Yes, I am similarly dismissive of conspiracy theories in real life. When my boss said “I won’t get the vaccine because Bill Gates put in microchips” I didn’t acknowledge that as a serious discussion.
Hmm… okay, I think I get it. You’re putting me (and, presumably, anyone who says things that you already “know” to be false) in the same category as someone who thinks there are microchips in the vaccine. If you never make mistakes or are lacking information, that makes perfect sense. Since you do make mistakes sometimes and there are things you don’t know, that’s a stupid way to behave.
If you want to be treated as if the things you’re saying have value
I think this is another stupid way to behave. You can talk with someone who thinks different things than you do – whether they’re right or wrong – without being combative about it. It’s actually an important skill to have. It doesn’t mean the things they say “have value,” it just means it’s more productive to be factual and communicative than to be a dick about it and deliberately act as if they’re saying things they’re not saying so you can “win.”
you shouldn’t pop off arrogantly about how the US government regularly has people killed. They don’t.
I mean, the US government does regularly have people killed. Please don’t tell me that that’s different because they’re not Americans. What I said, though, was a little different than that; I said “powerful people in the US government.” The US government killing Americans as a matter of public policy is not unheard of (Fred Hampton), but I don’t think it happens all that often, no. I think it’s a little more likely that some individual person in a position of power might decide to commit a murder. Especially if their life is going to be ruined if they don’t. Are you saying that’s an impossible or outlandish suggestion?