My dad is 78 this year. He has physical inabilities but his mind has always been real sharp. The last 8 years or so he began watching Alex Jones and other conspiracy theory political crazy things on YouTube. He became obsessed. The whole purpose of him living with me was for me to help with physical work he can't do, but geez regurgitating the utter nonsense about the Queen of England having blue blood and reptilians on the dark side of the moon was a higher priority than basic things, like throwing away nasty things before they hatch flying insects (it's great finding those surprises *sarcasm*), paying bills, etc. I literally could not speak to him about any thing, important or not, without him derailing the conversation into some crazy nonsense about space jews or the illuminati. It is incredibly frustrating. His mind is sharp because, he can regurgitate these fantasy level intricate stories with great understanding and detail. My boyfriend swears he doesn't have dementia. But when he gets mad at me because I don't believe that Hillary has clones and the Queen of England is a reptilian, then continues to badger me despite my actively trying to accomplish responsible adult tasks at that moment, I want to lose my mind and assume dementia. The other day I snapped. I told him that he needed to stop living as a victim, because that is what most of these conspiracy nonsenses instill. He looked baffled and said, then why is there so much evil if the globalists or the dark priests of the Cabal aren't doing blah blah. I told him because people are evil period. That's all. And he asked then why am I always broke if people haven't set it up that way? I told him, because of the choices I make. There are no powers that be who dictate my life. I make choices and that's it. I discovered that he has a deep sense of being a victim from being dependant on the government for SS, and feels cheated because he doesn't get much. Instead of addressing that sense of victim, he obsesses over conspiracy theories that provide evidence to back up his belief of being a victim. Anyway, he also seems to fake helplessness I've started to notice. I know it's for negative attention purposes. He used to never be this way. It's really hard for me to accept that he's not the same as he was 20 years ago. I want to spend time with him more but he badgers me with the conspiracy crap constantly. I can't tell him to stop because he ignores me and keeps talking, just tries harder to convert me to believing them too. He literally does not care that I hate it and actually laughs when I get mad and keeps going like a kid bullying someone. It makes me feel crazy. I feel so guilty, but he makes me feel crazy. I try to ignore it but he'll ramble for hours and it's so nonsensical the stuff he says that I can't handle it. Like going on and on about how Michelle Obama is a really a man and has man parts and there is all this evidence and this guy that knows said this and then there is this photo and blah blah blah. It's like when his rambling is able to be dealt with, he kicks it up a notch to something even stranger and weirder and I just can't deal and I have to snap on him and tell him to stop talking to me about this crap nonstop. I don't care. I don't want to hear it. And he keeps on and I just have to walk away. It's impossible for me to be around him almost. And I feel awful.
Vast majority of people won't spend 10 seconds listening or reading this fake news, and others get shear enjoyment out of it. It's "entertainment" and there is enough of an audience that keeps this type of media alive and well. To me, I would never listen to a show where the host said that Sandy Hook Elementary School killing was a hoax, done by actors.
What I find curious is that Alex Jones had interviewed Donald Trump, on his radio show. Maybe, or maybe not, that is why your Dad is so intertwined with listening to the show.
Wonder if reversed psychology would work on your Dad. When Dad starts on something he heard Alex say, you pipe in saying "Oh I heard that, too". Or what Jeanne had posted above. Maybe Dad will get bored telling you things you already have heard :)
It may be dementia, or something else AND dementia, but he's mentally ill.
And yes, just walk away when he rants. Don't respond. Treat the blather just like what it is; blather. Go into another room if you can, put on headphones, hum quietly to yourself. But don't respond to it. Responding gives it legitimacy.
Is he seeing a geriatrics doctor or a psychiatrist?
My favourite - happened a while ago but resurfaced recently because the same bank is in difficulties again, but at least only financial ones this time - involved the ? Chairman (head honcho, anyway) of a certain bank well-known for its belief in ethical investments, treating customers fairly, high standards of integrity blah blah blah.
Although the sad thing is that the bank belonged to a movement which really does uphold social values. But there it is.
Anyhoooooo. This chap, a lay Methodist preacher in his leisure hours, got caught bang to rights having crashed his car, because he was as high as a kite, because - it gets better and better - he had been making quite a night of it with some male prostitutes. No conspiracy theories, and comparatively little media hype given the material - I expect the tabloid reporters were wondering what the point of them was if people are just going to go around actually doing this kind of thing.
Inevitably they did re-christen the hapless banker as The Crystal Methodist.
If you can at all distract your Dad with other info or news, try that. People with OCD or ADHD often have vulnerabilities starting with feeding paranoia, which is, as others have said, a mental illness.
After reading what you wrote, all of it...I understand the frustration. It would seem that the most frustrating part is the fact he is not happy just knowing or believing, it is maybe that he is not happy unless he can convert you or make you believe!
Walking by him, I would be so tempted to be equally obnoxious and say:
"That's right, Chicken Little, the sky is falling", and keep on walking...out the door for a breath of fresh air. But, I would never.
The conspiracy person I know is fairly young and does not have dementia. He has been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. I try to be friendly with him and distract him on to other topics, but, wow, when he is on a conspiracy rampage I just have to get away from him. Poor guy. He didn't ask for this -- but I didn't either!
Others have suggested walking away when he starts up. That might help, at least a little. But I suggest something more drastic will be required. Perhaps you will need to leave, and he will have to arrange for the help he needs from an agency. This is not only because of the constant conspiracy nonsense, but also because of his bullying and his lack of concern for your feelings.
Possibly if he gets evaluated and follows a treatment plan for whatever he has things will improve enough that you can handle it without losing your own sanity.
If he is doing this just to wind you up, maybe agreeing with him would take some of the fun out of it for him. "Blue blood? Really? That would be handy if she ever has to prove she is queen. Just poke her finger and look at the color of the blood!" "She's a man, huh? Do you suppose that her husband is gay? Hmm ... well for a man, she sure had good taste in clothes." Don't argue, but make light of it all.
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