Birds Aren't Real Founder Fights Misinformation With More Misinformation

After seeing the hatred among protesters at a large event, Peter Macadoo decided to create his own movement ... by holding up a sign that read: "Birds Aren't Real." When asked by people what he meant, he described his fabricated conspiracy theory about how 50 years ago the U.S. government committed "birdicide" by killing all the birds and replacing them all with government surveillance drones. His movement went viral, as people shared his absurdity on social media.

Some ridiculed his campaign, seeing him as merely another weird conspiracy theorist. Others celebrated him as the creator of a clever campaign to combat misinformation with more misinformation. In a rare interview, he breaks character to share an interesting insight about why conspiracy theories are so appealing for so many:

"I think that by becoming a conspiracy theorist or getting into that world, you reposition yourself in your mind from the victim to the hero."

If he's right, the saddest reality right now is just how many people want to see themselves as that hero, despite any facts or evidence that indicates their beliefs might be based on misinformation.