Exposing the myths of conspiracy theories

[john white]

http://www.gatecreepers.com/entries/exclusive-debunking-myths-on-conspiracy-theorie/

This resource is an absolute must-check-out

The purpose of this article is to redress a number of general myths concerning so-called 'conspiracy theories', repeated by media organisations and other self-proclaimed guardians of the orthodoxy, as well as people who have been erroneously convinced that conspiracy theories are intellectual aberrations rather than the acknowledgment of a common historical and social phenomenon.

[adimon]

I don't think that all of those statements are myths - since they hold true for some people, some of the time, even on this site.

In order to banish simplification of CT views, the article has itself committed all the terrible acts of generalisation and simplification it is condemning.

I would certainly say that the below 'myths' are all things I experienced to be true, from time to time.

Before I am pounced on for my view, may I make it clear that I am making no claims about any of the individual people on this forum, nor am I saying that conspiracy theory is what we are involved with here.

# Myth #1: Conspiracy theories offer a simplistic view of how the world is run.

# Myth #5: Government conspiracy theories provide false relief from fear of real social problems

# Myth #10: Conspiracy theorists repeat their claims no matter how much they are debunked

# Myth #11: Conspiracy theories undermine confidence in the democratic system

# Myth #12: Conspiracy theories are based on faith


# Myth #15: Conspiracy theorists give themselves a false academic façade to tell half-truths

# Myth #19: Conspiracy theories blame evil actors whilst failing to address root causes

# Myth #21: Conspiracy theorists feel powerless and blame the establishment for their failures

# Myth #22: Conspiracy theories are reassuring because they give a sense of order

# Myth #23: Conspiracy theorists accuse people who disagree with them of being part of the cover-up

# Myth #24: The world is chaotic rather than conspiratorial

# Myth #26: Conspiracy theory is an 'industry'

# Myth #27: Conspiracy theorists dismiss evidence against their arguments as being part of the conspiracy

# Myth #28: There have been conspiracy theories about every major historical event

# Myth #29: Conspiracy theories are convenient to their proponents because they are impossible to prove

# Myth #30: Conspiracy theories gain acceptance because they make sense out of traumatic events by designating scapegoats

# Myth #31: People look into conspiracy theories because they bring relief to uncertainty of traumatic events by filling the void

# Myth #32: Conspiracy theorists select evidence and fix it according to predetermined conclusions

# Myth #33: Conspiracy theorists are political extremists

# Myth #34: Conspiracy theorists only look at evidence that confirms their theories

# Myth #41: Conspiracy theories ascribe too often on malice what should be blamed on incompetence

# Myth #43: People believe in conspiracies because they don't know how things work

# Myth #46: Conspiracy theories assume that big events cannot result from small causes

# Myth #47: Conspiracy theories are based on accumulation of circumstantial evidence rather than a chain of evidence

# Myth #48: Conspiracy theorists over-interpret evidence and documents

[hirschfelder]

I don't think that all of those statements are myths - since they hold true for some people, some of the time, even on this site.

In order to banish simplification of CT views, the article has itself committed all the terrible acts of generalisation and simplification it is condemning.

I would certainly say that the below 'myths' are all things I experienced to be true, from time to time.

Before I am pounced on for my view, may I make it clear that I am making no claims about any of the individual people on this forum, nor am I saying that conspiracy theory is what we are involved with here.

# Myth #1: Conspiracy theories offer a simplistic view of how the world is run.

# Myth #5: Government conspiracy theories provide false relief from fear of real social problems

# Myth #10: Conspiracy theorists repeat their claims no matter how much they are debunked

# Myth #11: Conspiracy theories undermine confidence in the democratic system

# Myth #12: Conspiracy theories are based on faith


# Myth #15: Conspiracy theorists give themselves a false academic façade to tell half-truths

# Myth #19: Conspiracy theories blame evil actors whilst failing to address root causes

# Myth #21: Conspiracy theorists feel powerless and blame the establishment for their failures

# Myth #22: Conspiracy theories are reassuring because they give a sense of order

# Myth #23: Conspiracy theorists accuse people who disagree with them of being part of the cover-up

# Myth #24: The world is chaotic rather than conspiratorial

# Myth #26: Conspiracy theory is an 'industry'

# Myth #27: Conspiracy theorists dismiss evidence against their arguments as being part of the conspiracy

# Myth #28: There have been conspiracy theories about every major historical event

# Myth #29: Conspiracy theories are convenient to their proponents because they are impossible to prove

# Myth #30: Conspiracy theories gain acceptance because they make sense out of traumatic events by designating scapegoats

