Conspiracy Theories: Why Believe?

[Estro Felino]

People I know believe them because they
fill the need to demonize an enemy. People
who fall prey to this tend be....uh....not
critical & analytical thinkers.

On the other hand, a person who committed a crime secretly, can label any procurator who is suspicious "conspiracy theorist"...

So since this has become a quick way to diss an opponent, delinquents can get away with any crime, very easily.

 

[Mock Turtle]

People I know believe them because they
fill the need to demonize an enemy. People
who fall prey to this tend be....uh....not
critical & analytical thinkers.

I think the latter is often true, as per:

Why do people believe in conspiracy theories? - BBC Science Focus Magazine

Of course, many conspiracy theories make claims that are factually incorrect or they are based on fundamentally flawed logic. Unfortunately, believers in the theories are not only more likely to see illusory connections, research shows they are also less likely to have had the kind of education or have the critical thinking skills necessary to help them see the glaring holes in their wild theories. At the same time, believers in conspiracies often have an inflated sense of their own intellectual competence – research led by the late Scott Lilienfeld at Emory University in Atlanta showed that in personality trait terms, believers tend to be lower in ‘intellectual humility’. Ignorance combined with overconfidence creates a fertile ground for unsubstantiated beliefs to take hold. There is also a powerful emotional component to conspiracy theory beliefs, which helps explain why they can be so difficult to challenge. Believing in a widely discredited theory – and feeling part of a community of fellow believers – can help to satisfy some people’s need to feel special, according to research. Studies have also shown believers are also more prone to anxiety and a sense that they lack control – feelings alleviated by subscribing to a conspiracy theory being spread with such apparent conviction by others.

I mostly only have doubts about the JFK assassination, given the motives and people involved (or could be involved), and the issues with evidence - as to being solid or not.

 

[Estro Felino]

IMO. there has always existed misinformation. Now however the fact of misinformation has itself become a political tool.

Don't know if you can ever inoculate against it, just have to take everything you read/hear with a grain of salt.

On the other hand, if someone committed a crime, they can be so powerful to pay people to spread misinformation.
Suitable to holify the perpetrator.
And to label the ones who accuse him as "conspiracy theorists".
It depends on the evidence. And not on the personal opinions.

 

[Stevicus]

I suppose another way to look at the question of why people believe in conspiracy theories, one can also look at other questions.

For example:

- Why did people believe that Spain was responsible for the destruction of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor?

- Why did people (including law enforcement and media) believe that Richard Jewell was responsible for the Atlanta Olympics bombing in 1996?

- Why did people believe there were WMDs in Iraq in 2003?

- Why do people believe that the Russians will invade Ukraine "any day now"?

In other words, what criteria are used to differentiate between false things that people believed that weren't relegated to "conspiracy theory" versus other false things that people believed that are considered such? Neither would be backed up with evidence, nor would be considered the domain of so-called "critical thinking."

So, does anyone have any specific, consistent set of criteria to distinguish "conspiracy theory" from other false information that wasn't considered the domain of whackos?

 

[Estro Felino]

I suppose another way to look at the question of why people believe in conspiracy theories, one can also look at other questions.

For example:

- Why did people believe that Spain was responsible for the destruction of the USS Maine in Havana Harbor?

- Why did people (including law enforcement and media) believe that Richard Jewell was responsible for the Atlanta Olympics bombing in 1996?

- Why did people believe there were WMDs in Iraq in 2003?

- Why do people believe that the Russians will invade Ukraine "any day now"?

In other words, what criteria are used to differentiate between false things that people believed that weren't relegated to "conspiracy theory" versus other false things that people believed that are considered such? Neither would be backed up with evidence, nor would be considered the domain of so-called "critical thinking."

So, does anyone have any specific, consistent set of criteria to distinguish "conspiracy theory" from other false information that wasn't considered the domain of whackos?

Excellent.
Two things. A) evidence B) motive.

 

[Stevicus]

Excellent.
Two things. A) evidence B) motive.

I think in both sets of scenarios, the evidence is questionable. But it's a fair question whether the same standards and rules of evidence are being applied.

There's a lot of talk about conspiracy theorists being delusional, paranoid uneducated, unintelligent, and lacking in critical thinking skills - and that may all be true. But this could be a case of our society being hoisted by its own petard.

We live in a society where religion wants people to believe things without evidence. The government wants people to believe things without evidence. The military wants people to believe things without evidence. The media want people to believe things without evidence. Advertisers and salesmen want people to believe things without evidence.

