What Is a Conspiracy Theory?

Because I like to be accurate and precise when I communicate. Apparently, that is a big problem for some people.

 

Barely. And then possibly only in the sense of its power to mark you as a loon (should you buy into CTs).

 

Well said.

 

Because these theories come with implicit conspiracy (to defraud, to subterfuge, etc). They are not conventional hypotheses, because the emphasis is not on the idea, but on the motive.

 

Thanks for proving my point.

 

You are so desperate to justify the use of this term despite the fact that you cannot even define it with objective parameters. Does using this term make you feel superior to others? And that's why you don't want to let it go?

 

We can see that you're bizarrely tetchy and defensive. Should we just assume you're a Conspiracy Theorist (who doesn't like to be called nutty) and be done with it?

 

Apparently you have some problems with forum rules
So do I
But rules is rules
We are both free to leave

Not sure I agree to call it censorship, since that word implies an agenda, and I do not agree that exists
But I see your point that the policy effectively restricts free discussion,,, especially in so far as determination of what is a conspiracy theory seems subjective

I would suggest that you offer the mods a compromise...instead of moving such threads, the mods could flag the title with a warning

As you know, and I have agreed,there is no objective criteria

I am curious, what are one or two of the topics which you feel should not be moved

The thing is, this forum has an owner who is free to set rules
If we do not like the rules, we are free to leave

 

Have you heard the "facts" surrounding the flat earth claims?

Are you a flat earth believer?

Those facts sound remarkably like the ones used in the 9/11 truther conspiracies

 

You're close, but not quite.

Using Boston as an example, or Pulse, or Las Vegas, yes the bombings and shootings were real, but the details do not wash. They were real, but the events were staged by people on the inside.

And of course humans conspired to stage these events.

A good topic Ethereal, it needs to be discussed.

And the term "conspiracy theory" has been weaponized. This was covered very well by Lance deHaven-Smith in his 2013 book "Conspiracy Theory in America". More about the assassination of JFK, it also has other events covered. An excellent read if one is interested.

 

Or, those who are willfully ignorant about documentation regarding such events is, well, ignorant.

 

What do you mean the events were staged by people on the inside, regarding Boston Marathon bombing, Pulse, Las Vegas?

 

What I mean is that, for example, the Tsarnev brothers were patsies, just like James Earl Ray, Timothy McVeigh and Lee Harvey Oswald and so many others, San Bernardino included. Yes, shooting took place, people were killed etc, but the shootings were done by someone else, likely mercenary people.

 

Do you have proof it wasn't the Tsarnev brothers? Who was behind the bombings if not the Tsarnev brothers?

 

With most of these things, it is the preponderance of the evidence, the so-called Big Picture.

The brothers had been groomed/handled/whatever by the FBI for some time before this happened. The presence and photos of employees of Kraft International, military mercenaries, leads to problem. They were wearing backpacks that could easily have contained pressure cookers.

There were several examples of what could easily be "crisis actors", and a woman who was an ER doctor, Lorraine Day MD talks about this. Too many facts end up contradicting the official story. Yes, people conspired to do this.

 

So the FBI was behind the bombings? For what purpose?

 

I do not know and have not claimed that the FBI was behind the bombings. You did.

You might be right, but I have no opinion on that. I do know that the Boston FBI in the days of Whitey Bulger and others was complicit in mob crime, so it's not beyond the pale.

My point is that the official story in so many of these cases does not hold water. If one is willing to examine all the facts and evidence, in many of these cases the official story fails upon close scrutiny.

 

When documented fact is ignored or brushed aside to explain something...it becomes conspiracy theory.
When unlikely or imagined events take the place of confirmed or likely events...it becomes conspiracy theory.
When unusual and unique situations get thrown out as explanation for mundane events...it becomes conspiracy theory.
When a "Deep State" or Aliens become the primary suspect......we have crossed into conspiracy theory.
"Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence" was a phrase made popular by Carl Sagan. Its roots are much older, however, with the French mathematician Laplace stating that: "The weight of evidence for an extraordinary claim must be proportioned to its strangeness."Also, David Hume wrote in 1748: "A wise man ... proportions his belief to the evidence", and "No testimony is sufficient to establish a miracle, unless the testimony be of such a kind, that its falsehood would be more miraculous than the fact which it endeavors to establish." and Marcello Truzzi says: "An extraordinary claim requires extraordinary proof."
"

 

Then what did you mean by the brothers were handled/groomed by the FBI?
Being complicit in mob crime for kickback money is far different than bombing innocent people.

 

Sure ... but once again, it pays to consider the actual theory before drawing any conclusions. Is it absurdist (the Govt shot 58 innocent people in LV to help precipitate gun laws. Bigfoot lives in my backyard. etc etc)? Or is it quite plausible (the Govt doesn't tell us every detail of every war summit they ever attend)?

Don't get me wrong ... sometimes the nutty ideas have a little merit - not as they are, but a plausible version of the same scenario. A very good example being Las Vegas. Anyone looking at that case for any length of time and with any reasonable understanding of profiles etc, can see that there is something very wrong with the Official explanation. I absolutely do not think "Gubmit did it to take our gunnnns!" (this is the most absurd of all theories .. more absurd than Saudis etc), but I also think it's highly unlikely that the perp was an elderly, wealthy, educated white guy with no political affiliations, no 'women' issues (Incel style), or known psychoses.

 

My practice is to judge the story, not find or speculate about possible answers or scenarios.

That is, with regards to LV, I do not speculate that "the government" did it. I do not know who did it, and don't really care.

What is plain to see though, is that the story failed in a big way, and that the locals certainly appeared to be covering up facts and evidence. For example, the daughter of a friend was there, unharmed thankfully, and being a helpful citizen turned in her cell phone. When it was returned, it was completely wiped. Apparently it happened to anybody who turned in their phone. Shades of Pulse in my case.

 

That could simply be the standard response to captured images of the deaths and injuries of others (who all have loved ones to be considered). It's usual to try to reduce the proliferation of such images, out of respect for the deceased, and those left behind. There is also going to be concern about captured images potentially compromising an on-going investigation, if publicised.

I think the primary problem with that event is the perp himself. All other random theories and assertions on 'second shooters' etc, is almost certainly the Fog of War.

 

Your appeal to emotion is nice, but holds no water in analysis.

That there was a second shooter at LV was established in the first few minutes, assuming one can discern between 1 rifle firing and another rifle firing.

 

What you heard was a gun swinging around, building echos, and wind influence. There is a lot to the science of sound - how it travels and how it's perceived depending upon where you are when you hear it. Even more to the science of gunfire sound. There is absolutely no indication that there were additional shooters in LV, and the Fog of War, to people in a panic, produces phantoms. Frankly, the desire to believe in such phantoms is, to me, the appeal to emotion. Law enforcement limiting the publication of potentially problematic images is a completely reasonable action, given the circumstances.

 

Statements from ignorance are always embarrassing to read. I've been shot at a few times, and I've spent much time shooting myself.

Your claim that what I heard was a gun swinging around is false in so many ways. What did he "swing around" to shoot? The wall behind him. An ignorant statement you make.

If you really want to inform yourself, read some really well done acoustic analysis of shots fired in Las Vegas. Mike Adams did it not long after it happened.

https://www.naturalnews.com/2017-10...ce-and-range-of-second-las-vegas-shooter.html

My bet is you won't dare read the analysis by Adams.