Is "conspiracy obsession" related to character?

Question

This is not a dig against any particular ideology, nor is it aimed at anyone who has posted on this board. There just seems to be some good exposure to conspiracy theories here and I wanted to see if others have noticed this in their real lives:

I find that people I encounter who are fixated on government conspiracies also show a lack of personal accountability in their own lives--Divorces are always the spouses' fault, reckless driving tickets are only given because "the cop was a jerk"...things like that.

If you know people obsessed with conspiracies, do you find this common? Is there another trait youve noticed?

Answer 1

I am thinking of one guy in particular that I know in r/l who is certain that the Freemasons are out to kill us all, 9/11 was a conspiracy, gas prices are a government conspiracy, and his wife won't sleep with him because she is a frigid b*tch from hell. Never mind that this guy is 350 pounds of redneck love and he tends to smell like a Greyhound Bus bathroom.

So to answer your question...I have noticed that these folks tend to be the kind of people who are perpetual victims.

Answer 2

Anyone with any amount common sense, who has looked in to 9/11 at all should know the conspiracy theory is the official story.

There is just too much information out there supporting a cover up, the media is in on it too for their intentional covering up of very controversial facts surrounding the event. Every time I bring up one of these facts the answers seem to be the same: no way. It couldn't happen. the media would have reported it. I'll ask them to verify something for themselves and when I get back to them, they didn't have the chance to look etc.

So, don't walk blindly with the herd, look in to these so called conspiracies yourself. The truth is in the facts not the talking points.

Answer 3

I am obsessed with this conspiracy because the facts are there. Either people are to naive to understand them, or they make up excuses why we shouldn't believe the conspiracy theories. I tend to find people who are real defensive against the theories, are either, republican, are hiding something, or they are the type of person that doesn't like to except reality. I worked for the federal government, I know all about their lies and coverups, and I've seen first hand of the things they are capable of. Open your mind, and except the truth!

Answer 4

you ask an interesting question...

I get your point but beg to differ.
there are people who are responsible in their lives who also believe or are willing to investigate the facts that the theories are based upon.
and there are people who blame everyone but themselves for the messes they make in their life.
to me it is two different things.
the people who run off and cry conspiracy and the people who try to be fair and investigate the pro and con to the theory's.

some I believe because the researchable facts back up the claim and some I discard because they don't hold up to scrutiny.
this may be a sideways answer but it is the way I see it.

Answer 5

Three reasons for it:

1 - too young to know any better (wouldn't you just love to see the age, sex, race, zip code, educational level, etc. of the obsessives? Try this - 20, male, white, 94708, "high school")

2 - just plain laziness (too hard to think, research, discuss intelligently, take personal responsibility for, etc.)

3 - mentally defective (paranoid, schizophrenic, etc.) and usually controlled with meds

Answer 6

Say ... didn't I see your name on the list of peole who are conspiring to belittle conspiracies .... mmm?

Answer 7

Good connection. They also tend to have an unhealthy relationship with their mothers or fathers.

Answer 8

Conspiracy -- no.
Obsession -- yes.

You are not paranoid if they really ARE out to get you!