So, if people are strongly encouraged to believe in things without evidence, then I've always considered it to be slightly disingenuous when some people pretend to act so shocked and outraged when people believe other things without evidence.

"They must be delusional." "They must lack critical thinking skills." No, they're products of the society and culture into which they were born. Until people start recognizing that, they won't really have a grasp on the nature of the problem being addressed here.

 

[Revoltingest]

On the other hand, a person who committed a crime secretly, can label any procurator who is suspicious "conspiracy theorist"...

So since this has become a quick way to diss an opponent, delinquents can get away with any crime, very easily.

Looking just at the combination of the words "conspiracy" &
"theory", it would seem to include theories that are supportable
by a cogent evidence based argument. But "conspiracy theory"
is idiomatic, referring to unsupported beliefs, eg, faked Moon
landings, Jewish space lasers, the stolen 2020 election.

Conspiracy theory - Wikipedia
Excerpted....
A conspiracy theory is an explanation for an event or situation that invokes a conspiracy by sinister and powerful groups, often political in motivation,[3][4][5] when other explanations are more probable.[3][6][7] The term has a negative connotation, implying that the appeal to a conspiracy is based on prejudice or insufficient evidence.[8] A conspiracy theory is not the same as a conspiracy; instead, it refers to a hypothesized conspiracy with specific characteristics, such as an opposition to the mainstream consensus among those people (such as scientists or historians) who are qualified to evaluate its accuracy.[9][10][11]

 

[Estro Felino]

Looking just at the combination of the words "conspiracy" &
"theory", it would seem to include theories that are supportable
by a cogent evidence based argument. But "conspiracy theory"
is idiomatic, referring to unsupported beliefs, eg, faked Moon
landings, Jewish space lasers, the stolen 2020 election.

Conspiracy theory - Wikipedia
Excerpted....
A conspiracy theory is an explanation for an event or situation that invokes a conspiracy by sinister and powerful groups, often political in motivation,[3][4][5] when other explanations are more probable.[3][6][7] The term has a negative connotation, implying that the appeal to a conspiracy is based on prejudice or insufficient evidence.[8] A conspiracy theory is not the same as a conspiracy; instead, it refers to a hypothesized conspiracy with specific characteristics, such as an opposition to the mainstream consensus among those people (such as scientists or historians) who are qualified to evaluate its accuracy.[9][10][11]

Anything in penal law is a conspiracy.
For example ...a person who decides to defraud the insurance company, by faking a robbery with the help of accomplices, in his bank,... that is a conspiracy.
A conspiracy put into action to the detriment of an insurance company .

I am not speaking of things like moon hoax or other laughable things like the flat earthers.

I am speaking of serious matters regarding financial crimes or political crimes.
We are called conspiracy theorists by people like the article's author.
And this is utterly unjust. It is a misused expression.

 

[Revoltingest]

Anything in penal law is a conspiracy.
For example ...a person who decides the defraud the insurance company, by faking a robbery with the help of accomplices, in his bank,... that is a conspiracy.
A conspiracy put into action to detrimemt of an insurance company .

I am not speaking of things like moon hoax or other laighable things like the flat earthers.

I am speaking of serious matters regarding financial crimes or political crimes.
We are called conspiracy theorists by people like the article's author.
And this is utterly unjust. It is a misused expression.

Of course there are actual conspiracies that are evidenced.
But we don't call those "conspiracy theories".

 

[Estro Felino]

Of course there are actual conspiracies that are evidenced.
But we don't call those "conspiracy theories".

You probably do not. But many do.

For example...a person had a car accident with a truck.
This person disappeared. When the police arrived, they found no trace of this person. The truck drivers spread the rumor that this person had fled to commit suicide.
In fact they found their corpse some days later...in the countryside near the crash site.

Do I deserve to be called conspiracy theorist just because I cannot and will not believe such an absurd story?
That is...a person decides to commit suicide after a car accident?

Do I deserve to be called conspiracy theorist for believing this person probably died in the crash?

 

[Revoltingest]

You probably do not. But many do.

For example...a person had a car accident with a truck.
This person disappeared. When the police arrived, they found no trace of this person. The truck drivers spread the rumor that this person had fled to commit suicide.
In fact they found their corpse some days later...in the countryside near the crash site.

Do I deserve to be called conspiracy theorist just because I cannot and will not believe such an absurd story?
That is...a person decides to commit suicide after a car accident?

Do I deserve to be called conspiracy theorist for believing this person probably died in the crash?

Whuh?

