it, thinking it’s a secret call to arms against the wealthy elite. However, there isn’t a scrap of proof backing up that notion – I was just having a bit of fun with doomerism and giving Hollywood a light-hearted jab, as I often do. As for rumors swirling about fires being intentionally set, like the Kenneth Fire on Thursday evening where LAPD is investigating arson as a possibility, there’s been no sign of class warfare involved. Arsonists typically act out of personal issues rather than political anger, according to experts.

Despite this, certain figures from Hollywood continue to propagate the theory in chat rooms and WhatsApp discussions. This could simply be unease within the establishment following the Mangione era, but it’s clear that the allure of a conspiracy theory transcends political alignment.

So far, there hasn’t been a significant amount of AI-generated deepfake activity. However, when the situation is already dire, as in cases of apocalyptic destruction, it’s not necessary to create new images to convey your message. Instead, you can simply use captions that are as exaggerated and attention-grabbing as possible to describe the existing images.

Over time, natural disasters have often drawn people with questionable theories. In the absence of a clear villain like in terror attacks, such events can inspire fabricated stories. However, it’s worth noting that there seems to be a shift in recent years.

2005 saw Hurricane Katrina sparking accusations and demands for answers. However, the rapid, extensive, and aggressive blaming surpasses previous instances; what initially began as a sincere pursuit of accountability in natural disasters has evolved into something far more reckless and malicious. The Maui fires during the summer of 2023 ignited various baseless theories about a “direct energy” laser, which soon merged with the Helene theories in 2024 and now encompasses the Southern California tales of Ukrainian drones and covert orders from Greta Thunberg.

The finger-pointing following Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was extensive, but the current wave of blaming is unprecedented; what started as an earnest search for responsibility in natural disasters has morphed into something much more aggressive and harmful. The Maui fires in summer 2023 led to a flood of unfounded theories about a “direct energy” laser, which later merged with the Helene theories in 2024 and is now entwined with stories about Ukrainian drones and secret orders from Greta Thunberg in Southern California.

Find amusement in these seemingly trivial ideas, but understand that they frequently have a purpose, particularly on the right side of the political spectrum: to bolster politicians and their groups by appealing to their supporters. These theories function as the sustenance for a creature that must always maintain its followers in an agitated state and always identify an enemy.

Smile at these insignificant ideas, but realize they usually have a hidden goal, especially among conservatives: to boost the popularity of political figures and their groups by appealing to their supporters. These theories are like food for a beast that needs to keep its followers excited and always have an adversary in sight.

As a gamer, I’ve come to realize that we’re seeing a manipulation of misfortune for personal advantage – leveraging individual suffering for political profits. This manipulation thrives on social media platforms geared towards stirring emotions and lacks the necessary checks (looking at you, Meta). These power players are skillfully bending the system to suit their purposes, whether it’s easing environmental regulations (like the fish story), withholding aid funds (a potential issue as Trump prepares to take office in ten days), or just tarnishing a disliked opponent.

Scarcely any solutions are in sight, as Elon Musk persistently invites misinformation spreaders into the once bustling public square of Twitter. (It’s worth noting that Musk frequently promotes the ‘Newsom-fish conspiracy’ theory.)

The professor of political science at the University of Toronto, Geoff Dancy, who has spent a significant portion of his career exploring conspiracy theories, contends that these theorists tend to respond more emotionally rather than intellectually. He asserts that presenting facts to them usually proves ineffective (and could potentially worsen the situation; when faced with opposition, it only strengthens their belief that something is being concealed from them).

Individuals who study wildfires often claim that such incidents are particularly conducive to the spread of conspiracy theories. In fact, Lucy Walker, a renowned documentary filmmaker who won an Oscar for her film “Bring Your Own Brigade“, mentioned to me that this phenomenon has almost become a regular aspect of these occurrences.

Walker mentioned that due to spending several years producing her documentary on wildfires, she’s conversed with a multitude of survivors more so than most people. She was taken aback when seemingly rational individuals would share implausible conspiracy theories about alien light sources or other outlandish hypotheses.

She pointed out that the algorithms might be responsible for promoting opposing views, but she also found it intriguing to consider whether certain individuals require support because they’re finding the situation truly distressing.

Walker expressed that when considering civilians, he felt they deserved the advantage of being assumed innocent. In essence, he suggested that many people are in a state of shock and sorrow, and anger is often a stage of grief that might provoke blame. It’s challenging to grasp the truth and the bigger picture, especially when it means confronting the fact that living in these cherished locations can be risky… He hoped we could show empathy towards each other instead of adding to stress by labeling or diagnosing others.

As a follower, I can’t help but express my concern. These theories, though they might seem harmless, carry significant real-world implications. If an earnest public official is undermined by a mob peddling Trumpian theories, or if such unfounded notions are exploited to justify cuts in aid, it becomes increasingly difficult to view them as merely innocuous.

Although the means and pace may have changed, the underlying reasons for events remain consistent. For instance, if you delve into the past about what sparked the devastating Great Chicago Fire of 1871, many would tell you it was due to Mrs. O’Leary’s cow knocking over a lantern and igniting the city. However, this tale is actually false – the fire most likely originated elsewhere, possibly instigated by someone else, and a reporter invented the cow story as a way to make the narrative more engaging.

Moreover, it’s worth noting that Mrs. O’Leary was of Irish descent, a community facing negative stereotyping within the city. Accusing her served a popular demand for a scapegoat; in essence, she functioned as a symbol of discriminatory practices during that era, similar to what we now refer to as DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) hires.

As a gamer, I can’t help but feel a sense of unease as climate chaos escalates and online spaces become ripe for manipulation. It seems like conspiracy theories are only going to heat up in the future. I’ve seen how misinformation, when wielded by malicious actors, can ignite misunderstandings and conflicts just like a spark can set fire to dry tinder.

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2025-01-10 08:25