What is a conspiracy theorist?

[SkepticGuy]

Hi Tokorona...

Maybe if the conspiracy theorists offered facts, it'd be worth considering?

This is the long-standing conundrum isn't it?

Proven conspiracies throughout history have a list of proven facts that have resulted in prosecution and/or well-regarded journalistic reports. But, the issue is, that until we reach either criminal investigation or journalistic bomb-shell, it's all just a "conspiracy theory". Once the evidence surfaces, it's no longer a "conspiracy theory", and it becomes a scandal.

So the "conspiracy theory" phase is the speculative phase that a lot of pure skeptics have trouble dealing with (and a lot of immature conspiracy fans have as well). History is well populated with "speculative phases" where investigators were called "silly conspiracy theorists" (Iran Contra, Watergate, Gulf of Tonkin, Bay of Pigs, etc.).

Up until the madness of 9/11 conspiracies online, pure "conspiracy theorists" were generally more responsible and well-educated than the silliness of the truthers we see now. For example, the very first 9/11 conspiracies authored by experienced theorists were more in line with this idea:
1) government covert groups infiltrated terrorists cells and caused the attacks to happen
rather than the madness of such ideas as:
2) a missile, surrounded by a hologram, hit the pentagon

Item #1 has a basis in history and known covert actions, while #2 is misinformed speculation based on too much Hollywood.

 

[PhantomWolf]

Ali baba Osama in the cave and the 19 Arab cokeheads.

You know with comments like this, why do I get the feeling that there is a lot of racism involved with 9/11 CT's?

 

[Calcas]

I call

Ok Arkan.

You have proven your special sock detecting radar more than once.

But now, I must insist, you need to identify who the suspect is.

You could get the $1Mil if you keep it up...

 

[Free Thinkr]

I don't believe you. That you haven't read either is painfully obvious.

Conspiracy liars fall into two categories: the True Believers with kaleidoscope eyes who make no bones about being as crazy as sh**house rats, and the thoughtful, sensitive seekers of truth, i.e., the real phonies.

So true.


Here's the thing: we know the drill. Each CT comes in thinking he's special, and that he can fool us into believing he's "just asking questions" and that he can slowly dole out his dreck and convert the lot of us to CTs. Each is unwaveringly spotted immediately, of course, and they deny it, of course. Yet, virtually every time the debate progresses and we find out that, surprise surprise, they believe the jews/illuminatti/Bush/lizard people were behind 9/11.

Maybe this guy's the rare exception. One way to prove it: ask actual questions and accept the answers given, or give legitimate reasons why you don't accept them.

 

[fuelair]

What is a conspiracy theorist?

Any intelligent being that believes in, creates or participates in the creation of a conspiracy theory.

 

[PhantomWolf]

Any intelligent being that believes in, creates or participates in the creation of a conspiracy theory.

I'd dispute that deffinition.

 

[SkepticGuy]

Any intelligent being that believes in, creates or participates in the creation of a conspiracy theory.

I'd dispute that deffinition.

How? Give me facts, not opinion.

 

[PhantomWolf]

How? Give me facts, not opinion.

Show me an Intelligent CT and you will have falsified my Theory.

 

[fuelair]

Any intelligent being that believes in, creates or participates in the creation of a conspiracy theory.

I'd dispute that deffinition.

I mentally argued that point with myself. Problem is a person below a certain IQ would not have the mental ability to even think about the concept (actually, any concept) of conspiracy in a meaningful way or the ability to manipulate language and data to attempt indication of such theory to others.
I will certainly agree that a lack of ability to use available intelligence rationally is missing, but there must be a sufficient intelligence to conceptualize and communicate a belief in the existence of a conspiracy .

 

[Mr. Albert Jackson H]

Help for post

Sorry to intrude here but I'm new at forums and don't know how to post. I wanted to suggest that the encyclopedia include a referent to “incubus” in the “succubus” entry. :-o

The forum instructions really ought to have a “How to Post” entry for ignorant fellows like me.

 

[SkepticGuy]

(Sorry, took me a while... didn't want to get bogged down in 9/11, so I pulled one from recent history)

Show me an Intelligent CT and you will have falsified my Theory.

http://joecrubaugh.com/blog/2007/02/10/israeli-terrorist-cell-uncovered-in-egypt/

During the 1960's, information about the Israeli terror cells in Egypt were first called conspiracy theories, right up until they were confirmed in the late 1990's.

