Conspiracy theories are rather special to the skeptical movement (of which I'm a part) - they hold a special place in our hearts as they demonstrate so many logical fallacies so well.
Most have at least the following aspects in common: +) Actions taken are ALWAYS intentional - there are no accidents, no fumbles, no incompetence. Everything is a calculated aspect of the conspiracy. At the same time the members of the conspiracy are not either clever or aware enough to actually hide the conspiracy. +) All evidence against the conspiracy can be instantly converted to a PART of the conspiracy! It's simply the machine protecting itself. This makes conspiracy theories wonderfully self-fulfilling: since all evidence is seen as further evidence of conspiracy. Any expert that changes their mind or refutes the conspiracy has been coerced into doing so. Any evidence that doesn't lend itself to the desired result has been tampered with and so forth. +) The "facts" supporting the conspiracies are clearly common sensical but always flawed or missing information. It's OBVIOUS that Oswald couldn't have been the only shooter even tho' it's been demonstrated time and again that he could have been. A good example from 9/11 is the idea that the buildings couldn't have collapsed because a Jet Fuel fire can't burn hot enough to melt steel. This assumes that the steel needed to melt for a collapse to take place. In reality however steel loses more than 50% of its structural integrity at 1100 degrees - and jet fuel burns at up to 1500 degrees. Steel simply doesn't need to melt to sag, flow and stretch enough to cause a collapse. +) Actions taken are always ordered by something/someone "bigger" than they seem. Only very rarely are specifics given: most often we of "Shadow Governments" or "Ancient Fraternities" or "Global Cartels". In this one aspect nearly all conspiracy theories are vague and fuzzy. They This video demonstrates a lot of that. Popular Mechanics did a great debunking article, it addresses most of the points in the video: http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/defense/1227842.html?page=1&c=y All told the video is a rehash of previously debunked (and re-debunked and re-re-debunked) materials. Jim Davis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:204675 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
