How conspiracy theories do damage

[WiccanLiberal]

The article is somewhat lengthy. It involves a specific theory about a specific event. It addresses how the promulgation of a conspiracy theory can hurt individuals closest to the actual events. Take the time to read the whole thing and what it has to say about how conspiracy becomes the answer for some.
What Do You Say to a Roanoke Truther?

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/09/13/what-do-you-say-to-a-roanoke-truther.html?via=desktop&source=facebook
Chris was the boyfriend of Alison Parker, who was shot and killed on live television in August by a mentally ill man who had an invented grudge and easy access to firearms.
Chris is a friend from college. Chris and I hosted a radio show together.
Or, according to millions of conspiracy theorists online, Chris Hurst is a part of my imagination.
In the minds—and YouTube videos—of some conspiracy theorists, Chris is not a news anchor at WDBJ in Virginia. Chris, the videos say, is a “crisis actor" invented less than a month ago by the United States government as part of a false flag operation that will eventually allow the New World Order to take away every American citizen’s guns and force them into a life of subjugation and tyranny.

[Voted4Reagan]

I hate Truthers... especially 9-11 Truthers.

They are weak minded and use the deaths of people to advance their crackpot agendas.

I was at Ground Zero on 9-11-2001... WiccanLiberal can confirm it.

But people tell me WHAT I SAW didnt happen....

Are they total ass wipes or just mentally defective?

Go raise your false flags elsewhere..... ASSHOLES!

[revelarts]

How lumping everyone into the the same pot does damage.
...
....How blanket accusations and group think does damage....
...
How not being able to factually refute evidence in a way that's honest and convincing does damage...
...
How name calling and knee jerk dismissive reactions does damage...

How using strawmen does damage....

[Gunny]

How lumping everyone into the the same pot does damage.
...
....How blanket accusations and group think does damage....
...
How not being able to factually refute evidence in a way that's honest and convincing does damage...
...
How name calling and knee jerk dismissive reactions does damage...

How using strawmen does damage....

Says the scarecrow. You got more crackpot ideas than most and more strawmen and red herrings as well. And I get called paranoid. At least my paranoia is based on reality.

You know how many people it would take to carry out ANY of the most popular conspiracy theories? JFK and 9/11? More than anyone is going to keep their damned mouths shut. Somebody'd be selling out to Newsweek ASAP.

Oswald shot Kennedy and ANY Marine I know could make that shot. We START on the range further away than that shot was made from.

9/11 was due to lack of sharing information, and our refusal to accuse someone of what they're going to do. Our entire law system is based on solving shit after you're dead.

Point is, there's a logical explanation for EVERY event and people like you try to make it something more than what it is. It's why y'all spaz's are all over the place. So busy not seeing the forest for the trees.

I'm waiting on wiccan to ride up on her broom and cast a spell on me and turn me into a toad because I'm some demon and other crap like that. I mean, really .....

[Gunny]

I hate Truthers... especially 9-11 Truthers.

They are weak minded and use the deaths of people to advance their crackpot agendas.

I was at Ground Zero on 9-11-2001... WiccanLiberal can confirm it.

But people tell me WHAT I SAW didnt happen....

Are they total ass wipes or just mentally defective?

Go raise your false flags elsewhere..... ASSHOLES!

Yes.

[WiccanLiberal]

The focus of the article is that there are a significant number of people who choose to believe that the death, on camera, of a newswoman and her cameraman was a sham concocted by some New World Order conspiracy. These internet "experts" claim she has been given a new identity and the whole thing is a specific ploy to promote gun control. Apparently so we can be led like sheep. They further are claiming that her grieving boyfriend is an actor hired for the same scheme. the writer of the article is a longtime friend of the boyfriend and details the way in which these conspiracy spouting idiots have piled more grief on someone who doesn't need it at the same time as they are pouring their moronic mental vomitus onto the internet for the gullible to read. Not every bad thing that happens has an explanation. Conspiracy theorists seem unable to accept that Shit Happens is sometimes the absolute truth.

