Conspiracy Theory 101. There is a reason Bob, why I have begun to equate some of your verbose ramblings as conspiracy theory. Not the least of which is because you believe the financial crisis IS a conspiracy and some shadowy person, group or country has brought it on. But let's look at some of the characteristics on Conspiracy Theorists (CT).
1) Extreme language. CTs tend to describe their theories using pejorative and extreme language. It is rarely an 'issue' or an 'event'. It is almost always a world-changing, massive coverup of enormous proportions that a great number of people are involved in. It is never an accident etc 2) Secret Knowledge. CTs love to sprout the fact that they know something the rest of us don't. They have access to some hidden wisdom that us lesser mortals don't. These sources are usually discredited websites, anonymous 'official' sources etc. When added to the paranoid who believe they are hearing from God it becomes cultish. Almost always their facts are without a shred of credibility. But some are legit... which leads us to... 3) CT interpretation of facts 101. CTs love to interpret facts and theories according to their latest idea or theory. When a fact can have several possible interpretations CTs will invariably use the one that supports their theory despite the fact that this interpretation is the least likely and defies statistical probablility. They claim to be seeking after truth but in reality are seeking confirmation of their own theory and nothing more. 4) CTs always predict doom and disaster. Never joy and happiness. There is never a conspiracy to feed the poor or cure cancer etc. 5) CTs will abuse those who query them. Often the abuse is astonishingly rough. 6) CTs never have just one theory. They always support a whole host of them. If you are a 911 CT then you probably don't believe in the moon landings either. 7) CTs are usually poorly educated. But this doesn't stop them from making grandiose statements on the viability of the Lunar Lander or on complex engineering or scientific issues. IN fact the less educated they are, the more they sprout. 8) The 'black helicopters'. CTs always believe some or all of the following. The New World Order, Illuminati, Zionist conspiracy, families ruling over governments and of course the famed silent 'black helicopters'. Aliens are also a regular feature. 9) CTs love guns and the right for all to have them and the necessity for self -defence. (I don't understand this one but it is a common trait) 10) The difference between CTs and Religious Paranoids (a diagnosed illness) is not much. Add an antichrist here and a few narrow-minded and theologically inaccurate interpretations there and voila... a RP (Religious paranoid) is born. And if we are unlucky, so is a cult. 11) CTs are often survivalists. 12) They are verbose. Bob, this is not a particular rant at you ok? BUT CTs have a habit of writing vast quantities of material, mostly repetitive and all of it pretty much in line with the above points. It is as if they seek to convince by the sheer volume of words rather than the information contained therein. That about covers it but there are more that could be added. Bob, some of your posts fit the bill. Not all thats for sure. But I'd be pretty uncomfortable if so many of the above fit me. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bob Calco Sent: Friday, 20 February 2009 1:15 PM To: 'ProFox Email List' Subject: RE: [OT] Federal Obligations Exceed World GDP Geoff: I provided you with so many links my fingers hurt afterward. "American Prayer"..."Obama Be Thy Name"... etc. etc. And for crying out loud just watch how the people groveled before Obama at the townhall meeting, for everything from unemployment benefits equal to working wages, kitchen sinks, cars, etc. There is a spiritual dimension to the myth of Obama that is very far from healthy. He manipulates it directly, and cultivates it---which would be no mystery to anyone who understands the real roots of black liberation theology. If you choose not to check them out just because they come from me, that's your choice to remain ignorant. - Bob > Well I grant that that here in Oz we don't exactly get a word-by-word > coverage of his every movement. But if you can show me some examples of > that > without the attendant hysterical commentary for me to judge objectively > I > will take a look at it. I just have serious doubt that anyone (except > the > loons that are out and about) would be seriously treating Obama as a > god or > divine. The Great Hope maybe - but that's altogether different. [excessive quoting removed by server] _______________________________________________ Post Messages to: [email protected] Subscription Maintenance: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech Searchable Archive: http://leafe.com/archives/search/profox This message: http://leafe.com/archives/byMID/profox/[email protected] ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. This statement is added to the messages for those lawyers who are too stupid to see the obvious.
