University of Victoria professor Dr. Arthur Kroker says the Internet has given staying power to theories that in the past might have had a shorter lifespan.
"People can do their own research and talk to one another," he said. "Before, it was only in the hands of elites. Now people can get different sources of information and make judgments on their own. They can also do it globally and do it fast."
Dr. Kroker said some of the 9/11 skeptics raise valid questions, the most credible coming from the Scholars For 9/11 Truth. The non-partisan association of faculty, students, and scholars from U.S. think-tanks and colleges hopes to use scientific reasoning to explain the events of 9/11.
But for Winnipeg terrorism expert Peter St. John, who teaches courses at the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg, the interest in 9/11 conspiracies is a sad commentary on Western culture.
People believe what they find easy to digest without actually being critical, he said.
"Why do they want the truth? Don't they expect to be lied to?" he said.
"That's the real problem of the Internet," he added. "These theories are fun, but they can play fast and loose with the facts. It makes it easy to jump to conclusions. People believe without really checking it.
"And human gullibility makes it even more confusing."
