Conspiracy theories typically perform two simultaneous services for people who rely on them.
First, they relieve chronic anxiety caused by life situations beyond the sufferer's control. Those situations might be pyschological, social or existential. Regardless, conspiracy theories provide a useful bad guy on which the sufferer can focus anger. Secondly, they are an intellectual crutch for people who are smart, but lazy. Normally, someone who wanted to know why a location of varied retailers had been faltering would actually have to study retailing in general, as well as the businesses in question, before expressing an opinion on what happened to them. But that requires humility -- a willingness to ask questions with an intent to learn answers from others, rather than assert answers to others. By assuming all unfortunate events are caused by demons, or Communists, or one's employer, conspiracy theorists bypass the bother of having to study anything in particular. One explanation fits all, and they already have it. -- Tony West But hey, why would the conspiracy folks consider the actual facts? Melani Lamond
