Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

By Andrew Nusca | Sep 10, 2009 |

Did NASA really land on the moon?

Did the government cover-up involvement in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks?

Is Elvis still alive and kicking? What about Michael Jackson?

Was John F. Kennedy assassinated at the hands of multiple shooters?

Do the Freemasons control the United States?

A small but fervent group of people believe there was more than included in historical record about the aforementioned events. Conspiracies, they call them. And every generation has its own.

Some of them turn about to be true, after all: Pearl Harbor was a Japanese conspiracy and Nixon’s Watergate break-in was a coverup.

But with so few that turn out to be true, why do people believe in conspiracies?

A new article in Scientific American tries to figure that out. Michael Shermer outlines in his “Skeptic” column four traits of those who believe:

  • patternicity, or a tendency to find meaningful patterns in random noise;
  • agenticity, or the bent to believe the world is controlled by invisible intentional agent;
  • confirmation bias, or the seeking and finding of confirmatory evidence for what we already believe;
  • hindsight bias, or tailoring after-the-fact explanations to what we already know happened.

A conspiracy theory takes flight when all of these are concocted into a heady mix of conviction. It’s called “conspiratorial cognition,” and it’s the fuel driving belief in Bigfoot, Area 51’s UFOs and the paranormal.

But research has been thin on precisely why some have a conspiratorial dispensation.

Back in 2007, Patrick Leman wrote in the New Scientist that belief in conspiracy theories is on the rise thanks to the distribution power of the Internet.

Take the JFK conspiracy, for example: In 1968, two of every 10 Americans believed it to be true. In 1990, nine of 10 Americans believed it to be true.

Leman writes:

Conspiracy theories can have a valuable role in society. We need people to think “outside the box”, even if there is usually more sense to be found inside the box.

Take the Iran-Contra affair, a massive political scandal of the late 1980s. When claims first surfaced that the US government had sold arms to its enemy Iran to raise funds for pro-American rebel forces in Nicaragua and to help secure the release of US hostages taken by Iran, it certainly sounded like yet another convoluted conspiracy theory. Several question marks remain over the affair, but President Ronald Reagan admitted that his administration had indeed sold arms to Iran.

On the other hand, distrust contributed to an inflation of the East-West fears during the Cold War, as well as continued belief by some that HIV (which causes AIDS) was created in a lab and distributed by the U.S. government to limit the growth of the African-American population.

Some points from his article:

  • People who believe in one theory are more likely to believe in others.
  • There is a strong association between income and belief levels: the better-off are less likely to believe in conspiracy theories. (Perhaps this can be chalked up to education.)
  • Instability makes most of us uncomfortable; people prefer to imagine living in a predictable, safe world. Some conspiracy theories offer accounts that feel “safe” or “predictable.”
  • Conspiracy theories often mutate over time in light of new or contradicting evidence.
  • Conspiracies usually require a big newsworthy event on which to peg it.

But it’s Shermer who drives the point home. He writes:

“The more elaborate a conspiracy theory is, and the more people that would need to be involved, the less likely it is true.”

 
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  •  
    1

    JohnMcGrew@...

    09/11/09 | Report as spam

    Or perhaps it's just general ignorance

    The less people know about the fundamentals of basic science,
    economics, or politics makes it easier for them to fall for conspiracy
    theories based upon half-truths.

  •  
    2

    lefty.crupps

    09/11/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

    > There is a strong association between income and belief
    > levels: the better-off are less likely to believe in conspiracy
    > theories. (Perhaps this can be chalked up to education.)

    Or perhaps the more-well-off can afford to defend themselves against the conspiritors? wink

  •  
    3

    mbratch

    09/11/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

    "There is a strong association between income and belief levels: the better-off are less likely to believe in conspiracy theories. (Perhaps this can be chalked up to education.)"

    Uhmm... I don't think so. Unless you count actors/actresses and TV personalities in the "low income" bracket.

  •  
    4

    Anita Y. Mathis

    09/11/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

    I found it very interesting that the official NASA moon landing photo was "lost" and had to be redigitized.

  •  
    5

    Anita Y. Mathis

    09/11/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

    correction, the filming of the moon landing was lost and had to be reproduced very recently. I do have a basic knowledge of science.

