Top ten conspiracy theories
I like this piece in Wired, The Best Conspiracy Theories (Lizard-People Are Running the World!).
Once I was arguing with some people at a focus group discussing science programming on the BBC. I think I was the only person there who actually watched science programming on the BBC because they were holding forth about the accuracy and relevance of astrology. I said it was bunk. One woman rounded on me and said “what do you know about the wisdom of the ancients.” What can you say to that?
If anyone has any suggestions about how people come to believe conspiracy theories, I’d be very interested to hear them.
Anyhow, here are the top ten from Wired:
- NASA faked the moon landings
- The government was behind 9/11
- Princess Diana was murdered
- The Jews run Hollywood and Wall Street
- The Scientologists run Hollywood
- Paul McCartney is dead
- AIDS is a man-made disease
- Church’s fried chicken sterilizes black men
- Lizard-people run the world
- The illuminati run the world
I’m surprised not to see anything JFK related.
Technorati Tags: Wired, conspiracy theories, NASA, Princess Diana
Birdheavy.Com » Top ten conspiracy theories wrote:
[...] wrote an interesting post today on Top ten conspiracy theoriesHere’s a quick [...]
Posted on 30-Oct-07 at 8:05 am | Permalink
Tom Chandler wrote:
How do we know the Wired piece — or even this post — aren’t part of a conspiracy meant to distract us from the JFK conspiracy?
And Matthew (assuming that is your real name), how do we know you’re not a computer?
These questions need to be asked.
Posted on 30-Oct-07 at 2:48 pm | Permalink
Zach Everson wrote:
That the Holocaust never occurred is a popular one too that didn’t make the list.
Posted on 30-Oct-07 at 4:16 pm | Permalink
Loner wrote:
You asked for theories, to explain “how people come to believe conspiracy theories.” Here’s mine.
It starts out with a “qui bono”, Latin for “who benefits”. A lengthy suspect list is compiled based upon that. As some suspects are officially ruled out, undoubtedly, some will suspect the motives for the “official” removal from suspicion.
As events unfold, the “post hoc , ergo propter hoc” logic flaw comes into play. Translated from the Latin, the phrase means” after this, therefore because of this”.
Suspicion and faulty or dubious logic are key elements.
Media hype and scam artists exploit the mass hysteria.
These elements and other forces combine to spawn and nurture conspiracy theories.
Perhaps it’s good to have a doubting fringe, history is full of examples of how the ridiculed non-believers turned out to be correct.
Postcript: Love your blog!
Posted on 30-Oct-07 at 4:51 pm | Permalink
Matthew Stibbe wrote:
I am not a computer and Matthew is my real name. Or at least that’s what my MI5 handlers tell me to say.
Posted on 30-Oct-07 at 6:33 pm | Permalink
Roy Jacobsen wrote:
Regarding the “wisdom of the ancients” lady, I might have been tempted to ask her if she’s had any blood-letting done lately, or whether she believed in the spontaneous generation of living things from non-living matter; both examples of “the wisdom of the ancients.”
For that matter, human sacrifice is yet another example of “wisdom of the ancients.”
In other words, just because it’s ancient don’t make it wise, not by a long stretch.
But I’d probably say something like that if I wasn’t worried about burning bridges.
Posted on 30-Oct-07 at 8:49 pm | Permalink
Bruce Pilgrim wrote:
Conspiracy theories are usually a sad attempt to make sense of an often incomprehensible world. Oswald acting alone as crazed gunman is somehow more frightening than a widespread orchestrated assasination plot.
On the other hand, it is a fact that the Lizard people killed Jim Morrison because he knew too much.
Posted on 31-Oct-07 at 12:53 pm | Permalink
Andrew Denny wrote:
Never mind ‘JFK-related’, I’m surprised to see nothing on the list that’s JK Rowling-related!
Posted on 31-Oct-07 at 9:19 pm | Permalink
Jude wrote:
I would have responded to that lady that we’ve learned a few things since the ancients.
I blogged about lizard people who are said to live at Denver International Airport and steal our children. I received responses from two people who said, “But it’s true.” I responded, “Hey, since you know where these tunnels are, I’ll meet you and you can take me to the entrance. I’d love to meet lizard people.” They didn’t respond. For conspiracy theories, my favorite is Rives Ted Talk about 4 a.m. –well worth watching. http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/148
Posted on 03-Nov-07 at 4:57 pm | Permalink
Bob Schneider wrote:
The government (specifically, the Bush Admin) most likely WAS behind the attacks of 9/11/01. What, you think the ignoring of the 52 FBI bulletins that warned of it plus the famous PDB titled “Bin Laden Determined To Strike In U.S.” was an accident? Noooo, I don’t think soooo!
Posted on 12-Nov-07 at 9:57 am | Permalink
Jeff DeLay wrote:
Bob,
Failure to act does not equate to culpability. Please point out to the specific FBI warning that Bush was briefed on that pointed to a suicide commercial plane attack on the Twin Towers - I’ll give you a clue, it doesn’t exist.
However, in as much are you are omnipotent , the FBI has recently issued public warnings of another terrorist attack. Please contact the FBI with the time and place and method, I’m sure they could use your help.
Posted on 19-Nov-07 at 11:42 pm | Permalink
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Posted on 22-Mar-08 at 10:44 am | Permalink
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READ ON: Read this entire message carefully! (Print it out or download it.)
I found this on a bulletin board, and decided to try it.
Step 1: Get 6 separate one dollar bills, get 6 pieces of paper and write the following on the paper PLEASE PUT ME ON YOUR MAILING LIST. Wrap each dollar bill in each note, and include your name and address. Next mail the envelopes to the six people on the list.
Step 2: Now take the number 1 name off the list below, and move the other names up (6 becomes 5, 5 becomes 4, 2 becomes 1, etc.) Make sure to add your name as number 6 on the list.
Step 3: Now post your article to at least 200 newsgroups and message boards. The more you post the more responses you’ll get, and the more money you’ll make!
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The List:
1.Nichlas St. Lawrence, 689A Victory Hwy., West Greenwich RI 02817
2.Ryan Joseph, 338 N.College St., Newcomerstown OH 43832
3.Meg Nunn, 528 17th Place, Snohomish WA 98290
4.Benjamin Richards, 1587 Moonbeam LN, Chula Vista CA 91915
5.Ryan Miller, 588 Railroad St., Newcomerstown OH 43832
6.Robert McLeod, PO Box 496, Oxon Hill MD 20750
Posted on 25-Mar-08 at 11:06 pm | Permalink