Birds Aren’t Real? How a Conspiracy Takes Flight | Peter McIndoe | TED

Summary

Peter, the leader of the satirical 'Birds Aren't Real' movement, humorously recounts his four-year journey convincing people that birds are government surveillance drones. Through rallies and fake evidence, he exposed the gullibility of the media and public, questioning our approach to conspiracy theorists. He argues for a deeper understanding of their motivations, suggesting that addressing the 'crisis of belonging' may be key to resolving the 'crisis of belief' and fostering a shared reality.

Takeaways

• 😲 Peter initiated a satirical movement called 'Birds Aren't Real', pretending that birds are actually surveillance drones.
• 🗣️ The movement aimed to expose the gullibility of people and media to conspiracy theories by creating a fake one.
• 🚐 Peter traveled across the U.S. in a van, spreading his message and gaining a following through rallies and billboards.
• 🤔 The movement successfully tricked various media outlets into reporting on 'Birds Aren't Real' as a genuine conspiracy theory.
• 😅 Peter's character was so convincing that he faced public ridicule and was often insulted for his 'beliefs'.
• 👥 The experience gave Peter insight into how people on the fringes of society are treated and the feelings of being judged and othered.
• 🌐 He argues that addressing the sense of belonging and community might be more effective in combating conspiracy theories than direct argumentation.
• 🤝 Peter suggests that focusing on empathy and understanding the underlying needs of conspiracy theorists could help bridge divides.
• 🔍 The talk highlights the importance of looking beyond the surface of beliefs to understand the human experiences and motivations behind them.
• 📢 Peter ended his talk with a call to action to focus on the 'crisis of belonging' as a way to address the 'crisis of belief'.

Q & A

What is the main claim made by Peter in the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement?

Peter claims that from 1969 through 2001, the US government killed over 12 billion birds and replaced them with surveillance drone replicas disguised as birds to spy on the American people.

How does Peter suggest that birds, which he claims are robots, charge their batteries?

Peter humorously suggests that birds charge their batteries by perching on power lines to refuel up high and watch civilians.

What is the significance of the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement according to Peter?

The 'Birds Aren't Real' movement is a satirical movement created by Peter to highlight the gullibility of the public and media to conspiracy theories, and to make a point about how people on the fringes of society are treated.

What was Peter's role in the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement in 2021?

In 2021, Peter was promoted to the public information officer for the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement, where his job was to 'deprogram' the public from the 'bird lie'.

How did Peter attempt to spread the message of the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement?

Peter bought a van, covered it in decals with 'facts', and drove from city to city holding rallies, meeting supporters, and putting up billboards to spread the message.

What was the reaction of the government and pro-bird corporations to the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement?

Peter humorously mentions that the government took note of their activities and sent 'intimidators', and they also held protests at pro-bird corporations like Twitter and CNN.

How did Peter reveal the truth about the 'Birds Aren't Real' movement?

Peter broke character in 2021 and revealed that the movement was a farce on the front page of The New York Times.

What was Peter's background that influenced his ability to play the character of a conspiracy theorist?

Peter grew up in a hyper conservative and religious community in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he was surrounded by people who believed in various conspiracy theories.

What did Peter learn from his interactions with people while in character as a conspiracy theorist?

Peter learned that people quickly judged and othered him, which made him feel emboldened, sad, and angry. He realized that this approach might push people farther away from the truth.

What is the main takeaway or message Peter wants to convey about conspiracy theorists and society's approach to them?

Peter suggests that instead of focusing on arguing about beliefs, society should address the underlying need for belonging that attracts people to conspiracy theories, and approach them with empathy and understanding.