  •  
    6

    R_Lance

    09/11/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

    I think a major factor is that if people cannot trust the people in power (or the people defending the event) they are more likely to believe that they are being lied to and something else is behind it.

  •  
    7

    computergirl4

    09/11/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

    If Charlie Sheen is considered low income, then what am I? As far as being educated, I graduated college. This article is way off.

  •  
    8

    Bobby Bob Bob

    09/11/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

    "Uhmm... I don't think so. Unless you count actors/actresses and TV personalities in the "low income" bracket."

    Are you honestly implying that actors are the rule and not the exception when it comes to the rich? I think the use of actors as an example probably is a key indicator that you are probably of the less educated variety. Do you believe staunchly in conspiracies too?

  •  
    9

    cmrdecker@...

    09/11/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

    "Back in 2007, Patrick Leman wrote in the New Scientist that belief in
    conspiracy theories is on the rise thanks to the distribution power of the
    Internet.

    Take the JFK conspiracy, for example: In 1968, two of every 10 Americans
    believed it to be true. In 1990, nine of 10 Americans believed it to be true."

    The internet wasn't even around in 1990, not in the way we know it today.

  •  
    10

    Dr_Zinj

    09/11/09 | Report as spam

    Freemasons do NOT control the United States

    I have all the proof of that that I could ever wish for.

    My grandfather was the head of the Masons for the State of New York. My father never got beyond the 3rd degree and is just getting by on his retirement and social security. I'm still working my butt off and never got a single break.

    If the Masonic Lodge(s) were in control of the U.S., then I would have gone to an Ivy League college, gotten a military commission instead of an enlisted job, and retired to a high-level management position or government office.

    Nope. Anyone who beleives the Masons are in control of the United States is an escapee from the insane asylum or a retirement home for the demented.

    Sure, a lot of people in higher levels of government and business are Masons, and deals may be discussed and agreed on between individuals at masonic functions; but the organization itself isn't controlling anything.

  •  
    11

    pgit

    09/11/09 | Report as spam

    concerted...

    Here's a conspiracy for ya... this last week in the news media I have heard several stories mention "conspiracy nuts" and the like. Sci fri American, which became useless propaganda about 10 years ago, is in on it too apparently.

    Curious as to how Andrew came to write this up. Someone at corporate suggest it?

    BTW I read Scientific American cover to cover, every issue from 1973 through around 2001. When I canceled my subscription I wrote the (then new) chief editor with my observations. His reply indicated he acknowledged some of my criticisms, chiefly that there was now an official "position" within the over all operation. (one example now is assuming "climate change" to be man made, for instance)

    Used to be it was all about the science, whatever that was and wherever it went. aka "objectivity." As a source scientific American is as subjective as fox news and cnn any more.

  •  
    12

    harnessingthegrid

    09/11/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

    It is hard to refute the evidence that the demolition of Building 7 of the World Trade Center 7 hours after Towers I and II fell was nothing more than a cover-up to destroy all of the files of Enron and Arthur Anderson that were being held inside the offices of the SEC in Building 7. I'm sorry if you think I'm paranoid or a lunatic, but before you judge me or condemn me, you should look at the YouTube video on the subject: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AXG6KEiM2k&feature=related

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    13

    Anonymous Obama

    09/11/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

    Everyone knows that the people who propogate conspiracy theories were planted there by the government to throw everyone off. This way the government (aka "the Masons who are assisted by aliens") can inject nanobots into our bloodstream whenever we give blood, get vaccinated or log into GMail. Everyone who studied the historical documents "Independence Day" and "Men in Black" already know this. We are just waiting for the rest of you to catch up.

  •  
    14

    kcorean@...

    09/11/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

    3 out of the 4 coud be appplied to the Global Warning Hoax - Let the flames begin...

  •  
    15

    kcorean@...

    09/11/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

    Oops - damn keyboard - "could be "

  •  
    16

    adornoe@...

    09/11/09 | Report as spam

    From one conspiracy to another...

    pgit: Why go from one conspiracy to another with your statement:

    As a source scientific American is as subjective as fox news and cnn any more.

