Cont: Luton Airport Car Park Fire III

[junkshop]

I mean people who understand how the press works and how politicians work...

Would you agree that this group doesn't include people that think that all journalists go on holiday at the same time as Parliament is in recess?

 

[SteveAitch]

Perhaps the "EV tanks" were stolen Soviet-era electric armoured vehicles that had been smuggled out of Tallinn.

But would the Grand Union Canal be deep enough for them to sneak in un-noticed?

 

[Mojo]

But would the Grand Union Canal be deep enough for them to sneak in un-noticed?

They could have been brought in by submarines flying above the surface.

 

[P.J. Denyer]

They could have been brought in by submarines flying above the surface.

So long as they aren't sunk by being holed above the waterline....

 

[smartcooky]

This is an example of the explanatory inversion in conspiracy theories. In a typical explanatory exercise, some particular observation or occurrence requires an explanation. We think of disasters and crimes as the most egregious examples. The task is to retrace the causal chain and determine the most likely case.

A criminal trial is not exactly apt, because it tests only one hypothesis in the absence of all others: the objective at trial is to determine whether a certain person was the cause, not who of all people is the criminal.

We follow a typical exercise of assembling hypotheses, assigning a priori probabilities to them, and assembling evidence to test the likelihood of each hypothesis according to the evidence. In the end, we hope to have a confident determination of cause.

Conspiracy theories often invert the process, and by so doing fail due to subversion of support. Put simply, many conspiracy theories are explanations looking for a something to explain. Such is the case here. Whether real or imaginary, the story of UK government officials wanting to protect private interests is a salacious tidbit looking desperately for a place to be applied. But there just isn't enough controversy in the Luton fire to demand such an explanation. That's why Vixen is working so hard to stir one up. If something doesn't look right to her, it must be a sign that something needs that full-power explanation she's so cleverly concocted. And if you don't agree with her that something is as meatily controversial as she says it is, and for the reasons she says it is, well then you're just not as smart as she is and you have your head in the sand.

Conspiracy theories are about coming up with clever solutions, not about solving problems. It's about trying to show how clever the conspiracy theorist is, not trying to show what explanation is best supported by evidence.

To quote "someone" I have previously interacted with on this and other internet forums....

"Conspiracism is a shortcut to the illusion of erudition."

"Remember that the goal of conspiracy rhetoric is to bog down the discussion, not to make progress toward a solution"


Oh, and nommed!

 

[phiwum]

I am afraid I am not at liberty to respond to your query.

Gosh.

 

[novaphile]

I mean people who understand how the press works and how politicians work.

The bigger picture.

You mean like those of us who worked for an elected politician, organised media conferences, and created press releases every day during that time?

 

[Steve]

You mean like those of us who worked for an elected politician, organised media conferences, and created press releases every day during that time?

Actually I think Vixen means like those who do Google searches.

You were likely too close to the source and could not see the forest for the trees.

 

[Jack by the hedge]

Actually I think Vixen means like those who do Google searches.

You were likely too close to the source and could not see the forest for the trees.

That's probably it - only those untainted by any actual experience of politicians or the press can see the big picture.

 

[MBDK]

I have never said I was smarter than anybody else. But I don't see why the well-read should be slapped down for being informed.

I just want to point out that truly smart people can understand and admit when they are wrong. They also know that being well-read and informed is subjective.

 

[jimbob]

What might be more valuable is people who understand how the fire service works.

Do they, for example, routinely lie about the causes of fires whenever the prime minister picks up the phone and orders them to do so? Do their whistleblowers only speak anonymously, and only to reporters for the Brigadoon Chronicle, which disappears when you look for it again?

I am afraid I am not at liberty to respond to your query.

For clarification, you are allowed to reply to this as long as your reply is on topic. .

If the link seems tenuous, then I would recommend explaining why and how this is relevant to the topic for the benefit of someone like a mod who is deliberately not reading or engaging in this thread except as a mod, so only has the most cursory view of the thread.

Replying to this modbox in thread will be off topic  Posted By: jimbob

 

[smartcooky]

I have never said I was smarter than anybody else. But I don't see why the well-read should be slapped down for being informed.

Being informed and well-read is not a substitute for understanding.

 

[JayUtah]

Nor is being generally well-informed or generally well-read a substitute for knowledge and experience in specialized fields.

 

[Mojo]

Being informed and well-read is not a substitute for understanding.

Judge: "Mr Smith, having listened to your case, I am no wiser."
F. E. Smith: "Possibly not, my lord, but much better informed."

 

[catsmate]

Nor is being generally well-informed or generally well-read a substitute for knowledge and experience in specialized fields.

Exactly.

 

[catsmate]

Judge: "Mr Smith, having listened to your case, I am no wiser."
F. E. Smith: "Possibly not, my lord, but much better informed."

[OT]
Wasn't be the barrister who composed the ditty around the breach of promise action between Miss Week and Mr. Day?

ETA: Actually no, on mature recollection I find that was Lockwood.

 

[Mojo]

What might be more valuable is people who understand how the fire service works.

Do they, for example, routinely lie about the causes of fires whenever the prime minister picks up the phone and orders them to do so? Do their whistleblowers only speak anonymously, and only to reporters for the Brigadoon Chronicle, which disappears when you look for it again?

Vixen, thanks to recent mod directions you are now at liberty to respond to this query.

How about it?

 

[junkshop]

Until the report is published, or some other new infomation comes out, this thread is in a holding pattern.


There is (IMHO) nothing to be gained by by prodding Vixen to answer questions that she is either unwilling or unable to answer.

 

[welshdean]

I think her dolls have been thrown out.

 

[TheGoldcountry]

You may not say it explicitly, but your posts often imply it, clumsily. For example, this one.

That's pretty generous.