# Myth #31: People look into conspiracy theories because they bring relief to uncertainty of traumatic events by filling the void

# Myth #32: Conspiracy theorists select evidence and fix it according to predetermined conclusions

# Myth #33: Conspiracy theorists are political extremists

# Myth #34: Conspiracy theorists only look at evidence that confirms their theories

# Myth #41: Conspiracy theories ascribe too often on malice what should be blamed on incompetence

# Myth #43: People believe in conspiracies because they don't know how things work

# Myth #46: Conspiracy theories assume that big events cannot result from small causes

# Myth #47: Conspiracy theories are based on accumulation of circumstantial evidence rather than a chain of evidence

# Myth #48: Conspiracy theorists over-interpret evidence and documents

I haven't had time to read the article, but looking at the list posted by Adimon, if you were to replace 'conspiracy theory' with its antonym, you could say that, from time to time at least, these statements are true

For example:

1.Conspiracy theories offer a simplistic view of how the world is run
Conventional history offers a simplistic view of how the world is run

2.Conspiracy theorists give themselves a false academic façade to tell half-truths
Conspiracy theory debunkers give themselves a false academic façade to tell half-truths

3.Conspiracy theories ascribe too often on malice what should be blamed on incompetence
Conventional history ascribes too often on incompetence what should be blamed on malice

4.People believe in conspiracies because they don't know how things work
People accept the false reality dictated to them because they don't know how things work

...and so on

[john white]

We can call em myths, we can call 'em memes, we can call them opinions, or debating positions frequently trotted out by debunkers: I don't think that particularily matters: it remains a useful resource of counter arguments to have in ones arsenal to use or ignore as one sees fit

[adimon]

I haven't had time to read the article, but looking at the list posted by Adimon, if you were to replace 'conspiracy theory' with its antonym, you could say that, from time to time at least, these statements are true

For example:

1.Conspiracy theories offer a simplistic view of how the world is run
Conventional history offers a simplistic view of how the world is run

2.Conspiracy theorists give themselves a false academic façade to tell half-truths
Conspiracy theory debunkers give themselves a false academic façade to tell half-truths

3.Conspiracy theories ascribe too often on malice what should be blamed on incompetence
Conventional history ascribes too often on incompetence what should be blamed on malice

4.People believe in conspiracies because they don't know how things work
People accept the false reality dictated to them because they don't know how things work

...and so on

Very good point hirschfelder - which is why in depth analysis is so important to us. All those that conduct this research should be thanked, and all those who blindly believe and repeat crap without doing any hard work, should know better.

[otto vollov]

Those were great tools on the link.

I'd like to add that one of the directives of Propaganda

is to give the weak and the frightened an excuse not to

do anything, but stay with the herd.

Keep em in their comfort zone. Far easier than getting off

their ever expanding backsides and doing something productive.

[hirschfelder]

Very good point hirschfelder - which is why in depth analysis is so important to us. All those that conduct this research should be thanked, and all those who blindly believe and repeat crap without doing any hard work, should know better.

And that should apply to folk on either side of the divide :)

[adimon]

And that should apply to folk on either side of the divide :)

Yes absolutely. But this forum being what it is, the divide is heavily weighted.

[john white]

Yes absolutely. But this forum being what it is, the divide is heavily weighted.

More like human learned behaviour (I'll not say nature) being what it is, and with the forum reflecting that, the perception of a divide is heavily weighted: and as long as it is percieved: it is

those who blindly believe and repeat crap without doing any hard work, should know better.

Ah! If only it was to find the Love for doing the work, eh?

[dmessick]

Great posts everyone. I never look for conspiracies though I look for the truth.