Interesting article about conspiracy theorists. I have always said and I am saying it again, they conspiracy theorists, hav e an (interesting ) not so balanced psychological profile with a ‘ touch of ‘ paranoia of course. No point arguing with them either.I have known a few, say no more!
Once you buy into the first conspiracy theory, the next one seems that much more plausible.
To believe that the U.S. government planned or deliberately allowed the 9/11 attacks, you’d have to posit that President Bush intentionally sacrificed 3,000 Americans. To believe that explosives, not planes, brought down the buildings, you’d have to imagine an operation large enough to plant the devices without anyone getting caught. To insist that the truth remains hidden, you’d have to assume that everyone who has reviewed the attacks and the events leading up to them—the CIA, the Justice Department, the Federal Aviation Administration, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, scientific organizations, peer-reviewed journals, news organizations, the airlines, and local law enforcement agencies in three states—was incompetent, deceived, or part of the cover-up.
Conspiracy theory psychology is becoming an empirical field with a broader mission: to understand why so many people embrace this way of interpreting history. As you’d expect, distrust turns out to be an important factor. But it’s not the kind of distrust that cultivates critical thinking.
The common thread between distrust and cynicism, as defined in these experiments, is a perception of bad character. More broadly, it’s a tendency to focus on intention and agency, rather than randomness or causal complexity. In extreme form, it can become paranoia. In mild form, it’s a common weakness known as the fundamental attribution error—ascribing others’ behavior to personality traits and objectives, forgetting the importance of situational factors and chance. Suspicion, imagination, and fantasy are closely related.
Read it for yourself!
Nov 21, 2014 @ 13:01:47
Lewandowski & Cook (mis)use this to equate climate sceptics with 9/11, moon landings and other conspiracy beliefs. See more here:
http://climateaudit.org/2012/09/13/lewandowskys-fake-results/
Nov 22, 2014 @ 06:06:40
How idiotic
😦
Nov 21, 2014 @ 13:13:53
A lot of this conspiracy stuff is, sadly, built upon a foundation of government lies and abuse of power.
If the US could go to war – and drag millions of others along and rode roughshod over others – over supposed WMD and were quite willing to sacrifice the number of soldiers and civilians on the flimsiest of pretexts then its a short hop to postulate they could have organised the reason in the first place. Not saying they did, but with their rep. it wouldn’t surprise me.
And the real problem ,of course, is Dickheads such as the Bush Brigade have already sullied the waters when there is need to act is for a genuine reason/cause.
How much truth there was behind Oliver Stone’s movie, JFK for example, is open for debate, but again, I tend to veer toward the adage, Follow the Money
Nov 22, 2014 @ 05:53:33
But these theories survive becasue you can tell some people any rubbish and they will believe it!
As for JFK here not all is conspiracy, there just never was a decent investigation at the time, many many slip-ups and it is known that Kennedy became president through promises to the Mafia which he did not keep
🙂
Nov 21, 2014 @ 14:26:18
I sometimes think I an surrounded by conspiracy theorist. My son in law and one of my best friends are always sending me emails with weird ideas in. I don`t know how many pictures I have seen with explosives going off on the sides of the Twin Towers. I think anything can be proved a conspiracy if you change the facts round to prove your point. 🙂
Nov 22, 2014 @ 05:50:20
I agree with you re twisting the facts to make one’s point!I am waiting for a conspiracy theory around ebola next
😦
Dec 05, 2014 @ 18:37:18
One should be on the net somewhere. I can`t see Ebola being missed out, look how quickly Pistorius jokes and theories came on the net.
Nov 24, 2014 @ 06:33:44
Reblogged this on Ramblers Rest.
Dec 22, 2014 @ 19:03:37
Been a month and no post. You are very quiet. All is well I trust?
Dec 22, 2014 @ 19:16:08
Fine thank you, still read you regularly. Not much to say though. 🙂
Dec 22, 2014 @ 19:18:56
Okay … lurk away. My inquiry was to check you’re okay, not to find out if you’re still reading my blog. But it’s nice that you are, and I be mindful of the lurkers when I post. 😉
No book reviews/recommendations on the horizon?
Dec 22, 2014 @ 19:30:43
🙂 I have on my to read list All the light we cannot see. Read it? Believe it s very good.
Dec 22, 2014 @ 19:37:38
No. Never heard of it. Author?
I’m busy reading Helliconia, Brian Aldiss.
Dec 22, 2014 @ 20:02:37
Had to google your book. Science fiction OK. As for all the Light…Anthony Doerr whom I do not know.
I have had my fill of war books but this one is supposedly different. I will read 10% and see if I can get into it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/11/books/review/all-the-light-we-cannot-see-by-anthony-doerr.html?_r=0