I hate conspiracy theories, I consider 98% of them to be total nonsense but I have some family members who are 100% conspiracy crazy 24/7. In their world every controversial event is a staged performance, complete with a troupe of paid actors and there's a cure for most diseases but it's hidden from the public. I mean, there is nothing that transpires upon the earth that isn't a conspiracy and it's all seamlessly orchestrated by secret illuminati organizations.
It's been my observation that most people who live with this world view also believe in ghosts and supernatural phenomenon and are completely undeterred by a lack of evidence for any and everything they believe. I'm curious, how many of you guys have the same type of friends or family?

Yes, some people believe in every wild conspiracy theory that comes up, which is unrealistic. However evil deeds have been done and hidden, so it is best to investigate these theories from time to time.

I work with a guy who at first blush is as professional and level-headed as they come. Get him sitting down with a few beers, however, and he starts to unleash his beliefs...it doesn't really do much to instill confidence, and it lowers others opinion of him. People are entitled to think and believe as they will, but sometimes it pays to keep that opinion to themself.

What's the saying? Better to keep one's trap shut and appear the fool, than open it, and remove all doubt.

Kind of like anatomy, everyone's got one (kooky relative) but many don't like to talk about it.
Just don't invite them back to Thanksgiving dinner.

They usually give the government way too much credit. They are inept at everything other than getting their hand in your pocket so these huge collaborations with no leaks are just unrealistic.

I like that people don’t necessarily trust everything they are fed but you have to be realist also.

quote:

Originally posted by c1steve:
However evil deeds have been done and hidden, so it is best to investigate these theories from time to time.

Yes, you should try investigating- actually investigating, instead of blindly speculating or looking superficially at facts in evidence.

Are you a glutton for punishment, or what?

https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...0601935/m/5690022174

Forgive me, but it's bizarre- you seem interested in the Kennedy assassination, yet your research consists of watching 50 year old movies which are nothing but pure fiction. Why stop with Executive Decision? Why not include Winter Kills, The Parallax View, Enemy of the State, Shooter and the biggest, most elaborate of all whackjob conspiracy movies, Oliver Stone's JFK?

In that thread, you admitted that you haven't done any actual research in the subject and I took the time to point out to you some sources where you might begin, yet what do I see today? I see you in this thread, talking about "evil deeds" and the need to investigate them, when you youself have done nothing of the sort! And here you are with- literally- an entire world of information at your fingertips, yet all you've done is watch a film which is nothing but fiction.

Now, Steve, you've been a good member of this forum. I can't recall ever having any trouble with you, but I have to tell you that you need to get off of this. Think about this- even after I've made it clear (many times, over many years in this forum) that the Kennedy assassination is in the main an off-limits topic because of the utter insanity surrounding it with all these ridiculous theories, I've still offered you the opportunity to come back to the subject in six months to a year, provided that you do some research. Yet, here you are, the very next day, seizing on an opportunity to make vague rmarks about "evil deeds". You need to cut it out. Quite frankly, when it comes to the JFK assassination, you know next to nothing.

Now, have we sufficiently derailed the OP's thread?

I've got some family that likes to 'theorize' reasons for certain events, it's largely gossiping, speculating and conjecture; killing air for the sake of....killing air. For some of the younger members I can see it makes an impression. The vast majority of them have never traveled outside of the state they live-in, ergo, their understanding of the world is, limited.

I'm not against skepticism and a healthy drive to question the status quo. Cops would be lousy cops if they trusted everyone. Doctors would be nearly useless if they didn't dive into a condition, and who wants a dentist that takes one look and says "looks alright to me."

Some things invite suspicion and rightfully so; others are just so irresistible that people can't let them go. I have no problem with people having their own views...but I'd prefer they keep them to themself, and I'd prefer them to be based at least on logic, if not fact. Most conspiracy theories are based on little more than wild speculation.

An individual was once expounding on his conspiracy of the WTC, and told me about the pyroclastic cloud that came down from the WTC as the building collapsed. He said it was evidence of considerable heat. I asked if he meant the dust cloud, and asked if he knew what a pyroclastic flow was. His theory was that the video of the dust blowing outwards as the towers collapsed, looked just like video he'd seen of a volcano. Therefore, it had to be the same. Straw man logic at best, no evidence, and 100% wrong, but he didn't care, and he was going to push it on everyone that would listen. He couldn't explain how people in the dust flow weren't horribly burned, but logic didn't matter, and neither did facts.

That kind of thinking, I can do without. Generally, I'd rather people kept their pet conspiracy theories to themselves. Except flat earth, which is funny. It's mostly funny because of those who get so upset by it; the ones who rail the loudest are the ones who don't get that it's a joke. The joke's on those who don't get it. That's what makes it funny.

That, and whales taking over the earth with mind control. But that's not funny. It's real. Very, very real.

Met a couple folks like that in my life. We probably all have.

Seems to me people have a tough time facing the randomness in their lives. One of the cliches I have really come to dislike is "everything happens for a reason". No, not necessarily.

As for large groups keeping big secrets, it happens all the time. We don't like not knowing stuff, must something bad right? But the fact is we just don't know, so a lot of folks have to give it a narrative. Nature, it seems, really does abhor a vacuum.

The US Navy SEALs couldn't keep a secret about who shot Bin Ladin...several of them wrote books and more than one claimed credit.

Large groups keeping secrets? No.

Oh great, another thread on a topic that anyone around here with an ounce of common sense knows that the forum owner is not going to allow a discussion on.
But you started itt to draw anyone in to discuss the forbidden topic. Nice work op.

And no I do not now anyone like your idiotic family members.

Enemy of the State and Shooter are great conspiracy movies, Don't remember Parallax View and Winter Kills, need to add that to my list...

old rugged cross,
No, I didn't start a thread to draw people into a forbidden topic. I had some encounters with my conspiracy minded family members and I simply wondered if others here had the same kinds of family or friends. Mmm...sounds like you think I'm involved in a sigforum conspiracy. Watch out, theyre everywhere.

apprentice, I disagree. Everything DOES happen for a reason -- there is some cause for every event, but in many (most) cases we're not aware of it. I will agree that it is true that not everything happens for an intention.

flashguy

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
But you started it to draw anyone in to discuss the forbidden topic. Nice work op.

I don't think that's the case. I happen to agree with his statement. Furthermore, a meta-discussion, not aimed at any particualr conspiracy theory, is not an off-limits subject. It's only when we get into the Grassy Knoll, Marilyn and the Kennedys, fake moon landings and the like, that there's a problem.

quote:

...Don't remember Parallax View and Winter Kills, need to add that to my list...

Oh, man, you are missing out. Winter Kills is damn entertaining (most movies with John Huston are) and The Parallax View is downright frightening. Credit that to director Alan Pakula.

Consider it on the agenda, will have to find it on NetHuluPrimeFlix

I'm trying to remember a movie where this guy is into all kinds of conspiracy theories and stumbles upon one that actually was true.

I think this topic could be part of a conspiracy.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
I'm trying to remember a movie where this guy is into all kinds of conspiracy theories and stumbles upon one that actually was true.

Conspiracy Theory, with Mel Gibson.

Or the x-files...