Why are people so threatened by conspiracy theories?

[Hugo Chavez]

I've always thought it was fun to research and find what theory is bogus and what theory has merit.  I also enjoy coming up with my own theories.  I think this is just basic human nature, seeking the truth.  Yes I do know that there are a lot of conspiracy theories that are complete bullshit, but there are also some that are on to something legit.  Sure there are some nuts willing to pass on and accept every theory put out.  Why are people so persistent in accepting the given story and so unwilling to entertain other possible courses?  I really think if the major attitude of society is to accept the given story and anybody who questions it is nuts, it's a free pass for wrongdoing on the highest levels.  Why don't people just take it serious and say, wait, let's do some research and see if there is something here?  Instead there is a great number of people that become instantly hostile the moment you cross the official story...  Really?  I mean, Really?  It upsets you so much that someone dares question?  What gives?

[240 is Back]

1) Many ppl will look at which political party is behind a CT, or hurt by it, before subscribing or giving it any merit.  When they say "Sure, I think Bush flooded new orleans!" or some other silly shit, it's because they don't like Bush.  These ppl suck.

2) Others believe the whole world is out to get them, and that some men in suits in some mountain lair are plotting on a world takeover.  Everything from the price of eggs to the shape of clouds is because some evil dude planned it that way.  These people are loons.

3) Some people believe everything FOX news or msn tells them, and feel that profit would never come before human life in the real world.  These folks are naive and just plain stupid.

4) Some people know there is some shady shit that will always go on, and they are fascinated by it but don't let it ruin their day.  You made a quote recently that spoke volumes - what was it?  For a couple hundred dollars, some people will kill a person.  For a couple thousand... etc etc?

[Hugo Chavez]

4) Some people know there is some shady shit that will always go on, and they are fascinated by it but don't let it ruin their day.  You made a quote recently that spoke volumes - what was it?  For a couple hundred dollars, some people will kill a person.  For a couple thousand... etc etc?

cool, I'm quote worthy

"People kill for lousy hundreds of dollars, some engage in conspiracy for thousands of dollars and we all know the lengths some go to for millions of dollars, even their own family is not off limits then.  I'm supposed to look the other way when billions are on the line?"--Hugo Chavez  

[240 is Back]

"People kill for lousy hundreds of dollars, some engage in conspiracy for thousands of dollars and we all know the lengths some go to for millions of dollars, even their own family is not off limits then.  I'm supposed to look the other way when billions are on the line?"--Hugo Chavez 

yeah, that's some true stuff right there. 

[The Showstoppa]

You guys are right.  Most people base it on which party/politician/belief they have as to whether or not it's acceptable. 

I usually base a lot of mine on the scale of it.  Covering something up when it would take hundreds, or thousands, of co-conspirators, without any credible leaks is extremely hard to do.  Not saying it could never happen, but the more people involved it would take to pull it off, the odds go way down.

[Soul Crusher]

You guys are right.  Most people base it on which party/politician/belief they have as to whether or not it's acceptable. 

I usually base a lot of mine on the scale of it.  Covering something up when it would take hundreds, or thousands, of co-conspirators, without any credible leaks is extremely hard to do.  Not saying it could never happen, but the more people involved it would take to pull it off, the odds go way down.

I think the obvious things that are right in our faces every day are far far worse than any CT's I have heard lately. 

[Hedgehog]

Good thread Hugo.


My problem with the Truth movement is that it is very similar to a religious sect.

Anything that would undermine their own version of the "truth" is blatantly disregarded.

But to the actual question. Why do some people, myself included, feel threatened by the conspiracy theorists?

Well Hugo.

Because it's just like back in Germany in the 30's, or when religious mad men tries to take control over education in school.

In all those cases, beliefs would dictate facts.

Hugo, imagine yourself how it would be with a congress filled with people who believe some Jewish family (Rothschilds) is plotting to control the world.

Or a president. 

"Mr CIA Director, I want you to investigate the options for how to take care of the Rothschild problem" 


Yeah. That would be real brilliant.

Or in the state of the union speech:

"I pledge to the US people that we will get to the bottom of this Illuminati thing. We will go after them at any cost. Anyone protecting them is considered an enemy of the USA"

So yeah. I think conspiracy theorists are potentially dangerous.

They're potentially anti-democratic.

I think you can see the pattern of extremism in these groups, be it right-wing or left-wing.


But I think it's also important to discuss why these types of groups occur.

I believe it is due to a lack of faith in the current political establishment.

[The Showstoppa]

I think the obvious things that are right in our faces every day are far far worse than any CT's I have heard lately. 

Very true.  I think people get excited about the "big" CT's.....but it's the everyday stuff that has a much larger impact on their lives.  Yet, they don't want to bother with those.