[Gunny]

The focus of the article is that there are a significant number of people who choose to believe that the death, on camera, of a newswoman and her cameraman was a sham concocted by some New World Order conspiracy. These internet "experts" claim she has been given a new identity and the whole thing is a specific ploy to promote gun control. Apparently so we can be led like sheep. They further are claiming that her grieving boyfriend is an actor hired for the same scheme. the writer of the article is a longtime friend of the boyfriend and details the way in which these conspiracy spouting idiots have piled more grief on someone who doesn't need it at the same time as they are pouring their moronic mental vomitus onto the internet for the gullible to read. Not every bad thing that happens has an explanation. Conspiracy theorists seem unable to accept that Shit Happens is sometimes the absolute truth.

I AM making light of it. I gave up trying to unscrew these people's minds YEARS ago. I think I actually had a Conspiracy Theory forum before Jim did. I just got tired of them bleeding all over the board.

Of course conspiracy theories are harmful. They make people believe crap that ain't true. Then I have to ask myself what the Hell do people like that think? What makes them think there's no simple answer? We've been raised and bred to believe there has to be a reason for everything and these people can't just grasp the fact the sometimes, sh*t happens. Oh, I just read that you already said that.

And you know where I'm going with the witch thing. You turn me into a toad and I'm getting a 440 stainless steel GI Joe sword and coming after YOU after I escape the dogs around here.

[WiccanLiberal]

I AM making light of it. I gave up trying to unscrew these people's minds YEARS ago. I think I actually had a Conspiracy Theory forum before Jim did. I just got tired of them bleeding all over the board.

Of course conspiracy theories are harmful. They make people believe crap that ain't true. Then I have to ask myself what the Hell do people like that think? What makes them think there's no simple answer? We've been raised and bred to believe there has to be a reason for everything and these people can't just grasp the fact the sometimes, sh*t happens. Oh, I just read that you already said that.

And you know where I'm going with the witch thing. You turn me into a toad and I'm getting a 440 stainless steel GI Joe sword and coming after YOU after I escape the dogs around here.

heheheheheheh
BTW I have an almost endless suooly of bad pagan jokes and puns. My friends in the Craft enjoy collecting them.

[Gunny]

The article is somewhat lengthy. It involves a specific theory about a specific event. It addresses how the promulgation of a conspiracy theory can hurt individuals closest to the actual events. Take the time to read the whole thing and what it has to say about how conspiracy becomes the answer for some.
What Do You Say to a Roanoke Truther?

http://www.thedailybeast.com/article...ource=facebook
Chris was the boyfriend of Alison Parker, who was shot and killed on live television in August by a mentally ill man who had an invented grudge and easy access to firearms.
Chris is a friend from college. Chris and I hosted a radio show together.
Or, according to millions of conspiracy theorists online, Chris Hurst is a part of my imagination.
In the minds—and YouTube videos—of some conspiracy theorists, Chris is not a news anchor at WDBJ in Virginia. Chris, the videos say, is a “crisis actor" invented less than a month ago by the United States government as part of a false flag operation that will eventually allow the New World Order to take away every American citizen’s guns and force them into a life of subjugation and tyranny.

Oh brother .. errr ... sister. I think my dog is possessed by the Hulk. If it can be destroyed, he's right on top of it. His name's Milo but I think they missed the boat not naming him trainwreck. I'd like to say he's possessed by something evil but I think possessed by something dumber'n a hitchpost might work better.

And you'll have to expalin "truther" to me. That the same as a conspiracy freak?

[Motown]

What Do You Say to a Roanoke Truther?

The only thing I would say to specifically a Roanoke truther is "seek help". I understand where a lot of conspriracy theorists are coming from. Some of the 9/11 truthers believe what they believe because they don't understand how the twin towers were constructed. David Eicke needs to get publicity to sell his books and DVDs. Alex Jones is a dis-information specialist. The Roanoke truthers though are a different breed, there's no logic at all behind their opinions not even faulty logic so maybe we're seeing the early signs of psychosis in them?

[gabosaurus]

I used to believe some of the 9-11 conspiracy theories. Until I attended a lecture by a couple of building designers who explained, step by step, how the Twin Towers collapsed. They illustrated each step with a visual presentation.
I think there is a documentary out where they go through the same explanation. It's totally fascinating.

