Human Extermination
Known by various names, the set of conspiracy theories surrounding the notion of large-scale organized antihumanist sentiment under the moniker of "human extermination" is something which enjoys a non-trivial amount of influence among various groups in Starweb space.
In essence, the central overarching belief of these theories is that there exists an organized effort or efforts with plans to exterminate the human species, either totally or down to the point where the comparative handful of survivors could be forced into servitude. The masterminds behind the plan(s) are usually said to be artilects and various groups of posthumans in league with each other to take over Starweb space and create a new order which they will rule. Individual artilects currently or formerly involved in government are often supposed to be among the leaders of this group, while posthuman species like altans, avens, and sphinx are held to have many supporters among their ranks, based on accusations of anti-human bias.
The other side of the coin are tales about how said evil plot is warded off by the heroic efforts of various government officials, often ones known to have leanings towards these theories. It is thus virtually certain that at least part of the driving force behind their proliferation is deliberate memetic engineering for political ends, using or creating them as tools to energize votes. Political grifters can spread these theories to garner votes and then once in office proceed to do various other things which often enrich themselves and their cronies at expense of their ostensible constituents. If taken too far, this memetic engineering can backfire, creating a feedback loop which puts "true believers" in office.
Of course, neither facet of these theories has any basis in fact. While some posthuman species are better at large-scale coordination than humans, the sheer level and perfection of secrecy required to keep a plot of this magnitude hidden to the point where only a handful of plucky online "researchers" could find it is simply impossible. That said, there do indeed exist antihumanist posthumans who believe that humans are ill-suited for advanced civilization on account of things like evolutionary drives towards greed and war, though they are a distinct minority and have never been linked to any sort of large-scale plot to exterminate humans. It is perhaps likely that the originators of these conspiracy theories consciously or unconsciously seized upon the existence of real academic and political antihumanists as fodder for the foundation of their specious ideas Instead of helping protect humanity against evil plots, these theories tend to hamper efforts to find ways around the worst tendencies of human nature.
In essence, the central overarching belief of these theories is that there exists an organized effort or efforts with plans to exterminate the human species, either totally or down to the point where the comparative handful of survivors could be forced into servitude. The masterminds behind the plan(s) are usually said to be artilects and various groups of posthumans in league with each other to take over Starweb space and create a new order which they will rule. Individual artilects currently or formerly involved in government are often supposed to be among the leaders of this group, while posthuman species like altans, avens, and sphinx are held to have many supporters among their ranks, based on accusations of anti-human bias.
The other side of the coin are tales about how said evil plot is warded off by the heroic efforts of various government officials, often ones known to have leanings towards these theories. It is thus virtually certain that at least part of the driving force behind their proliferation is deliberate memetic engineering for political ends, using or creating them as tools to energize votes. Political grifters can spread these theories to garner votes and then once in office proceed to do various other things which often enrich themselves and their cronies at expense of their ostensible constituents. If taken too far, this memetic engineering can backfire, creating a feedback loop which puts "true believers" in office.
Of course, neither facet of these theories has any basis in fact. While some posthuman species are better at large-scale coordination than humans, the sheer level and perfection of secrecy required to keep a plot of this magnitude hidden to the point where only a handful of plucky online "researchers" could find it is simply impossible. That said, there do indeed exist antihumanist posthumans who believe that humans are ill-suited for advanced civilization on account of things like evolutionary drives towards greed and war, though they are a distinct minority and have never been linked to any sort of large-scale plot to exterminate humans. It is perhaps likely that the originators of these conspiracy theories consciously or unconsciously seized upon the existence of real academic and political antihumanists as fodder for the foundation of their specious ideas Instead of helping protect humanity against evil plots, these theories tend to hamper efforts to find ways around the worst tendencies of human nature.
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