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Title: About Conspiracy Theories (Who You Gonna Believe...Your Own Lyin’ Eyes?)
Source:
Lew Rockwell
URL Source: https://www.lewrockwell.com/2016/01 ... osquito/conspiracy-theories-6/
Published: Jan 1, 2016
Author: bionic mosquito
Post Date: 2016-01-01 11:51:09 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 1466
Comments: 4
The Guardian is out with an examination of conspiracy theories and the reasons why people go for these (HT The Daily Bell). From the piece, with my initial thoughts in italics: From 9/11 to the Paris attacks, from Ebola to Isis, every major global event attracts a corresponding counter-narrative from the ‘truthers’ [this is good news], some so all-encompassing that they take over people’s lives [probably not healthy unless focused on real investigation and action]. Are our brains wired to believe, as a new book argues? [Wired to believe authority, perhaps] And could such thinking actually be beneficial? [For the healthy among us.] It is interesting that this comes from the Guardian – the news source that has gained some credibility with anti-state / anti-empire types due to reporting such as provided regarding Snowden, as one example (not that I am advancing a conspiracy theory or anything). The author does tread lightly and respectfully. The author of the piece, David Shariatmadari (I won’t type the last name again), begins with some testimony from a recovering conspiracy theorist, one apparently previously obsessed with 911 conspiracy theories. How does David respond? Elliott’s reaction to the trauma of 9/11 was far from unusual. The attacks were so unprecedented, so devastating, that many of us struggled to make sense of them. Early reports were confused or contradictory: as a result some treated the official version of events with scepticism. A proportion of those in turn plumped for an explanation that would require fakery and coordination on a massive scale. The official narrative of 911 involves “an explanation that would require fakery and coordination on a massive scale.” If we are to dismiss every theory of 911 based on this criteria, it is the official narrative that is the most preposterous and therefore must be the first to go. Setting this aside, it seems to me unnecessary to come up with an alternative theory, at least as a starting point; the official narrative is so full of holes – and questioned by numerous architects and engineers, pilots, etc. – that it is sufficient to acknowledge that we have been fed a massive lie and one that has resulted in the needless death of millions and the trashing of liberties for billions. Within a day of the terrorist attacks on the French capital, blogs had been published arguing that they were the work of the government – a so-called “false flag” operation. I have no idea if the recent attacks in Paris were a false flag operation (although the apparent perpetrators were well known to French intelligence agencies); however, no one with even an ounce of curiosity could conclude it was the first one ever in history. Questions should be raised, if for no other reason than to call into question the spending of countless trillions of dollars spent to spy on everyone in the world, resulting in the stupendous failure of Paris (or San Bernardino, or whatever). Belief in so-called conspiracy theories has been pretty consistent, according to Viren Swami, professor of social psychology at Anglia Ruskin University: What has changed, however, is the speed with which new theories are formed. “It’s a symptom of a much more integrated world,” he says. The internet speeds everything up, allowing conspiracy-minded individuals to connect and formulate their ideas. This is to the benefit of us all: no matter how quirky our ideas – not only regarding such events but also (in my case) regarding economics, liberty, etc. – it has become much easier to find community and to build on the learning of others. We are no longer confined to work colleagues, the neighborhood bar, a church social group, or postage-sized ads in the back of some obscure magazine or another. Social psychologist Karen Douglas agrees: It’s very easy to go online and find other people who feel the same way as you. Returning to Viren Swami: In contrast, it took months for theories about Pearl Harbor to develop. And such theories about Pearl Harbor turned out to be true. It turns out we are not alone: “Recent research has shown that about half of Americans believe at least one conspiracy theory,” [Douglas] says. “You’re looking at average people; people you might come across on the street.” Half down, half to go. Karen Douglas is wary of rubbishing all conspiracy theorising as dangerous. “Thinking in that way, it must have some positive consequences. If everybody went around just accepting what they were told by governments, officials, pharmaceutical companies, whoever, then we would be a bunch of sheep, really”. Would it be a conspiracy theory if one suggested that the entire premise behind government education and control of mainstream media is to turn us all into sheep? Swami offers: For him, this hints at an important potential role for education. “The best way is, at a societal level, to promote analytical thinking, to teach critical thinking skills.” How much critical thinking does it take to question something very simple: say building 7, for example? If furniture fires can bring down a modern high rise, why hasn’t every building over three stories tall been condemned as unsafe? In any case, they don’t want to teach critical thinking (wait, another conspiracy, perhaps?). Returning to the recovering conspiracy theorist noted at the beginning of David’s piece, describing his liberation of being set free from critical thinking: “That was the epiphany, really. I was free. I was happy. None of the doom and gloom predicted and promised ever came.” For Ryan, by then 27, the bizarre ride was over. And this is the hope of those who spoon feed us (is that another conspiracy theory?): it certainly makes life simpler to just believe what we are told. Here is my own list (not only conspiracy-theory type items but also an examination of the false history we have been fed). It is over a year old; I suspect a few links may be dated or dead. I have also written more on such topics since then; I intend to update this list in the next month or so, but it will do for today. Conclusion First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. All is for the best Believe in what we’re told Blind men in the market Buying what we’re sold - Neil Peart, RUSH .
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#1. To: Deckard (#0)
(Edited)
- Mahatma Gandhi That would be a lovely quote if it wasn't a fake. We don't know where this quote came from, but it is strikingly similar to something that the trade unionist Nicholas Klein gave in a 1918 address to the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America in Baltimore: "First they ignore you. Then they ridicule you. And then they attack you and want to burn you. And then they build monuments to you. And that, is what is going to happen to the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America."
Big fire in a Middle Eastern high rise, has it collapsed yet? I think the most frightening thing is not that people believe the government would deceive them. It is that they believe they would not do so.
No, No jet fuel or impact to make the damage worse
Nope, and it most likely never will. Compare that fire with the WTC fires and explain why this building has not collapsed. Of course the Official Government Fairy Tale cultists here will tell you that jet fuel fires can weaken steel while burning well below 800 degrees. In a Cop Culture, the Bill of Rights Doesn’t Amount to Much First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
People act as though there was something admirable about Gandhi, a truly despicable figure in India's long history. And that ignoring all of Gandhi's voluminous and well-documented shortcomings as a human being and political leader somehow imbues them with his mythical virtues in some way. Few of these Mahatmaniacs know anything about India or Gandhi other than seeing the well-known propaganda film that was financed by the government of India.
This line is probably the best summary of Gandhi's philosophy of satyagraha as you can get in 16 words. But there's no evidence that the Great Soul ever said this.
#2. To: Deckard (#0)
#3. To: jeremiad (#2)
Big fire in a Middle Eastern high rise, has it collapsed yet?
#4. To: jeremiad, paraclete (#2)
Big fire in a Middle Eastern high rise, has it collapsed yet?
“Truth is treason in the empire of lies.” - Ron Paul
Americans who have no experience with, or knowledge of, tyranny believe that only terrorists will experience the unchecked power of the state. They will believe this until it happens to them, or their children, or their friends.
Paul Craig Roberts
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