[Soul Crusher]

Very true.  I think people get excited about the "big" CT's.....but it's the everyday stuff that has a much larger impact on their lives.  Yet, they don't want to bother with those.

Serious, I post things about some of the bills coming down the pike and a few posters get the reality of it. 

However, someone, who I will not name, posts about Palins' baby,. and all of a sudden its a feeding frenzy of axctivity. 

I post about how legislation will mandate you retro-fit your home at your own cost, and nothing. 

I post about GS and how it will make hundreds of billions on a new derivative market literally created out of thin air where we will all get fucked, and nothing.

Its incredible. 

[Hedgehog]

Serious, I post things about some of the bills coming down the pike and a few posters get the reality of it. 

However, someone, who I will not name, posts about Palins' baby,. and all of a sudden its a feeding frenzy of axctivity. 

I post about how legislation will mandate you retro-fit your home at your own cost, and nothing. 

I post about GS and how it will make hundreds of billions on a new derivative market literally created out of thin air where we will all get fucked, and nothing.

Its incredible. 

You know what?

If you would spin it with some theory about how there is a secret society trying to push an agenda, I'm sure you would have more luck in getting responses.

Instead of just pointing out that there is corruption and greed in general.

I'm serious.

Eg, nano technology science and breakthroughs in that area can be spinned into government "potentially" injecting controlling chips at birth.

Or when there is an actual breakout of the swine flu in Ukraine, the "Truthers" will disregard any information that points in that direction, but instead speculate that it all was planted there - by some corporation. Or government. Or whatever.


And sure. That's much more interesting to discuss than actual political issues.

Such as bank bailouts, unemployment rates, et al.



Some guys take the time to address the truth movement. David Aaronovitch of the Times in UK, eg.

[Soul Crusher]

No kidding Hedge.  I post things from mostly very reputable sources.  Sometimes I post things from wacky sources, but not most of the times. 

The things I see happening right out in the open are shocking to anyone with a clue.  Sadly, most people are clueless and buy into the MSM nonsense.

As far as the 9/11 stuff goes, i have no doubt that some might weant to do it etc, but at least present some credible facts and theories that at least hold up to an ounce of scrutiny and common sense. 

[Hugo Chavez]

Amazing Hedge, I've been called a lot of things for believing a few theories but this is a first being compared to a Nazi.  go check out the abovetopsecret forum.  you'll see many threads were both skeptic and theorist debate in a civilized way.  People that saw problems with my own material on JFK were actually very helpfull and i along with others DO listen to skeptics.  I'm thrilled as hell when skeptics take you serious enough to talk it out without resorting to sarcastic condemnation.

Hedge, you know how Nazis point to what some Jews do and paint it as a universal truth of all Jews?  yea...

[tonymctones]

I dont think ppl are threatened by CT's but alot of CTers think there ct is the truth...this is what gets me, you have idiots running around thinking bush planned 9/11, aliens are running around willy nilly abducting ppl etc etc...

its fine to be open to new different ideas and ish but dont go posting some idiotic shit off youtube and saying its truth.

not to pick on 240 but his nat enq and dailykos bs with palin and her baby is a prime example...

[Soul Crusher]

I dont think ppl are threatened by CT's but alot of CTers think there ct is the truth...this is what gets me, you have idiots running around thinking bush planned 9/11, aliens are running around willy nilly abducting ppl etc etc...

its fine to be open to new different ideas and ish but dont go posting some idiotic shit off youtube and saying its truth.

not to pick on 240 but his nat enq and dailykos bs with palin and her baby is a prime example...

As far as the 9/11 CT's go, all I have asked is that the proponents put forth the best evidence they have and lets look at it. 

All i have seen circular questions, disjointed theories with no logical or relaistic cohesion, and speculation. 

Give and provide fact and we can discuss it.  Until then, its pure nonsense. 

[Fury]

I don’t think anyone is “threatened” by conspiracy theories. Which is probably because most of them are laughably stupid. Just look at how the CT’s work on this forum. You have the same four retards making threads about how everything that happens in this world is a conspiracy by the NWO or some shadowy cult aiming for world dominance. You put your left sock on first this morning? Illuminati ploy!!!

There is zero factual backing of 99% of the crap posted on here. It’s always opinion devoid of science or reason. I must have missed where Youtube became a legitimate source of information. Anyone with a computer can upload a video (as evidence by most of the CT garbage posted on there) and is the video equivalent of wikipedia. You disprove a point of their argument or ask for a study and how do most CTers react? They thump their chest while avoiding your points and instead link another shady website with nothing but unsubstantiated opinions, or like in Hugo’s case, delete the post.

Take the chemtrails for example. “I grew up in Colorado and I CAN TELL FOR 100% FACT (!!!!) that these are dangerous chemicals being sprayed on us.” Despite the fact that there are zero studies showing chemtrails to be dangerous, these people know with 100% certainty that they are, even though they personally haven’t been affected nor had any major health changes in their lives.

