The Problem With Conspiracy Theories

March 3, 2009 by Ian MacKenzie

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.

Bonus: Michael Shermer on why people believe strange things

Posted in Alternative, Philosophy, Politics and tagged with , . RSS 2.0 feed.
  • The_Tide

    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.”

  • The_Tide

    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?

  • Ian MacKenzie

    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.

  • http://Website Ty Allen

    The trouble is if a conspiracy exists there are those who would naturally want to discredit anyone who “exposes” it. Thus, if someone denies the conspiracy they could be thought of as being part of the conspiracy. Others could pose as conspiracy theorists and act as nutty as possible in order to discredit them.

    About the best you can do is separate facts from conjecture and from outright lies, get information on the motivations of those making one claim or another, check your findings against common sense and your own biases, and you should at least be able to decide which theories have credibility and which do not.

    For example, the NWO conspiracy theory has credibility because, 1) the Bible predicts a one world dictator. 2) world leaders (including U.S. presidents of both parties) do things that make no sense (like refusing to allow domestic oil exploration, or forcing banks into risky practices which lead to failure, or imposing national healthcare, etc.) unless they are deliberately trying to create economic and social disorder as a means of bringing the public into subjection. 3) some have even used the phrase “New World Order,” and 4) the lust for power has plagued human civilization since the beginning of time, why should we think it’s any different now?

    There are other reasons, and I could be totally wrong, or only partially wrong, but the logic and reasoning is pretty clear – (for such a limited space)…

    We should probably be at least as skeptical of those who mock conspiratists as we are of those who promulgate seemingly whacko theories…

  • Jonny

    This is the problem there is a problem and then there assumptions thus belief. History has proven that other conspiracies are true such as Y2K which immediately says it easy to have a different view. Everyone has a right to their opinion but when it affects something that is not true that’s why there is a problem. There is no ultimate answer but we as people need some assurance of trust and that is why these kinds of issues. There should more respect between different opinions than “I know its the truth, I saw it on video.” Our minds are easily blinded from what from what we really know and because there is a lack of trust some of us are going to think there conspiracies. We all have different beliefs and views but that does not gives us to convince especially when yourself can’t be sure its true buts its all you know. This is my view: I don’t know anything but I do know its easier to think you know when in fact that is just a perception. There needs to more respect between belief and or opinion and less I know better.