CBC-TV on Belief in Conspiracy Theories

[Gord_in_Toronto]

On CBC TV tonight: "Why do people believe in conspiracy theories?" at 9PM, October 20, 2011

What's really at the root of society's skepticism of the “official story”? What type of person is it that believes a sinister and secret society is manipulating the government?

Set against the global socio-political landscape, Conspiracy Rising uses the latest science and psychology to investigate the causes of conspiracy theories, why we are wired to believe them, and how as a society it is imperative that we separate the fantasies from the real threats.

<snip>

Featuring outspoken US publisher of Skeptic Magazine, Dr. Michael Shermer, who uses scientific methods to question if there is truth behind the theories with his “Baloney Detection Kit" and British psychologist Patrick Leman who explains the social needs for conspiracy theorists’ beliefs, Conspiracy Rising takes a hard, penetrating look at the psycho-social and philosophical roots of conspiracy theories, examining who tends to believe in them and why.

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http://www.cbc.ca/doczone/episode/conspiracy-rising-1.html

Looks like it could be a touch of fresh air.

(Also on CBC Newsworld at various times Friday, Saturday and Sunday).

 

[Corsair 115]

Is this a new episode? I could have sworn this was broadcast before.

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

Is this a new episode? I could have sworn this was broadcast before.

I am ready to be proved wrong but it is listed as new on the Canoe TV listing web site and the comments at the CBC site are all recent.

Thanks to some guy found hiding in a sewer it was not broadcast tonight (or so I understand -- I would have missed it anyway as I went to a concert by Ben Veeren that turned out to be surprisingly good).

 

[Corsair 115]

I am ready to be proved wrong but it is listed as new on the Canoe TV listing web site and the comments at the CBC site are all recent.

It may well be a new episode and perhaps I'm thinking of other telecasts of similar programs. I was just wondering as, having listened to CBC Radio of late, there is an awful lot of repeat broadcasts on there (and on ex-Newsworld too, back when I had cable).*

*I was astonished to hear the degree to which CBC Radio was repeating broadcasts. I thought repeats only happened on television networks. Seems I was mistaken. (That, and copying the audio portion of television reports and then airing them as radio broadcasts.)

 

[Brian-M]

I can't help thinking of a recent XKCD comic...

"The 'controlled demolition' theory was concocted by the government to distract us. '9/11 was an inside job' was an inside job!"