Are they looking for treasure? Conspiracy theories about men emerging from New York manholes
gazetaexpress.com
When ordinary people spot workers emerging from manholes in New York, conspiracy theories erupt — a textbook case of how pattern-seeking minds manufacture mystery where none exists.
ApopheniaProportionality BiasConspiracy Theory PsychologySocial Amplification of Risk
Theory Briefing
- Men emerging from New York manholes sparked viral conspiracy theories, with crowds speculating about hidden treasure beneath the city.
- The human brain's pattern-recognition instinct — pareidolia writ large — turns mundane utility work into perceived secret operations.
- Social media amplifies these misreadings, creating feedback loops where fringe theories gain mass credibility with zero new evidence.