Why is the “moon landing conspiracy” theory so persistent?

Question

I realize that this same general question could be asked about any conspiracy theory, but the persistence of certain conspiracy theories makes more sense than others. For example, the "JFK second gunman" conspiracy theory is probably persistent because some people who opposed U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War WANT to believe that the CIA of the 1960s was corrupt and out of control. And some people believe in “9/11” conspiracies because they WANT to believe that the Bush Administration is corrupt and imperialistic, or perhaps some people NEED to believe that a good Muslim like Osama ben Laden is not capable of such a crime in order to avoid a crisis of faith.

But what’s up with the moon? Is it really so hard for some people to accept that the United States is capable of doing something so monumental that they will go to such incredible lengths to bury their heads in the sand and ignore the obvious evidence?

As said on a special on the National Geographic channel last week, it would have been cheaper and easier for NASA to build a rocket and go to the moon, than it would have been to pull off such an elaborate hoax.

Why are some people so bothered by the fact that someone from the U.S. walked on the moon?

Maybe this should have been posted in the “mental health” category, but most of the conspiracy theorists post here, so I would like to hear from them too.

I agree that it is good to question one’s own government from time to time, but “invading” the moon seemed harmless enough, compared to Iraq.

Thanks "sultan.murat" for responding. You didn't really answer my question, though, you just went on an "ad hommen" attack about people who would question your motives the same way that you question others.

I wasn’t trying to be insulting; just curious.

So, twoconspiracy theorists responded just to say that asking about their motives and/or beliefs is “agitating” them? It looks like the explanation proposed by “lithiumdeuteride” might be correct.

Answer 1

I have no idea, why do people still believe in alien abduction, that a UFO landed at Roswell with actual aliens inside, how about Bigfoot, the Regan was the devil, and Bush is the anti-Christ. Probably because it is more fun to believe the lie than to believe the truth. Reality is you go to work, crash in front of the TV, eat, and do the same thing the next morning. And more than ninety nine percent of the rest of the world does the exact same thing. But what if there was a secret organization dedicated to ruling public perception through government cover-ups and staged publicity stunts, and what if you, normal everyday Joe, just happened to stumble on to that conspiracy--how thrilling would that be. It's the whole Walter Middy complex.

Answer 2

Once you form any conspiracy theories they don't just die out. They'll be around forever really. Look at JFK. Some still think gov knew ahead about Pearl Harbor bombing. Oklahoma bombing have some conspiracy behind it. Waco. And many other events.

And the reason is that these conspiracy theories are never proven fully, but also very difficult to falsify it because they list so many 'secret', 'hidden' stuff. People basically set up these theories in a way that one cannot falsify it. Which makes it pseudo science. And that's what they are.

I can claim there are tooth fairies. Some will tell me to prove they exists. And I would simply say prove they don't exists. This is kind of how conspiracy theories work.

Answer 3

One explanation for the phenomenon of conspiracy theories is disillusionment with the government and the state of science in general.

Many people feel their government doesn't listen to them (perhaps rightly so), and this, coupled with the fact that science now seems beyond the layman's grasp, leads some people to contest scientific achievements as a way to rationalize their perceived abandonment by the government.

The reasoning would go something like this:

1. The government must be evil, or else I wouldn't be in the mess I'm in.
2. An evil government will do whatever it takes to hide the fact that it is evil.
3. Scientific achievements touted by an evil government must be lies.
4. Anyone who believes the fraudulent achievements must be part of the conspiracy.

Answer 4

People believe conspiracy theories for two reasons. First, because they are intellectually lazy, and don't want to go to the trouble of digging up the actual facts themselves, or even drawing conclusions on their own. Second, they want to believe that someone is actually in charge and in control behind the scene and things happen for a reason, good or bad.
In reality no one is in charge or control of events. Things just happen, and no matter what you believe, or how you act you can still be the victim of random happenstance.

Answer 5

Some people are just convinced that their government constantly hides things from them (of course, governments do hide things but these people believe it happens with anything and everything). Their ignorance in physics only acts to back up their paranoid theories. In an age when people are less and less trusting of each other, it's easier and easier for these people to take the tiniest bit of uncertainty and turn it into a deep, dark conspiracy... and to get others to see their side of things. Sad.

Answer 6

Some people will believe anything, no matter how bizarre or ignorant. Obama cashed in on this universal stupidity and told enough lies to get elected. Lenin called such people "useful fools".

Answer 7

I question this conspiracy epically considering it has holes in it large enough to drive an aircraft carrier though. I think some just can't fathom the fact that humankind did go to the moon in the face of great danger. Of course that's what explorers do, head out and explore i despite the fact of great danger.

Answer 8

Some people just have it in them to question everything. Questions are good. Accusations are bad. The moon conspiratists are just SO adamant about it that it appears to be a religion. The will never believe the data. Closed minds can't accept the facts.

Answer 9

Well it good to question authority sometimes and the moon landing happened at a time when we were at odds with Russia and suspicions ran high about everything. Its kind of the same scenario now with the Iraq conflict and our leaders are doing questionable things.

And then again some people just like to keep s**t stirred up because they can't find entertainment elsewhere.

Answer 10

Because proof of a conspiracy would be hot news. People love hot news, current example is all the interest about Paris Hilton. It's an exciting story, that's all.