The thing with conspiracy theories is that sometimes there really is a conspiracy.
In fact, this is a regular occurance in law when criminal conspiracies are prosecuted. The prosecutor will present a
theory of the case to the jury outlining how the defendant(s) illegally conspired to break the law. Conviction or acquital depends on the strength of the prosecutor's arguments against the strength of the defense attorney's counter arguments in support of an opposing theory of the case.
In the purest sense of the term, these lawyers are conspiracy theorists, but I wouldn't say that to one's face. That's because the egregious behavior of some conspiracy theorists and the specious nature of their theories has given the term a bad name.
Alex Jones and his Sandy Hook conspiracy theory is the formost example.
So what separates the ordinary person with a theory of the case from the wild-eyed nutter? After all, both present arguments and evidence to support them. Let's start with a favorite quote from Sherlock Holmes, “It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.” To my thinking, this is one major distinguishing characteristic - the twisting of facts to fit the theory.
I even provided my own example of the phenomenon up-thread, though I was just making a funny.
Joe wrote: ↑Tue Nov 28, 2023 1:36 pm
Cunt wrote: ↑Tue Nov 28, 2023 4:34 am
Joe wrote: ↑Tue Nov 28, 2023 4:08 am
Cunt wrote: ↑Tue Nov 28, 2023 3:20 am
Now on to that historic conspiracy theory, about the phrase 'conspiracy theorist', who do you think invented it, and why would they do such a thing?
You're on your own for that tonight. It was eye exam day today and they are too tired to do the reading. I do recall there was a conspiracy theory that the CIA popularized the term to discredit critics of the Warren Report on the Kennedy assination.
Doesn't line up that tidily with the timing, at least if google ngrams is to be believed. They show a bump in usage before the assassination.
That just proves they were in on it.
It's far more likely that the term originated for some other reason (twisting the theory) than a premeditated coverup three years before the report was published (twisting the facts). But that's done all the time.
There's more, but I need to get back to work.
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
"Wisdom requires a flexible mind." - Dan Carlin
"If you vote for idiots, idiots will run the country." - Dr. Kori Schake