Conspiracy Theories

[Nakosis]

I guess it would mainly depend on what it is, but the crux of most conspiracy theories is basically a proposition that politicians or government officials might be lying about things. People who mock or cavalierly dismiss conspiracy theories out of hand are as much as claiming that "politicians never lie."

Another thing I've noticed is that many people are quick to believe any conspiracy theory about other governments (particularly about the SU during the Cold War), yet concurrently believed that our government could do no wrong.

On the other hand, there's something almost defeatist about conspiracy theories, since they make the government seem soooooo powerful, as if no mere mortals could ever hope to oppose them and survive. Conspiracy theories strike fear into the hoi polloi and keep them in line.

For me personally, I don't actually believe most conspiracy theories (although some theories about JFK are intriguing). However, I don't really care that much about them either, and I can't understand why anyone else would.

The only exception I would make would be the anti-vaxxers, since that kind of talk can harm people.

But I have no cause to defend the government's reputation if someone accuses them of hiding aliens or assassinating presidents or faking the moon landings. It's no skin off me either way, and it doesn't really hurt anybody. The worst that might happen is that people might lose faith in the government, or they might be more skeptical when it comes to claims made by the government.

It makes the government seem smart IMO. Evil but smart. I don't believe they are that smart.

 

[QuestioningMind]

People say this a lot. But I've yet to see any evidence of it.
Ref...
Did President Trump Refer to the Coronavirus as a 'Hoax'?

It's a "conspiracy theory" unless there's compelling evidence,
in which case it becomes a "conspiracy", "plot", or "agenda".

At approximately 1 min 10 sec he says about Democrats and the Corona Virus "this is their new hoax..."

 

[Revoltingest]

At approximately 1 min 10 sec he says about Democrats and the Corona Virus "this is their new hoax..."

I notice that the video takes only portions of quotes.
This suggests missing info, eg, the full claim.
I'll trust Snopes, being no friend of Trump.

 

[stvdv]

The planner of the universe?

Then "to believe or not to believe" seem 2 sides of the same coin to me

 

[Stevicus]

It makes the government seem smart IMO. Evil but smart. I don't believe they are that smart.

I agree. I don't think they're as smart as they once were.

I guess what strikes me about many of the nefarious activities credited to our government is that, many apologists say it was done for the sake of America and our national interests. But it's all gone for naught, when one considers our present situation.

They do evil, but it's an incompetent evil, like some bumbling cartoon villain.

 

[Revoltingest]

I agree. I don't think they're as smart as they once were.

I guess what strikes me about many of the nefarious activities credited to our government is that, many apologists say it was done for the sake of America and our national interests. But it's all gone for naught, when one considers our present situation.

They do evil, but it's an incompetent evil, like some bumbling cartoon villain.

Our government reminds me of The Venture Brothers.
The theme of the show is that the heroes & villains are
all seriously defective at what they do. Doctor Venture
is a "super scientist" who doesn't know much science.
His arch nemesis is The Monarch, who has powers based
upon monarch butterflies. He "arches" Dr Venture, but
always fails, but never due to Dr Venture's skill at anything.
Even 1970s cartoon boy wonder, Johnny Quest, is in the
show, but now he's a burned out drug addict.

The empty bluster backed up by massive incompetence
of it all. A small sample of one of my all time favorite
cartoon series....
(It helps if you've seen Goodfellas.)

 

[Quintessence]

A more academic commentary I came across today that is highly relevant to the topic. I find these lessons from history very helpful to contextualize present events. What seems new and unprecedented is rarely so. It's happened before, just not in the memories of the living:

"Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Republican congressional primary win in Georgia ensures, in all likelihood, that the heavily Republican district will be represented by a QAnon conspiracy theorist in the 117th Congress.

But Greene was just one of several primary candidates who embraced the conspiracy, which coincides with the trend of “Q” paraphernalia appearing at Republican rallies.

...

This may sound like a new development – some might say a new low – in American politics. But it isn’t the first time candidates have promoted conspiracies as part of their platform to win seats in Congress.

In the 1820s, an anti-Masonic conspiracy theory dominated politics in the Northeast. It even birthed a political party, the Anti-Masonic Party, which ended up holding its own presidential convention and nominating the United States’ first third-party candidate."
From - Nearly two centuries ago, a QAnon-like conspiracy theory propelled candidates to Congress

​

 

[Estro Felino]

Descartes used to say : Doutez de tout.
Doubt anything.
So I guess he meant people are supposed to seek the truth, without being influenced by others no matter how convincing / educated they are.