    While it may be true that news reporting leaves a lot to be desired lately, you are accusing two stations of having a conspiracy to report the news in a "biased" fashion.

    If that is your belief, then you need to elaborate with specific examples of proof for both of those networks. That you may dislike one or the other or both is not conclusive enough.

  •  
    17

    Selabkram

    09/11/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

    People conspire all the time. For example: The Bay of Pigs was a conspiracy, (by our very own CIAand President Kennedy). Bank robbers, drug dealers, murderers, rapists, insider traders, con artists, are all examples of people who conspire to do some evil or another.

    If you have to use an ad hominem "throw-word" like 'conspiracy nut', at people who think that there is more going on than they are told, it is prima facia evidence that you want to silence them. For whatever reason.

  •  
    18

    jrlambert

    09/11/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

    Conspiracy theories... nearly meaningless phrase, unless given specific scope within discussion.

    Scientific American's ability to be "scientific"....
    Science has never been without "beliefs" or "bias" (reason: people)... it just continues to strive toward a better understanding of the physical world around us.
    VERY hard to state any scientific "fact" without depending on some "limited, current" understanding on which the "fact" depends (Relativity vs Newtonian vs string theory?)
    And being "scientific" about Human beings actions/beliefs?..
    Well , let's just say. we have a long way to go.

    Generalities (strong association between income and belief levels)
    This brings up many issues:
    - correlation does not equal causation.. ( sorta related to article - people seeing patterns in things - I suspect is a very human trait).
    In a way... the article has proven it's own point .. they are seeing patterns in things .
    - statistics...
    ......often misused or misrepresented.
    ......presented without complete references
    Which is why Mark Twain's made the observation of "lies, damn lies and "statistics"

    Biggest reasons for "conspiracies" ..
    - trust betrayed ( numerous examples in institutions of Gov, etc...)
    How does anyone belief in the "facts" presented around a specific event, when there a numerous examples of people in positions of authority lying to the public?.. people take this personally (fool me once , shame on you.. fool me twice , shame on me).
    The example of change in opinions about the Kennedy assassination, is likely to be more a representation of loss of trust in government (after Watergate/Nixon, Iran/Contra, etc.....)
    We - as a people in the US - had lost our innocence.

    - complex issues trying to be understood by people with limited understanding (trying to make sense of things). Education alone will not address this completely.
    Somethings are beyond the comprehension of a large number of people.
    And somethings are beyond the comprehension of ALL people.

  •  
    19

    paron

    09/11/09 | Report as spam

    Misleading Headline: These are "Traits," not "Reasons"

    Traits might mean that a person has a tendency to accept conspiracy as a viable theory.

    Others may have traits that make it difficult for them to see conspiracy even when it does exist (Gulf of Tonkin, Nazi Death Camps, etc.)

    History has plenty of examples of both.

    "Reasons" would be factual matter (for which conspiracy may or may not be a viable explanation:)

    A 1000-page report that neglects the fact that a 47-story building that fell down -- I mean, neglects to mention that it happened, let alone offers an explanation.

    A claim that, even though the attack was a complete surprise, teams were dispatched to collect every video with a view of the Pentagon strike within an hour.

    Facts that don't seem to fit the explanations offered: those are the reasons people suspect conspiracy.

    Shermer claimed that certain traits make conspiracy a more or less acceptable theory. If there were no perceived discrepancies in the available data, personality traits would be a null issue. Please be more careful.

  •  
    20

    Darr247

    09/11/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

    jrlambert - "something" is not always equivalent to "some thing" (nor "maybe" and "may be," et al).

    Any sufficiently advanced technology is assumed by some people to be magic (or a miracle). And string enough coincidental 'evidence' together and you'll find *some* loon that will run with it for you.

    e.g. it was a miracle that Jack Ruby appeared to me in a dream in 1961 burning G.W.Bush's long form and saying the american King's successor had been born in Kenya. Imagine my shock a couple years later when Ruby murdered Oswald in TX so LHO (notice the similarity to BHO;s initials - just a coincidence?) couldn't testify how this guy named G.H.W.Bush from the CIA had hired him as an assasin to avenge the lives lost at the Bay of Pigs. This was all foretold by Nostradamus, of course.

