The Problem With Conspiracy Theories
Spend enough time on the internet and you can find information on just about anything.
For instance: did you know that the Apollo moon landing was a hoax? That 9/11 was an inside job? That flouride is a mind control substance designed to keep humans dumb and under control?
The list goes on. Some of these theories may, in fact, be true. The vast majority of them are more likely false. But given an infinite space as vast as the web, and the tools for anyone to publish any thoughts in their head, and you have the ability to refute or bolster any claim imaginable.
Therefore it is much trickier to believe that any worldview is “the truth.”
The problem with conspiracy theorists is they ask you to demolish your mental programming, but demand you replace it with their own.
The result is to exchange one unproven worldview for another. And unfortunately, basing your decisions on the conviction of “knowing” is responsible for many of the world’s ills.
The only real truth is that it’s impossible to “know” anything. And the only real method of making decisions is through probability.
March 4th, 2009 at 8:35 am
Hi. Ian? Yeah, how’s it goin’?
Let me write you an article, Ian. It’s called “The Problem With Skepticism”. Here goes:
“Spend enough time watching television and you can find all the information you need to know.
For instance: did you know that the Bible is literally true? That the U.S. never conspired to overthrow any Central American governments? That clean coal is good for the environment and high-fructose corn syrup is good for your body?
The list goes on. Some of these realities may, in fact, be false. The vast majority of them are more likely true. But given the unparalleled power of special interests to be on your TV screen 24 hours a day, and the tools for only a small group of people to filter out all the silly and unfavorable “smears” and you have the all the information you need to call them all nutjobs and deny deny deny.
Therefore it is much easier to believe that all other worldviews are “a pack of lies.”
The problem with skepticism is it asks you to disbelieve from the outset, and demands you never become one of the “crazies”.
The result is to exchange one common worldview for an uncommon one. And unfortunately, basing your decisions on the conviction of “likely motives” is responsible for all of the world’s ills.
The only real truth is that it’s very possible to “know” everything. And the only real method of making decisions is through trusting what people in authority tell you.”
March 4th, 2009 at 8:38 am
Oh and above it I’m going to post a big picture of The Origin of Species and below it it’s going to say, in big bold white letters: “I WANT TO DISBELIEVE”. Maybe I’ll post it on my blog. Who knows?
March 4th, 2009 at 8:59 am
Greeting The_Tide - thanks for your alternative input. I’m not sure I believe my version and your version are mutually exclusive. In fact, I think they’re complimentary.
Skepticism can apply to content on TV just as much to the neverending info on the web.
Pilsbury tells me its pizza pockets are healthy and delicious? Hmm… but reason tells me they taste artificial and there’s a lot of ingredients that are hard to pronounce. Perhaps it’s not actually good for me.
My main point is that there’s a trend for people who reject the mainstream worldview to go too far over the edge with the unsupported worldview of others. They must be careful not to reprogram themselves before vetting the information.