If there were no conspiracy theorists, would there still be conspiracies?
If there were no conspiracies, would there still be conspiracy theorists?
(What a genius word conspiracy is; first part 'cons', second part 'piracy')
If a thing or person is discredited, does that also make that thing or person disproved?
Here's some stuff allegedly crazy people have achieved in the past, having no doubt had to battle through the three stages of truth to get there.
To return to Mark Twain's quote (top) what does censorship and secrecy do other than BREED a deal more conspiracy theorists? Surely transparency and telling the truth about everything would put a stop to them.
I wonder in the 1930s if anyone raised doubts about whether Mr Hitler was a nice bloke or not, only to be silenced with 'Oh shut up with your conspiracy theories! I don't want to hear it! Look at all these lovely autobahns he's building. And look how he's smartened up the local youth club with all those new brown uniforms. You're crazy, you are!'
The fact that the term 'conspiracy theorist' has become a term of abuse is certainly an effective means of censorship and thus shutting down all further question and debate on a subject, so that the established or groupthink view is the accepted one truth.
Social media has become a case in point. An echo chamber where approval is gained by fitting in, not standing out (unless virtue signalling counts) and friends are quickly lost through any deviation from accepted views or cute animal pictures. Where there are debates trolls can be paid to debate either or both sides, almost cutting out the need for the account holder, to form a sock puppet show.
Then again, bad things only happen in Bond Films. Or in other countries without the benefit of our fine western values. Surely.
4 comments:
Neat article. That Columbus was a bit of a nutjob though. Fancy doubting that Earth is flat!
Police detectives and lawyers everywhere spend a lot of time theorising about conspiracies and many people are convicted when there is a lack of hard evidence, but their guilt is beyond reasonable doubt. Courts are not infallible though and there have been many miscarriages of justice, but without absolute proof, it's the best they can do. I see no harm or danger in drawing conclusions from the available information we have.
Thanks for your comments Bernard. I think that cons spiracy theorist will one day soon become a badge of honour rather than a term of abuse as everyone wakes up to what is really going on.
"Friends are quickly lost through any deviation from accepted views" - Yes indeed. I am finding myself cast adrift from social media "friends" and some neighbours at the moment for voicing my thoughts on our current crisis. We can't stay home indefinitely however many in my neck of the woods seem perfectly happy with the current status quo, and are not questioning it. I fear for the future my daughter and her friends are going to have to navigate.
Nice pictorial reminder of those crazy people from the past with their wild ideas.
Thanks for your insightful comment Alyson.
Not so long ago there was a public figure who brought the charity Marathon to this country, raised millions for good causes (and encouraged other people to) and his legacy lives on in charity marathons. He also saved Stoke Mandeville hospital. Sure he was an eccentric, but that was part of his appeal. Millions of us let him into our homes every Saturday night and hoped that he would fix it for us!
Are we really still so naive that we believe a public figure when they claim to be nice (just because they have raised or given away millions) without further questioning?
If they have nothing to hide, they have nothing to fear.
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