    Nevermind that Kenya didn't become a country until 1963.
    The 'form of a burning bush' was a nice touch, don't you think? happy

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    21

    uwanscj@...

    09/11/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

    I think the publishers of these write-ups should moderate the postings. I am disappointed that some people who call themselves educated chose to disagree by being nasty and rude. This is not a forum for insults or abusive languages...we claim being civilized, yet we are the most backward humans when it comes to behaviour and interaction. TR should not publish and write-up that has any form of insult, abusive language or rude. Even with what I have said now a lot of people will still attack me. In conclusion, EVERY PERSON HAS THE RIGHT TO BELIEVE IN WHATEVER THE PERSON SEES FIT.

  •  
    22

    aubreykohn

    09/11/09 | Report as spam

    how about overwhelming evidence?

    The very term "conspiracy theory" is a manifest scheme to control
    permissible public discourse. Overwhelming evidence is what generally
    convinces me. For example when I saw the 1963 Look magazine
    photograph of Oswald standing in front of the TSBD building while the
    Kennedy limo drove by, or when I saw the original Zapruder film of the front
    of Kennedy's head getting blown clean off. Skepticism is intellectual
    dishonesty when evidence is overwhelming.

  •  
    23

    testerzz

    09/11/09 | Report as spam

    Another reason

    It seems to me that conspiracy theories tend to spring up whenever the official version of events does not add up, or sounds fishy. That leads people to not only suspect that something is being covered up, but to try to formulate an alternative version of events. That's when they often trip up.

    For instance, in "the Roswell incident", the fact that the army changed its story made a conspiracy theory inevitable. In this case, it seems that there WAS a conspiracy - even if it had nothing to do with aliens and more with top-secret military experiments.

    Of course, sometimes the conspiracy theorists get proven right. Then it turns into a "political scandal" and people forget that it started off as a conspiracy theory.

  •  
    24

    aws@...

    09/11/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

    Earlier in the replies, someone mensioned that his dad or whatever was a mason, then can you please tell me why does most of the high ranking officials have a mason connection or atleast be invloved in some masonic activities, they have long run this country from the money bills to its intent on terror and so-on. Their is alot of work put in to this, we barely could understand because it has took them hundreds of years to scheme and built their secret sociaty, with the help of the dark side, why does 911 always occure, why did W.Bush on Sept.11-1990 say he wants to make anew world order, 11 years later, his son completed the job with 9-11, has alot of people thinking is it just coincedence or do you call 911 for help? by the way
    9 - is humans
    10 - is God
    11 - is one step behind God to Lucifer
    when you call 911 your by passing God to get help from the masons or so-called lucifer advocates.\
    Please don't flame, alot of facts , alot of unanswered questions, google it and see for yourself it all makes sense

  •  
    25

    Greenknight_z

    09/12/09 | Report as spam

    Why conspiracy theories lumped together

    There's a rash of these kind of stories lately, all promoting the idea that all those who question official explanations of events are the same, that it's something in their psychological makeup rather than gaping holes in said official stories.

    Some of the "conspiracy theories" are ridiculous, but some serious issues get lumped together with the total crackpot theories in order to deflect serious examination.

    Look at the flip side of this argument - why are higher income people more likely to accept the official account even when it makes no sense? I think it's because they have more of a stake in the established system, the idea that the authorities are lying to them threatens their sense of security.

    I don't think the Masons run the country, but I know the 9/11 report makes no sense.

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    26

    johnfatz@...

    09/12/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

    Many things are considered to be crack pot conspiracies, but has anyone ever given thought that perhaps some are not so crazy as one would think.
    Case in point, Prez O is being pressed to make his original Birth Certificate available, but refuses and has spent 1.5 Million in legal fees to prevent release of documents, while hearings were heard for John McCain to determine if he was actually a US citizen but was cleared by his simply supplying his birth cerificate.

    Question is why is O fighting it? If you go for a job where there is sensitive government material, you are required to provide information to the FBI for a background check along with, yup, Birth cerificate.

    But not to worry, Court Date for preliminary is Jan 11, 2010 for validation of verfied BHO Kenyan BC and Registrar record submittal. But this is only a conspiracy theory

  •  
    27

    mikifinaz1@...

