Why people believe in conspiracy theories

[Bro. Curtis]

Ones where a jury convicts would be a good place to start. Where evidence is presented, and allowed to be challenged, and people reach a majority verdict that a conspiracy actually took place.

These aren't the case with building 7, or the Kennedy assasination.

 

[James_Newman]

In other words, if the conspirators are in a position to block an investigation, keep the evidence from being presented, or a jury from being convened, then there is no conspiracy.

 

[Ed Edwards]

The people who know don't talk;
the people who talk don't know.

It cannot be a Secret Conspiracy if everybody
knows all about it.

So why do people believe in Secret Conspiracies?

 

[James_Newman]

You start a conversation, you cant even finish it.
You talk a lot, but you're not saying anything.
When I have nothing to say, my lips are sealed.
Say something once, why say it again?

- David Byrne

 

[Rufus_1611]

The people who know don't talk;
the people who talk don't know.

It cannot be a Secret Conspiracy if everybody
knows all about it.

So why do people believe in Secret Conspiracies?

"Only the small secrets need to be protected. The large ones are kept secret by public incredulity."- Marshall McLuha​

 

[Bro. Curtis]

In other words, if the conspirators are in a position to block an investigation, keep the evidence from being presented, or a jury from being convened, then there is no conspiracy.

This is a constitutional republic. So I guess so. But since the White House hasn't been able to keep a secret for about 7 years.....


I used to like the Talking Heads, though. David Byrne's one of those quirky guys you can't pigeonhole.

 

[James_Newman]

I just think that Americans are too hasty to rule out spiritual wickedness in high places. We have to acknowledge that the very founding of our nation began as a conspiracy.

 

[Ed Edwards]

Introduction to Logic, Fifth Edition by Copi
(Macmillan Publishing, 1978)

Chapter 3: Informal Fallacies, page 89

#2 Argumentum ad Hominem (abusive).
The phrase 'argumentum ad Hominem' translated literally
as 'argument directed to the man.' ...
It is committed when, instead of
trying to disprove the truth
of what is asserted, one attacks the person
who made the assertion. ...

 

[James_Newman]

Ed, I love you brother, but I stopped listening to you long ago because all you do is copy and paste the same things over and over. If you really want to talk about what you posted then let us discuss.

The people who know don't talk;
the people who talk don't know.

What is this supposed to mean? That if there were a conspiracy, nobody would ever say anything about it to anyone? Nobody would ever let slip an admission of knowledge or get caught in a lie? Nobody would suffer pangs of conscience and feel the need to confide in someone? What about a deathbed confession?

http://www.inteldaily.com/?c=126&a=1565

But of course, since he talked, he didn't know.

 

[Bro. Curtis]

I just think that Americans are too hasty to rule out spiritual wickedness in high places.

Absolutely.

We have to acknowledge that the very founding of our nation began as a conspiracy.

I think our nation was formed so folks could worship Christ outside of the constraints of the Anglican church. So I disagree with you, there.

 

[James_Newman]

Absolutely.



I think our nation was formed so folks could worship Christ outside of the constraints of the Anglican church. So I disagree with you, there.

How does that change the fact that a group of men got together and decided to overthrow the government?

 

[Bro. Curtis]

They didn't overthrow a government, in my eyes. It was the British trying to overthrow our new government. We said they had no authority in the new land, that we came here under no country's flag.

I appreciate the tone, here, James. This is fun.

 

[James_Newman]

So the proper definition of a conspiracy hinges upon whether or not it is successful, or whether we agree with the motive behind it. If you get away with it, it isn't a conspiracy, and if you have popular support it is a revolution. But this is a rabbit trail.

 

[Ed Edwards]

James_Newman: //Ed, I love you brother, but I stopped
listening to you long ago because all you do is copy
and paste the same things over and over.//

Likewise on the love part.
BTW, I usually type the know/talk thing cause it is easier to
type than to figure out where on my computer I stored it. :type:

Consider some plot, maybe the conspiracy to put zit
producing elements in cosmetics. Once it becomes known
it doesn't lesson the threat, it just moves it from
the 'secret conspiracy' category into the 'insidious plot'
category.

Years ago (maybe over 20)
I subscribed to the Conspiracy Hierarchy
theory: all Secret Conspiracies were part of the
Grand Mal Satanic Konspiracy (GMSK).

... intrupted by reality.

 

[James_Newman]

James_Newman: //Ed, I love you brother, but I stopped
listening to you long ago because all you do is copy
and paste the same things over and over.//

Likewise on the love part.
BTW, I usually type the know/talk thing cause it is easier to
type than to figure out where on my computer I stored it. :type:

Consider some plot, maybe the conspiracy to put zit
producing elements in cosmetics. Once it becomes known
it doesn't lesson the threat, it just moves it from
the 'secret conspiracy' category into the 'insidious plot'
category.

But then the cosmetic industry denies the insidious plot, and has an army of spokesmodels decry it as 'tinfoil-hattery' so what do we call it then?

Years ago (maybe over 20)
I subscribed to the Conspiracy Hierarchy
theory: all Secret Conspiracies were part of the
Grand Mal Satanic Konspiracy (GMSK).

... intrupted by reality.

I still believe that the mystery of iniquity is in operation.

 

[Bro. Curtis]

So the proper definition of a conspiracy hinges upon whether or not it is successful, or whether we agree with the motive behind it. If you get away with it, it isn't a conspiracy, and if you have popular support it is a revolution. But this is a rabbit trail.

It depends who you believe is responsible, as well, I guess. You think it was us, I think it was them.

It may be that we conspired to bring white man to America, kill the natives, wipe out the buffalo, and industrialize the forsts, and used the name of the Lord to do it, or it may be we escaped the prosecution of true N/T Christians, set up a Christian nation, use our intellect & resources to spread the word of God further than any other country up to that point, and have been blessed by God to be first in charity, disaster relief, and a force for good that the world has never seen.

That may be another trail.

 

[James_Newman]

It depends who you believe is responsible, as well, I guess. You think it was us, I think it was them.

Responsible for what? Who is us and who is them? Are you saying the British people invited the American revolution? I don't think I have ever heard that explanation, and I have heard a lot of absurd explanations for why the American revolution happened.

It may be that we conspired to bring white man to America, kill the natives, wipe out the buffalo, and industrialize the forsts, and used the name of the Lord to do it, or it may be we escaped the prosecution of true N/T Christians, set up a Christian nation, use our intellect & resources to spread the word of God further than any other country up to that point, and have been blessed by God to be first in charity, disaster relief, and a force for good that the world has never seen.

That may be another trail.

What about the Iran-Contra scandal. Was that a conspiracy?

 

[Bro. Curtis]

The cover-up was. Want me to stick up for that ? I'm not going to do it.

And yes, when you oppress your people, you invite revolution. Why would you think that absurd ?

 

[James_Newman]

The cover-up was. Want me to stick up for that ? I'm not going to do it.

Absolutely not. I just want to understand why I should have a hard time believing conspiracy theories when documented conspiracy abounds. Before Iran-Contra was exposed, was it a 'secret conspiracy'?

And yes, when you oppress your people, you invite revolution. Why would you think that absurd ?

Sorry. That was a lame attempt at humour.

 

[Bro. Curtis]

Absolutely not. I just want to understand why I should have a hard time believing conspiracy theories when documented conspiracy abounds. Before Iran-Contra was exposed, was it a 'secret conspiracy'?

When the evidence was presented, and folks were allowed to challenge it, it came out that Reagan's administration was dishonest to the American people. It included hearings, if I remember correctly.

Sorry. That was a lame attempt at humour.

I thought it was fishy. I should have seen thru it.