Dr Peter Moore: When playing the conspiracy card may be the easy way out

Last week I wrote about a survey which suggested that female junior doctors are regularly 'groped' at work. This week I am looking at the sexual allegations against Russell Brand which he strenuously denies. If I am going to write about sexual scandals every week, should I have written for the News of the World?
I still believe that everyone is innocent until proven guilty and that the onus of proof lies with the person making the allegations. I do not like trial by media, but the Russell Brand story is not just an internet rumour. The allegations are based on four years of research by top journalists at The Times, The Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches. Every allegation has been carefully looked into and in every case there is corroborating evidence. Also the story has been crawled over by the journalist’s lawyers.
Russell Brand’s response was to deny the whole story. That is his right. He claimed that every sexual encounter was consensual. But rather than producing evidence he has turned it into a conspiracy. He claims that the 'mainstream media' do not like his independence of thought and are trying to suppress his views. He may not be allowed on the BBC and one episode of QI has been removed from iPlayer, but he is making his conspiratorial theories clear on Rumble, a more radical type of YouTube. He has also been supported on GB News. Many younger people are more likely to be watching his conspiracy theories than debates on the BBC, ITV or Sky. This is a page out of Donald Trump’s playbook. Every serious charge levelled against Trump is met with his supporters arguing that this is all a conspiracy to stop him returning to the White House.
The advantage of playing the conspiracy card rather that refuting the evidence is not only that it is easier but it also plays on emotion rather than logic. Emotion will always trump logic (no pun intended). This is deep in our psyche. As hunter gatherers if we heard a rustle in the bushes it was safer to listen to our emotions telling us this is dangerous than use logic. By the time early man or woman worked out what are the statistical chances of it being a sabre-toothed tiger they might be eaten.
Why do so many people believe illogical conspiracy theories with no evidence? Today over 46 per cent of school leavers go on to university. Surely whatever course is studied all students should learn one basic skill, critical reading. Are students involved in debating societies? It is a good experience to present your views in a debate and listen to the other side.
When looking at any evidence, whether in an academic paper, a popular newspaper or online, students need to ask a few simple questions. Who wrote this piece and did they have another agenda? Where is the evidence to back it up? Are there any other pieces reviewing the evidence? Also, be aware of your own prejudices. Is your opposition to an idea evidence based or is it just that it conflicts with your existing view? Is the person putting forward the idea representing a political party which you dislike. Some people might disagree that Torbay is on the coast if it was claimed by a politician from the other side.
When told that there is some massive conspiracy trying to undermine Russell Brand or Donald Trump anyone with a university education should be able to look at the claims objectively. Who is making these claims? Where is the evidence?
If Rishi Sunak’s idea of everyone having a broader education until 18 is implemented one useful skill would be to teach how to critically evaluate anything you see or read. But then what would I know? I write in the terrible establishment mainstream media.