    09/12/09 | Report as spam

    And being part of a conspiracy

    When I was in the military I was part of a conspiracy.

  •  
    28

    yeoman

    09/13/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

    It seems to me that one major reason people believe in conspiracy theories is that every now and then a ?rumour? is shown to be true. E.g., the recent admissions by the CIA and other intelligence agencies with respect to various aspects of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. The average layperson has no way of knowing whether some things are true or not, and when some preposterous claim is found to be true, then what are we to believe?
    BTW, Freemasons have pretty strong connections in Australia, until recently owning a large hospital in Melbourne and having members in a lot of important positions in business and government. But I thought it was the Jews that controlled the world....

  •  
    29

    mahlon

    09/13/09 | Report as spam

    on the other hand,

    What are the reasons that the rest of the sheep that don't believe the conspiracy theories just believe whatever they're told by the media? Anyone who has been exposed to the media propaganda from across a mix of political environments will know that all media is either self-serving or in the service of a political power. Personally, while I don't go around with a tin foil hat on or believe that Elvis is living on the moon, I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that various assassinations were engineered by 'security' organisations etc...

  •  
    30

    ahbetts2@...

    09/14/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

    Masons in control?
    You can't get two Masons to agree how to make a
    tomato sandwich.

    Surely you jest.

  •  
    31

    Old Dog V

    09/15/09 | Report as spam

    Education?

    I changed school systems often, and found that far too many instructors, often in the "better" schools, expected one to accept their "facts" w/o question. I also had a few, in some backwoods Ark. schools, that encouraged questioning darn near anything, if one did it with an open mind & a diligent search for evidence. This type of teaching seems far too rare today, and many students are not interested, just want a decent "pass" & a degree. Einstein had a gut feeling his relativity theory had a flaw, but couldn't put his finger on it. however, Joe 6-pak accepts it as fact, & so do many of our educated elite. The answer to the conspiracy question may well be found in the education of the believers, but not in the way most judge "education." Go outside the box, find the flaws, look at the ones with no flaws even if evidence is slim, & keep thinking & digging.........or not.

  •  
    32

    EndGame666

    09/17/09 | Report as spam

    Agenticity

    Ah, therein lies the rub. Regardless of what one believes about Elvis, JFK, Area 51 or the moon landings, there ARE intelligences that shape our world. But since the "west" has become "post-christian", demonic and angelic influence has been consigned to the "nut-case" bin - which suits Satan just fine, as he operates exceptionally well in the absence of recognition. It is true that all of us are susceptible to going off on a tangent with conspiracy theories (CTs), myself included. But here is truth: there is a lot more going on around us every day than we could ever think or imagine - just because we can't see or measure the spiritual world with a slide rule or microscope doesn't mean it isn't there, or that it is not affecting / effecting each and every one of us.

    For myself, I am putting my money on the revelation of how this existence REALLY played by God at the end of time being far more "shocking" and "unbelievable" that the weirdest, nuttiest CT's being dreamed up today. And let us not forget: in this age of deceit (which is most certainly a fact, not an opinion - at least for those who compare the lies that wash out of the mouths of governments and media outlets the world over with God's perfect truth in the Bible), telling the truth, or even believing in it, is most certainly a revolutionary act - and not everyone likes revolutionaries... (esp those who want to keep their gravy trains on the rails - isn't that right, Reverend Gore?).

  •  
    33

    femtobeam@...

    09/30/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

    EndGame666 says: "But here is truth: there is a lot more going on around us every day than we could ever think or imagine - just because we can't see or measure the spiritual world with a slide rule or microscope doesn't mean it isn't there, or that it is not affecting / effecting each and every one of us."

    While we may not be able to measure the spirit world, we can measure the distance and speed of light waveforms to implanted and embedded devices used for brain interfaces. Many of these network operators, pretending to be spiritual beings, are sitting at computer terminals. The trick for people, including them is knowing the difference.

    Conspiracy theories remain theories because facts are obscured. People believe in them more now because information is available, with researching and cross referencing of sources. The other reason is just plain common sense. Everyone is skeptical about building being hit without insider planning for the whole thing that involves more than a few foreigners with box cutters.

