Conspiracy Theories

[FireCat]

Well, what kind of crazy crap have you ever heard, that has either made you think or laugh on and It sounds outlandish.

Well, We never walked on the moon

That would not have been possible in the past.

 

[tommerbob]

A few semesters ago I took a philosophy class. The teacher decided that for that semester, our entire focus would be on conspiracy theories. :banghead:

Let's see...

The Nazi Holocaust never happened.

A small group of powerful Jewish families control all of the money throughout the world...hence....they control the world.

The big spaghetti monster. (Don't know if this one counts)

After 4 months of studying conspiracy theories, you can imagine I was pretty tired of them. But it was pretty interesting to look into the psychological reason behind a lot of them, and behind conspiracy theorizing in general.

 

[FireCat]

The big spaghetti monster.

Why would someone do that? On poor "spaghetti monster"?

 

[tom_mai78101]

The Jesus that was struck by lightning. That's a good one.

 

[tommerbob]

Why would someone do that? On poor "spaghetti monster"?

I don't know all of the specifics, but there is a group of people that believe there is a giant spaghetti monster flying around, doing stuff. Kinda like a god. It's almost a religion.

(not making this up)

 

[ElderKingpin]

The Jesus that was struck by lightning. That's a good one.

thats not a conspiracy. You cannot control lightning of that magnitude.

And this isnt a debate, naming off conspiracies isnt a debate.

 

[Bloodcount]

Do be quiet Elder, no one likes a know-it-all.

Anyway, in my oppinion the conspirasy theories are a bunch of crap. Yeah, sure there is really something that we don't know about the world, there are most likely pieces of the puzzle that we don't know, but I doubt it is anything that big, or maybe taht is what they want us to belive....

 

[ElderKingpin]

Im just saying :/

---

But i just dont see how anyone benefits from a conspiracy, what would America have to gain from destroying its own twin towers. Maybe if someone really disliked Bush and wanted to ruin his reputation even farther, they planned 9/11, but I just dont see it happening.

There is also the conspiracy that no Jew was killed during the 9/11 attack and people think that it was the work of the Mossad -Wikipedia.

I think conspiracies are like demonology, it is something people shouldnt get too far into because there are some really weird ideas out there

 

[NightShade]

And this isnt a debate, naming off conspiracies isnt a debate.

No it's not. Should be moved to general discussion.

Do be quiet Elder, no one likes a know-it-all.

A know-it-all or know-all is a person who believes that he/she has an accurate comprehension of a topic and/or situation when in reality, his/her comprehension is inaccurate and limited. This belief may or may not be outwardly expressed.

He is right so you are in fact (more) the know-it-all.

and to satay on topic:
HIV was created in a lab by the CIA for population control.

 

[Gensui Bas]

I don't know all of the specifics, but there is a group of people that believe there is a giant spaghetti monster flying around, doing stuff. Kinda like a god. It's almost a religion.

(not making this up)

A little bit off-topic, but alow me to explain this one.

The Church of the Flying Spaghettimonster (FSM) was founded by Bobby Henderson, about 5 years ago. Bobby is a physics graduate and he was extremly upset when he heard the Kansas State board of Education claimed that Evolution and Creationism (God created the earth in 7 days etc) should both be tought as equals. Why? Because both theories cannot completely be proven or disproven and thus they are equals (nothing in existence can completly be proven or disproven btw).

Later, as a response this he created his own religion, as absurd and wise as possible, claiming that god was a Flying Spaghettimonster. All his theories couldn't be proven or disproven and thus (accoarding to the Kansas education board) it equals both evolution and creationism.

In short: it is a parody on creationism, but a great one. I advise you all to read the book: The Gospel of the Flying Spaghettimonster, which is the most funniest book I've ever read.

Note however, that the Church has thousands if not more members and thus, like Jedi, is official a valid religion.

Full story on wikipedia.

EDIT: I just read that there is a 1000.000 dollar reward for the person who can proove that Jesus is not the son of the FSM. Good luck.

Sorry for the off-topic. Back on topic:

I believe conspiricy theories are good. Even if they are absurd, every major claim (goverment or individual) should be critized and researched by an independant person or organization. There should be no difference between 'absurd' or 'logical' theories, because the difference is subjective.
It should however not, play such a major role in your life that you become obsessed.

Im just saying :/

But i just dont see how anyone benefits from a conspiracy, what would America have to gain from destroying its own twin towers. Maybe if someone really disliked Bush and wanted to ruin his reputation even farther, they planned 9/11, but I just dont see it happening.

On 9/11 some really strange things happened, which cannot be denied. Whatever happened, I am sure there was more happening than just a bunch of angry terrorists. I do not know much about the situation so I won't want to make any further claims.