 

[Estro Felino]

I think in both sets of scenarios, the evidence is questionable. But it's a fair question whether the same standards and rules of evidence are being applied.

There's a lot of talk about conspiracy theorists being delusional, paranoid uneducated, unintelligent, and lacking in critical thinking skills - and that may all be true. But this could be a case of our society being hoisted by its own petard.

We live in a society where religion wants people to believe things without evidence. The government wants people to believe things without evidence. The military wants people to believe things without evidence. The media want people to believe things without evidence. Advertisers and salesmen want people to believe things without evidence.

So, if people are strongly encouraged to believe in things without evidence, then I've always considered it to be slightly disingenuous when some people pretend to act so shocked and outraged when people believe other things without evidence.

"They must be delusional." "They must lack critical thinking skills." No, they're products of the society and culture into which they were born. Until people start recognizing that, they won't really have a grasp on the nature of the problem being addressed here.

Exactly. Critical thinking, to begin with.
Sapere aude said Kant. Have the courage to use your own intelligence.

 

[Estro Felino]

Whuh?

I have been called conspiracy theorist for not believing such an absurd story.


So...even when the mere logic is applied, they call you conspiracy theorist.

 

[Revoltingest]

I have been called conspiracy theorist for not believing such an absurd story.

Whoever did so mis-used the term.

 

[Estro Felino]

Whoever did so mis-used the term.

...which is very common.
People use it all the time. In any context.

 

[Revoltingest]

...which is very common.
People use it all the time. In any context.

I've not run across such mis-usage being common.
Must be an Italian thing to call you "conspiracy theorist"
the disbelief in loopy conspiracy theories.

 

[Estro Felino]

I've not run across such mis-usage being common.
Must be an Italian thing to call you "conspiracy theorist"
the disbelief in loopy conspiracy theories.

We use just one word that sums up the expression conspiracy theorist.
And this word comes from plot which is a synonym of conspiracy.

But yes...it is used by leftists 24/7, to diss rightists.

 

[ChristineM]

If there were no conspiracy theories, either by inoculation or responsible reporting where would i find a market for my aluminium foil hat business?

 

[Stevicus]

Looking just at the combination of the words "conspiracy" &
"theory", it would seem to include theories that are supportable
by a cogent evidence based argument. But "conspiracy theory"
is idiomatic, referring to unsupported beliefs, eg, faked Moon
landings, Jewish space lasers, the stolen 2020 election.

Conspiracy theory - Wikipedia
Excerpted....
A conspiracy theory is an explanation for an event or situation that invokes a conspiracy by sinister and powerful groups, often political in motivation,[3][4][5] when other explanations are more probable.[3][6][7] The term has a negative connotation, implying that the appeal to a conspiracy is based on prejudice or insufficient evidence.[8] A conspiracy theory is not the same as a conspiracy; instead, it refers to a hypothesized conspiracy with specific characteristics, such as an opposition to the mainstream consensus among those people (such as scientists or historians) who are qualified to evaluate its accuracy.[9][10][11]

I think it should be noted, at least in terms of the evidence which may be used to support or refute a given position, is that (in most of these situations) few people are actually qualified to evaluate the evidence, and even fewer people actually have physical access to it to be able to examine it firsthand.

Take, for example, the fake moon landing conspiracy. Personally, I had nothing to do with the moon landings. I wasn't there, so I have no personal knowledge of it either way. Like most everyone else at the time, I saw them on TV and believed what I was seeing. I had no reason to believe that it was faked.

About a decade later, I heard about the conspiracy theory that the Moon landings were faked. I didn't really believe that it was faked, but I thought "well, maybe it's possible" and left in the realm of minor mystery. There wasn't anything I could personally do about it, and it didn't seem to affect my life one way or the other.

I didn't really have any personal stake in going out of my way to disprove any conspiracy theory, nor did I take offense at it, nor did I raise alarm bells about the fact that someone believes something that might not be true.

That's the other side of conspiracy theories that seems even more outlandish, when people act like the sky is falling because someone believes NASA faked the moon landings. It's not the end of the world, yet I've encountered a number of people who take great umbrage at the very idea. That's what I could never understand. Why make such a big deal over it?

 

[Stevicus]

We use just one word that sums up the expression conspiracy theorist.
And this word comes from plot which is a synonym of conspiracy.

But yes...it is used by leftists 24/7, to diss rightists.

I don't recall when I first actually encountered the term "conspiracy theorist," although probably it was late 1980s or early 90s. However, I've seen allegations of conspiracies be brought forth from both sides of the political spectrum.