    Further, anyone who watched it happen on television knew it was planned conspiracy. What makes people suspicious is how those people identified, mostly from Saudi Arabia, ended up costing us so many lives in a war with Iraq and unaccounted for profits by oil businesses as subcontractors.

    Americans are not stupid, they know when they are being lied to and fooled, even if there is no proof...yet. The quantification of information will get to the bottom of it and as long as there are people trying to dominate others, there will be conspiracies. Any business meeting about competitive strategy is just that.

    The problem lies with those who attack people for expressing their views, which are nearly always based on what they have seen, read or discussed by and with others. It is usually in the form of calling them "nuts". Clearly, the number of scientists and women in psychiatric prisons and the huge numbers of slave laborers in prisons today, show that there is profit to be made by putting them there.

    Profit motive and power is behind every conspiracy. The problem is...we only find out about them AFTER the damage is done, unless it is classified or covered up by corporate sponsored trolls. Corporate greed is the causitive agent.

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    34

    aubreykohn

    09/30/09 | Report as spam

    Skepticism is a codeword

    Skepticism is a codeword for intellectual dishonesty, an excuse to
    disregard the preponderance of evidence in favor of a more politically
    correct model of reality. Michael Shermer is an outstanding example of
    this demographic group.

  •  
    35

    john.t.anthony@...

    10/01/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

    1.people need to believe in something. (that's one of the reasons for religion)

    2.everyone knows the government is dishonest.

    3.humans question everything; that's whats makes us human.(for example: no other animal can question its own existence...)

    4.every myth is based on some fact.

  •  
    36

    Gilmon

    10/12/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

    The History probes that the people in power continually acts in a conspirative way of life to obtain more power or money or... then, when we at local level see and can knows about little conspiracies, we extrapolate it to the mayor national/international events. With or without probes.
    The human nature is selfish, egocentric, trying to obtain the best for ourselves/family/country and so. Then we must lie and conspire to obtain it.
    The humanity is goberned by the enemy. That means
    a terrestrial, animal and diabolic way of life. Everyday this goes deep in the darkness. Until God will say stop. It is time to judge.
    All the media manipulates the truth. Almost all the people accept it without reasoning. If we knows a little about natural-physical laws, we can made or own conclutions. In the 911, due to physical laws is impossible that this little planes do the fall and absolute demolitions of that very big towers in 10 seconds. And the absolute disintigration of the pentagon plane is an never seen plane crash in the 100 years of aviation history. Please borrow my defficient english wording. I am spanish spoken. Thanks.

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    37

    LeonBA

    10/16/09 | Report as spam

    Two more reasons

    1. They're exciting; they make life more interesting. This is the same reason people believe in fairies, goblins, Nessie, etc.

    2. They absolve you of responsibility for what's being done wrong. If the country/world is being controlled by a secret cabal that you have no influence over, then whatever's gone wrong isn't your fault in any way. There's no need for you to reconsider the way you vote, support a cause by attending protests, or anything like that.

  •  
    38

    bobbyreal

    10/31/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

    yes i agree with you, but people love to believe those conspiracies because they all are just idiots.scientists dedicate their lives for the welfare of humanity and people ignore this and say it is done by some imaginary GOD/ALIENS/DIETIES/ILLUMINATI/ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT... this list goes on and on. i pity all of them

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    39

    Ironman6

    11/15/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

    Reason 1: The U.S. Government nuclear test on solders. I doubt that men in these units volunteered. Later most of them died of cancer and other effects of atomic test.
    http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2149878949626814717#

    Reason 2: The Tuskegee Experiments in which the U.S. Government conducted Syphilis on Black Men.
    http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0762136.html

    Reason 3: Federal Reserve and Income Tax. American people should not have to pay the Federal Reserve Private Banks money the right to print money for the Government.
    http://www.apfn.org/apfn/tax.htm
    http://news.goldseek.com/GoldSeek/1095269452.ph

    Reason 4: The Government House Bill 15090 for the development of HIV/AIDS virus. Race specific virus for depopulation.
    http://open.salon.com/blog/freeduhm/2009/01/22/house_bill_15090_showing_that_the_us_government_asked_for
    http://www.apfn.org/apfn/aids.htm
    http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/AIDS3.html?q=AIDS3.htm

    There are many more examples such as False Flag operations the illegal war on terrorism and illegal war on drugs. Do not tell me that Governments including ours do not conspire to commit these acts. By denying such crimes is in itself is criminal.