[WiccanLiberal]

Think I know the one you mean and it is a fine explanation.

[revelarts]

The focus of the article is that there are a significant number of people who choose to believe that the death, on camera, of a newswoman and her cameraman was a sham concocted by some New World Order conspiracy. These internet "experts" claim she has been given a new identity and the whole thing is a specific ploy to promote gun control. Apparently so we can be led like sheep. They further are claiming that her grieving boyfriend is an actor hired for the same scheme. the writer of the article is a longtime friend of the boyfriend and details the way in which these conspiracy spouting idiots have piled more grief on someone who doesn't need it at the same time as they are pouring their moronic mental vomitus onto the internet for the gullible to read. Not every bad thing that happens has an explanation. Conspiracy theorists seem unable to accept that Shit Happens is sometimes the absolute truth.

my problem with the article --and many like it-- is that it picks one really bad example of a "conspiracy theorist" or "theory" then uses that to smear ALL so called conspiracy and people that question various conventional wisdom or knowledge.
It uses too broad a brush.
This is dishonest.
It and some commentary here uses the logical fallacy called the strawman.

But in general at nearly every major event there are people with various theories based on incoming evidence. some true, some false, some crazy, some partially true, partially false or mostly true. However some events causes are frankly UNKNOWN and/or unknowable.
some ... many are multi layered.


But conventional wisdom rarely allows for the above full range of honest inquirer. Most of us like to frame issues quickly and within our paradigm of the world 1ST then explore .. or quickly settle on... the answers within that range. information outside of it is often automatically rejected or ignored. Often not because the FACTS are so powerful for the view but because the other info brings in conclusions that are to "unrealistic" in our minds. That is, it doesn't fit in our paradigms or world views or even narrower their political views.
People will attack very emotionally things that question their world view. logic and evidence doesn't always have he final say.

It's been seen over and over in science where scientist as a GROUP have refused to even entertain new information or theories for years or even decades because it broke with the established "reality" of scientific thought.

there are paradigms in american thinking that make it hard for some to seriously consider some facts. knee jerk angry name calling filled rejection is all that's called for to keep most in line with the "reasonable" people.

[revelarts]

I used to believe some of the 9-11 conspiracy theories. Until I attended a lecture by a couple of building designers who explained, step by step, how the Twin Towers collapsed. They illustrated each step with a visual presentation.
I think there is a documentary out where they go through the same explanation. It's totally fascinating.

Think I know the one you mean and it is a fine explanation.

what documentary is that exactly?
I'd love to see it.

[Gunny]

my problem with the article --and many like it-- is that it picks one really bad example of a "conspiracy theorist" or "theory" then uses that to smear ALL so called conspiracy and people that question various conventional wisdom or knowledge.
It uses too broad a brush.
This is dishonest.
It and some commentary here uses the logical fallacy called the strawman.

But in general at nearly every major event there are people with various theories based on incoming evidence. some true, some false, some crazy, some partially true, partially false or mostly true. However some events causes are frankly UNKNOWN and/or unknowable.
some ... many are multi layered.


But conventional wisdom rarely allows for the above full range of honest inquirer. Most of us like to frame issues quickly and within our paradigm of the world 1ST then explore .. or quickly settle on... the answers within that range. information outside of it is often automatically rejected or ignored. Often not because the FACTS are so powerful for the view but because the other info brings in conclusions that are to "unrealistic" in our minds. That is, it doesn't fit in our paradigms or world views or even narrower their political views.
People will attack very emotionally things that question their world view. logic and evidence doesn't always have he final say.

It's been seen over and over in science where scientist as a GROUP have refused to even entertain new information or theories for years or even decades because it broke with the established "reality" of scientific thought.

there are paradigms in american thinking that make it hard for some to seriously consider some facts. knee jerk angry name calling filled rejection is all that's called for to keep most in line with the "reasonable" people.

Try again. The logic is simple so there is no fallacy. The fallacy begins when you try to turn boiling water into a scientific experiment.