I do not know if the attack was ordered by the US goverment, but a goverment could definitly benefit from such attack. First of all it was the first attack on US mainland. People suddenly didn't feel save anymore and the goverment surely invested a lot of work to keep them scarred. People who are afraid are very easy to control. Second, it gave America a reason to go to war. War can be very benificial: natural resources and political/military influence in a region are just two obvious reasons. However, if the attack was for benefit, then the goverment really screwed up.


I find the moonlanding one of the most interesting theories. The US goverment had all the reasons to fake this landing and there are many doubts about the technology of that time, not to mention some possible flaws in the photo. I wouldn't be surprised at all if they found out it was fake.

 

[AnthraxXx]

That AIDS is a man-made virus which was intentionally dispersed throughout Africa to cripple the development of the continent.

That America was behind the September 11 attacks.

There are plenty more but I can't think of any right now except these.

If you wikipedia the illuminati and New World Order then you'll find it's pretty interesting. It's all plausible if you think about it/read their arguments.

 

[tommerbob]

Another big conspiracy theory is that a bunch of satan-worshipping fanatics run the "show behind the show" in America. A large part of their premise is based on the symbolism on the US $1 bill. Pretty funny actually, in my opinion.

Come to think of it, I recall researching several conspiracy theories that are based on the $1 bill, I can't think of any specifics at the moment, though.

Anyone seen the movie, Zeitgeist? If so, what did you think?

 

[Zakyath]

>The Nazi Holocaust never happened.

But keep in mind that most revisionists doesn't deny the holocaust.

>Anyway, in my oppinion the conspirasy theories are a bunch of crap. Yeah, sure there is really something that we don't know about the world, there are most likely pieces of the puzzle that we don't know, but I doubt it is anything that big, or maybe taht is what they want us to belive...

That's just close minded. Critical thinking is good, even though I do agree that most conspiracy theories.

>I think conspiracies are like demonology, it is something people shouldnt get too far into because there are some really weird ideas out there

Conspiracy theories might just turn out to be the truth. So there's only to benefit getting "far into them". Still, only searching for ways to disprove something you don't know anything about is just plain stupid.

>I find the moonlanding one of the most interesting theories. The US goverment had all the reasons to fake this landing and there are many doubts about the technology of that time, not to mention some possible flaws in the photo. I wouldn't be surprised at all if they found out it was fake.

As far as I know, there aren't any of those "flaws" that hasn't been explained...

 

[esb]

Here's a good one: Operation Northwoods.

 

[Slapshot136]

how about the U.S. intentionally letting pearl harbor be as disastrous as it was

 

[mapguy]

how about the U.S. intentionally letting pearl harbor be as disastrous as it was

Maybe they destroied their own base just to join the second war

 

[esb]

Which is what Operation Northwoods is all about. Letting, or even attacking, their own get killed/destroyed and blame it on another country in order to go at war.

Northwoods never passed, but the pure intent of it seems to be enough evidence at what the U.S. is willing to do. Could be what happened in Pearl Harbor, 9/11, and who knows what else. Or maybe not.

 

[Cornface]

Illuminati! Damn I hate all the youtube videos filled with paraonid peoples' thoughts, then all the youngsters follow this out of boredom or plain idiocy and start spamming down videos.

For example, to name a few
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2noKv2E7rq4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_tas6MIDek&feature=related

Spoiler

"I HAVE PROOF 2 PAC WAS IN THIS ILLUMANATI GROUP AND IT WAS ALL ABOUT SELLING RAPPERS OUT IT WAS ALL FOR MONEY THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW WHO KILLED HIM ARE SNOOP DOG DIDDY AND MORE PLZ RESPOND SPREAD THIS? MESSAGE"

 

[Darthfett]

And this isnt a debate, naming off conspiracies isnt a debate.

ElderKingpin is right. I'm going to move this to general discussion, since I see little to no arguments being made here.

 

[tommerbob]

how about the U.S. intentionally letting pearl harbor be as disastrous as it was

Common sense says this is not just possible, but highly likely. Evidence? I don't know.

The problem with most conspiracy theorizing is that, generally, its an attempt to prove or disprove something that has already happened. In other words, most conspiracy theories, or maybe I should just say "historical" conspiracy theories, are attempts to lead the public to hold beliefs about something that has already happened. Because of this, most conspiracy theorizing is irrelevant and pointless. They are all based on the simple and illogical question, "what if?"

Take the quote above, for example. Frankly, it doesn't matter very much whether or not FDR knew about Pearl Harbor before it happened. What are we gonna do if it turns out to be true? Dig up his grave?

Or take 9/11 for example. What if Bush knew about it before it happened? What we gonna do? Apologize to Afghanistan for invading? Whoop-dee-doo.

My point is that conspiracy theorizing doesn't do anything for anyone. I suppose it could have some academic relevance, if for example, we did prove that FDR knew about Pearl Harbor before it happened. It could be useful to know that, because it would help us understand the motives behind certain events during the 1930's and 40's. But again, it really doesn't matter. It won't change anything.