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    40

    zaragozabill

    12/01/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Four reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories

    1.) Our nation began in conspiracy;

    http://chss.montclair.edu/english/furr/spl/thandekawhiting.html

    2.) Society seems to function primarily for the benefit of the
    wealthy and powerful;

    http://www.reclaimdemocracy.org/personhood/fourteenth_amendment_hamm
    erstrom.pdf
    3.) There have been conspiracies undertaken by powerful people in
    our recent past;

    http://coat.ncf.ca/our_magazine/links/53/53-index.html

    4.) Our political system is designed to give the appearance of
    liberty, free expression and inclusiveness even as these values are
    rendered meaningless;

    http://politeaparty.blogspot.com/2009/10/on-ideology-of-two-party-
    state.html

    Finally, our intelligence services and our mass media work hand in
    glove on behalf of our most powerful citizens rather than the common
    good;

    http://www.takeoverworld.info/media.html#THE_CIA_AND_BERNSTEIN_
    http://www.smokershistory.com/abc.htm
    http://www.takeoverworld.info/overclass.html
    http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1332
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Mockingbird
    http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/politics/dontblink.html


    Still I believe that as Patti Smith sang, "People have the Power";

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbkKYTfUVx0


    "A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves."
    ~Edward R. Murrow

    "The political machine triumphs because it is a united minority
    acting against a divided majority."
    ~Will Durant

    "The citizen can bring our political and governmental institutions
    back to life, make them responsive and accountable, and keep them
    honest. No one else can."
    ~John Gardner

    "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their
    dreams."
    ~Eleanor Roosevelt (1884 - 1962)

  •  
    41

    Death Row Tenant

    12/19/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Conspiracy Theory

    A fact is of the brain and can be proven. Truth, beyond the brain, as a spiritual experience, can never be a fact. Please do not close your minds to others experiences. You do not have to agree or perceive the Truth of another.

    Due to over 17 years of experiences which I can not explain (because the brain mostly only understands facts, not Truth beyond the mortal), it is confirmed in my mind that there exists a huge powerful underworld. A mammoth Real Estate Corporation and management company has developed secret ways to act as the alternative government to those who wish to bypass the democratic process. The "Godfathers" of this Real Estate power offer services such as control with fear and even murder via accident on purpose. This mammoth Real Estate power also offers an Insurance Policy against lawsuits. Health and personal information is collected about us from computer software programs and internet giants as well as by the lower members of this Real Estate Power I named "Webmob" in my blog site: http:apartmentsstrangehappenings.blogspot.com.. This "Webmob" prepares for court before they commit their crimes. I could go on and on if anyone was interested to write me at my blog site. There is NO question in my mind that someone has been trying to kill me over the years. I have a stong fight or flight instict as well as the secret nature of the "Webmob" crimes usually have a pattern where they use several members to execute a crime such as "A" doesn't know "B" doesn't know "C" where "X" is the person who placed the order. Also, after many years, I figured out when I am "free." If I have no patterns, I am generally free. Early in the mornings and late at night I have always felt free going out. After doctor appointments, I can have "events of imminent danger", but not always. I have learned to trust my "fight or flight instinct" and accept feeling ostricized by much of society (though not all) for my beliefs.
    These "Webmob" criminals can find out your patterns, your health, what you fear, what you buy that could be stolen, your banking patterns, etc, what can be used to manipulate you, what can be used to set up a problem to make you look bad to a jury in court (they are well aware of human limitation and use it-- such as the sex trap juror to trap lawyers or judges). It is all so complicated and, intentionally, so as to make it impossible for the brain to follow the tangled and twisted "web"-- all to prepare for court before they commit their crimes.
    I understand that to be in denial of what I believe, is the norm. Our brains will put us into denial when we are not ready to deal with something horrible.
    But my suggestion is-- protect yourself, democracy IS at stake! http://apartmentsstrangehappenings.blogspot.com

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