This early "zionist" conspiracy was a popular subject on the CompuServe conspiracy forums in the 1980's. The theories were pretty describing false-flag operations, as has been confirmed.

 

[PhantomWolf]

During the 1960's, information about the Israeli terror cells in Egypt were first called conspiracy theories, right up until they were confirmed in the late 1990's.

Do you have evidence of this? The link you provided was of one account in the mid 1950's which failed and caused serious polictical fall out and a very public spy trial.

 

[SkepticGuy]

harumph

I mentally argued that point with myself. Problem is a person below a certain IQ would not have the mental ability to even think about the concept (actually, any concept) of conspiracy in a meaningful way or the ability to manipulate language and data to attempt indication of such theory to others.
I will certainly agree that a lack of ability to use available intelligence rationally is missing, but there must be a sufficient intelligence to conceptualize and communicate a belief in the existence of a conspiracy .

My, aren't we full of self-agrandizing back-slappage?

Yes indeed sir, it must be wonderfully fulfilling to sit and contemplate the complexity of one's naval lint in such a fine flourish of prose. To expound with poetic grace on the absurdity of the relevance of subjective intelligence scores in concert with conspiratorial cognition must have provided you with untold hours of gleeful mental masturbation. And now that you have presented your postulation with orgasmic results, you're basking in the joyfully warm aftermath of what you believe to be a superior ejaculate of composition and style.

Silliness.

Pure rubbish... I'm sure you feel better for dismissing those pesky "CTers" as simpletons.

 

[SkepticGuy]

Do you have evidence of this? The link you provided was of one account in the mid 1950's ...

The link is rather sparse as I read to the end... I'll see if I can find more information on this one...

There's a lot more to Avraham Seidenberg beyond the Levon incident... but this example may have not be a good one, as a lot of the material predates the web.

 

[Arkan_Wolfshade]

harumph



My, aren't we full of self-agrandizing back-slappage?

Yes indeed sir, it must be wonderfully fulfilling to sit and contemplate the complexity of one's naval lint in such a fine flourish of prose. To expound with poetic grace on the absurdity of the relevance of subjective intelligence scores in concert with conspiratorial cognition must have provided you with untold hours of gleeful mental masturbation. And now that you have presented your postulation with orgasmic results, you're basking in the joyfully warm aftermath of what you believe to be a superior ejaculate of composition and style.

Silliness.

Pure rubbish... I'm sure you feel better for dismissing those pesky "CTers" as simpletons.

And what meaning do you expect your delusionally self-important statements of unknowing, inexperienced opinion to have with us? What fantasy do you hold that you would believe that your tiny-fisted tantrums would have more weight than that of a leprous desert rat, spinning rabidly in a circle, waiting for the bite of the snake?

 

[SkepticGuy]

And what meaning do you expect your delusionally self-important statements of unknowing, inexperienced opinion to have with us?

That the coconut could have arrived here tied to two African Swallows.

Now begone you silly Ka-nig-it or I shall taunt you again.

 

[Orphia Nay]

I call

Quite possible, or a LC nonja (my pet name for the little darlings).

I call "victim mentality". Name, original post in this thread, and almost all subsequent posts are made with an aggressive "poor me" attitude. WR has backed him/herself into a corner before he/she's hardly started.

In WR's Hillary Clinton thread, it was quickly pointed out that WR had jumped to conclusions about Hillary's 'fake' accent. Instead of graciously admitting the mistake, WR has dug in his/her heels and become nasty.

Without Rights, it seems you are a believer in the Quantity Theory of Conspiracy. I.e. The more you read about not believing the "official version" (sic) the more you don't want to admit you've wasted your time.

I can only hope that you spend more time reading and less time whining, and you may learn to evaluate claims based on their own merit, not on your preconceived notions of victimhood.

 

[skepticalcriticalguy]

Conspiracies exist.

 

[LashL]

Conspiracies exist.

Nobody here has ever suggested otherwise. Your point?

 

[beachnut]

Did you happen to read any of those threads I provided when you where looking for a critical analysis from a conspiracy perspective?

Maybe if you spent less time playing "no facts" parrot and more time reading, you'd understand both sides of the issue (which is always the intelligent thing to do).

I was not even talking to you about anything that that refers to. What are you talking about? Do you feel guilty?

If you are talking about ATS, I have been to ATS and there is good stuff and there is woo stuff. So?