Is the term conspiracy theory just a means to hide the truth?

Question

I keep seeing the word conspiracy theory here on YA and I keep thinking that in any conspiiracy there must be some element of truth. When someone claims that 9/11 (i use this only as an example) was an inside job the governement and government controlled media simply label it a conspiracy theory which resigns a possible truth to the rubbish bin of "never investigated journalism".

The words conspiracy theory have such stigma attached to them - making people who believe them seem like crack pots, wierdos, lunatics - that using this label is a simple way for governments to cover-up pretty much anything they want.

If you are going to tell a lie make it a big whopping unbelievable lie. They are the sort of lies people believe. Lies like Saddam has WMDs that can hit the US at any time. The bigger and scarier, the more chance of success. A Lie behind a conspiracy theory has to be so unbelievable to the public to work - Hitler & the Reichstag, the US govt and 9/11????

Cookie Monster, I am not saying that 9/11 was a conspiracy but there are doubts. The film of Bin Laden for me is the biggest one, as the guy who supposedly is Bin Laden looks nothing like him, and several facts on the film run contrary to the CIA report on Bin Laden - e.g. the fact that the guy in film appears right handed while Bin Laden is left left handed, the fact he wears jewellry contrary to his religious beliefs etc. I am just stating that in this day and age it is easier to get hold of contrary information.

Who said the terrorists took responsibility. I assume they would have spoken Arabic or Persian. How many Americans or Westerners speak these languages and can verify what the Govt, CNN, Fox, the BBC or any other organisation say. The govt feeds this news to the news organisations and the new organisations simply pass it on to the people. Investigative journalism no longer exists in the mainstream! Those outside the mainstream are automatically character assinated.

In a sense the US govt have continually made use of the Big Lie technique, a technique mastered by Hitler in his rise to power. See the following link.

http://www.answers.com/topic/big-lie

Answer 1

I love this question. You have, I believe made a point about the reason we are called conspiracy theorists in the first place. Any truly thinking person would have to concede to your argument, or it at least has to make them stop and think. Unfortunately, there are still going to be those who refuse to see, no matter what logic or evidence you stick right in front of their faces. I think that if I could come up with a way to make them all finally open their eyes and see the truth, I would become one of the riches people in this country!!!!

Answer 2

I believe that when something totally out of the ordinary happens, like 9/11, 7/7, landing on the moon etc......I think that we as Human Beings can't seem to quite handle the processing of it in our brains.

To compensate for this I think we like to start answering 'difficult' questions to cross-question, almost, what has happened.

I believe when we start asking these questions and disecting the facts it gives us some sort of order in our conscious.

I hope I am making sense!

I do believe that we are not always (or even ever) told the truth about world events and that then the 'people in power' use our own human instinct and start throwing other information about knowing that the are groups of people that will create conspiracies and then like you said label those with being lunatics etc.

I have read that even perhaps Pearl Harbour was 'created to happen' and with 911 and 7/7.......what is the most powerful way for others to feel sorry for you and support you, especially when the 'others' could be powerful allies.

Sometimes I get so wrapped (and go crazy) up in conspiracy theories because certain facts are out there.......but for now I have taught myself just to understand and read about them because unless some powerful whistleblower will come forward, little ol me will never ever learn the truth..........

The Mind the Gap film about 7/7 on Google totally freaked me out for weeks. I did loads of independant research on what I learned on that film and I wanted to scream at people and tell them what I had heard etc. I had deep conversation with my friends and they thought I was going mad! Like you said about the making it a whopping lie, I believe that, but others I talk to say to me that the government would never ever make up something like that. So I guess the bigger and scarier it is, there is more chance of success.

Great question, sorry to go on
Kate

Answer 3

the problem with conspiracy theories is that for every major issue, there are many different versions. Each theorist grinding his/her own axe and cherry picking only those bit of information that support that particular theory. It has become discredited because it has been grossly overplayed (like political correctness). There may well be a major conspiracy happening, by the conspiracy theorists against the established order

Answer 4

In this day of knowledge as apposed to ignorance it is a gift that we have the ability to challenge and not be expected to believe what we are told. As to the 9/11, I have to apologise as I can believe that it could have been possible.Just as with mans walk on the moon unless you were there how could you know that it happened? I also have to apologise for the fact that I totally believe that people could have been capable of the conspiracy theory. Could it be that too much knowledge will be the downfall of the human race?

Answer 5

To use the phrase "conspiracy theory" in the manner that you mean, does show a certain amount of skepticism to the government version of the truth on a given issue. We have that right to question facts and to ask questions of our leaders. Our branches of government can also question other branches of government and the military on questionable issues. If we have doubts, we should do what it takes as Americans to obtain the truth, as it is within our rights and responsibilities as citizens to do so.

Answer 6

These people that keep disputing the validity of 911 being an inside job seem to be oblivious to the fact that several of our government agencies are undertaking and engaged in covert actions on a daily basis - actions that are totally illegal, seemingly illogical, (some) absolutely murderous and most that will never, ever be revealed.
Our government is chock full of secrets...chock full of conspirators.

Answer 7

well put , it can as we see be quite hard to bring this up in public its very clever though you have to give it to these freaks they dont do things half heartedly . the main thing is you gotta do what u feel is right and dont cowar to people that can only name call and deny the facts . 9/11 WAS AN INSIDE JOB!!!

this is the sort of thing your talking about above my answer the cowards that dont research anything , people that are scared feel like there are no consequences for them and come out with stufff like we will never find out what happened on 9/11 just like JFK ,well we will in years not decades and when WW3 kicks off these people still wont have a clue , if they cant comprehend something it cant be possible this is there attitude . well people like that need a tin foil hat because they are special needs !! but there i am sinking to there level lol wake up people .

Answer 8

OK!!! for the last time... The terrorists TOOK CREDIT for 9/11 So there is no fooking conspiracy... You need to tighten your tin foil hat.

Answer 9

Conspiracy no, complicity, yes. Good question