The Bilderberg junk is another good example. Some guy makes a website where he claims that he was an insider on the meeting and has a copy of everything said in the meeting. Some organization that is supposed to so secretive that you can't even get near them during the meeting is going to let some random guy who lives in his mother's basement get a copy of their agenda for their yearly meeting? I didn't think people were stupid enough to actually believe that junk.

How can people expect to be taken seriously when they believe aliens blew up a meteor with a laser beam as a warning to Earth? It’s just dumb.

I chalk it up to the morons like Hugo who have a hard-on for losers like Alex Jones. I also expect this post to be deleted by the dork.

[240 is Back]

As far as the 9/11 stuff goes, i have no doubt that some might weant to do it etc, but at least present some credible facts and theories that at least hold up to an ounce of scrutiny and common sense. 

at the VERY least...

we know that someone in the USA bet on those airlines' stock to drop the day before 911.  They knew something.  They were never investigated because "they werent al-quida" from the 911 report.

That's a load of shit right there.

[OzmO]

I love CT's.  I agree, i don't anyone who is "threatened" by them.  I think it's a phenomena that seemingly intelligent people can fall for the wildest CT's.  

I think a CT forum should be started.  

[OzmO]

at the VERY least...

we know that someone in the USA bet on those airlines' stock to drop the day before 911.  They knew something.  They were never investigated because "they werent al-quida" from the 911 report.

That's a load of shit right there.

240,

Who exactly bet on those stocks to drop?

[Soul Crusher]

at the VERY least...

we know that someone in the USA bet on those airlines' stock to drop the day before 911.  They knew something.  They were never investigated because "they werent al-quida" from the 911 report.

That's a load of shit right there.

Ok 240 - Like I said, lets get facts on the table and discuss them, not in a vacumm, but in full consideration of everything else.  If the theory holds up, lets look at it.  

[240 is Back]

240,

Who exactly bet on those stocks to drop?

we dunno.  it wasn't investigated because it wasn't 19 arabs.

but we know it was something like 10 and 20x higher than normal, and only on those 2 airlines. 

[OzmO]

we dunno.  it wasn't investigated because it wasn't 19 arabs.

but we know it was something like 10 and 20x higher than normal, and only on those 2 airlines. 

How do we know it was 10 or 20X higher on those 2 airlines and no one can find out who it was?

[240 is Back]

Ok 240 - Like I said, lets get facts on the table and discuss them, not in a vacumm, but in full consideration of everything else.  If the theory holds up, lets look at it.  

I disagree.

Instead of saying "There was either a vast conspiracy, or it was just 19 guys"...

Instead of that, you should investigate the ppl who made $ off trades before 911 (and by the way - they never collected the money!!!)

Don't make it a case of all or nothing.  Maybe more than 19 guys knew.  Maybe 30.  maybe 40.  If some white guys in ties were planning on making $ off the trades - then you should lock their asses up, right?  Wall street ended up getting closed, and the story breaking about the stocks scared them out of collecting, right?

So yeah, you don't try to prove some grand plan.  You prove 5 or 10 guys knew (in addition to those 19).  Then you go from there.

[240 is Back]

How do we know it was 10 or 20X higher on those 2 airlines and no one can find out who it was?

www.google.com

It's also in the 911 report, and I think it's in that 911 commission/ommission, distortion book you read.

It was never investigated because they weren't al-Q. 

And that's just weird man. 

[Skip8282]

You disprove a point of their argument or ask for a study and how do most CTers react? They thump their chest while avoiding your points and instead link another shady website with nothing but unsubstantiated opinions, or like in Hugo’s case, delete the post.

It seems to me to be the direct opposite of the thread title.  Like BF notes, question the CT'r and THEY get bent out of shape.  

[Soul Crusher]

I disagree.

Instead of saying "There was either a vast conspiracy, or it was just 19 guys"...

Instead of that, you should investigate the ppl who made $ off trades before 911 (and by the way - they never collected the money!!!)

Don't make it a case of all or nothing.  Maybe more than 19 guys knew.  Maybe 30.  maybe 40.  If some white guys in ties were planning on making $ off the trades - then you should lock their asses up, right?  Wall street ended up getting closed, and the story breaking about the stocks scared them out of collecting, right?

So yeah, you don't try to prove some grand plan.  You prove 5 or 10 guys knew (in addition to those 19).  Then you go from there.

No, because that plays the burden of proof on the person trying to debunk the theory.  

If you put forth a CT, you need to be prepared with fact, logic, motive, opportunity, and ability to carry it out.

I have never said i dont believe any CT, only that every one i have ever seen never holds up to even the most basic scrutiny or logic.

240 - you always say I know about economics, but not this.  Fine.  Give me your best evidence of a 9/11 CT and what you have to back it up.