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Showing Original Post only (View all)Re: those supposedly “crazy” conspiracy theorists, guess what? [View all]
This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Skinner (a host of the General Discussion forum).
Recent studies by psychologists and social scientists in the US and UK suggest that contrary to mainstream media stereotypes, those labeled conspiracy theorists appear to be saner than those who accept the official versions of contested events.
The most recent study was published on July 8th by psychologists Michael J. Wood and Karen M. Douglas of the University of Kent (UK). Entitled What about Building 7? A social psychological study of online discussion of 9/11 conspiracy theories, the study compared conspiracist (pro-conspiracy theory) and conventionalist (anti-conspiracy) comments at news websites.
The authors were surprised to discover that it is now more conventional to leave so-called conspiracist comments than conventionalist ones: Of the 2174 comments collected, 1459 were coded as conspiracist and 715 as conventionalist. In other words, among people who comment on news articles, those who disbelieve government accounts of such events as 9/11 and the JFK assassination outnumber believers by more than two to one. That means it is the pro-conspiracy commenters who are expressing what is now the conventional wisdom, while the anti-conspiracy commenters are becoming a small, beleaguered minority.
Perhaps because their supposedly mainstream views no longer represent the majority, the anti-conspiracy commenters often displayed anger and hostility: The research showed that people who favoured the official account of 9/11 were generally more hostile when trying to persuade their rivals.
Additionally, it turned out that the anti-conspiracy people were not only hostile, but fanatically attached to their own conspiracy theories as well. According to them, their own theory of 9/11 a conspiracy theory holding that 19 Arabs, none of whom could fly planes with any proficiency, pulled off the crime of the century under the direction of a guy on dialysis in a cave in Afghanistan was indisputably true. The so-called conspiracists, on the other hand, did not pretend to have a theory that completely explained the events of 9/11: For people who think 9/11 was a government conspiracy, the focus is not on promoting a specific rival theory, but in trying to debunk the official account.
The most recent study was published on July 8th by psychologists Michael J. Wood and Karen M. Douglas of the University of Kent (UK). Entitled What about Building 7? A social psychological study of online discussion of 9/11 conspiracy theories, the study compared conspiracist (pro-conspiracy theory) and conventionalist (anti-conspiracy) comments at news websites.
The authors were surprised to discover that it is now more conventional to leave so-called conspiracist comments than conventionalist ones: Of the 2174 comments collected, 1459 were coded as conspiracist and 715 as conventionalist. In other words, among people who comment on news articles, those who disbelieve government accounts of such events as 9/11 and the JFK assassination outnumber believers by more than two to one. That means it is the pro-conspiracy commenters who are expressing what is now the conventional wisdom, while the anti-conspiracy commenters are becoming a small, beleaguered minority.
Perhaps because their supposedly mainstream views no longer represent the majority, the anti-conspiracy commenters often displayed anger and hostility: The research showed that people who favoured the official account of 9/11 were generally more hostile when trying to persuade their rivals.
Additionally, it turned out that the anti-conspiracy people were not only hostile, but fanatically attached to their own conspiracy theories as well. According to them, their own theory of 9/11 a conspiracy theory holding that 19 Arabs, none of whom could fly planes with any proficiency, pulled off the crime of the century under the direction of a guy on dialysis in a cave in Afghanistan was indisputably true. The so-called conspiracists, on the other hand, did not pretend to have a theory that completely explained the events of 9/11: For people who think 9/11 was a government conspiracy, the focus is not on promoting a specific rival theory, but in trying to debunk the official account.
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Re: those supposedly “crazy” conspiracy theorists, guess what? [View all]
Jackpine Radical
Aug 2013
OP
That doesn't make sense. You're implying that we should theorize about things we already know. nt
CJCRANE
Aug 2013
#4
"There's comparison... ...and there's contrast. Look them up. They aren't the same, Skippy."
Cerridwen
Aug 2013
#47
Notice I said "was". There was a time before Newton when it wasn't a proven fact.
CJCRANE
Aug 2013
#28
The only reason it's a known fact NOW is because of the CTs who never accepted the Govt lies.
sabrina 1
Aug 2013
#22
I believe there is a conspiracy by some to cause undue scandals by their lies, does this
Thinkingabout
Aug 2013
#2
Solar flares giving my computer hell today, look at the low IQ's shared by those who
nightscanner59
Aug 2013
#6
When your government constantly lies to you, why should you believe anything it says? (n/t)
spin
Aug 2013
#55
Thanks for the REAL stuff, not the OP nonsense. Here's more from it:
Bernardo de La Paz
Aug 2013
#92
I don't know that I agree with your comment about scientifically minded folks.
cui bono
Aug 2013
#103
Why would people who believe 9/11 was an outside job spend time talking about it on forums?
Recursion
Aug 2013
#73
LOL - my last landlady said almost the same thing once during an argument.
ConcernedCanuk
Aug 2013
#111
This OP illustrates the new DU better than any other. And with 80 recs to boot.
Number23
Aug 2013
#102
Yes, there are a few conspiracies. No, most conspiracy theories are junk.
Bernardo de La Paz
Aug 2013
#90
Conspiracy theory is merely a symptom of a root cause that has originated the conspiracy theory.
mick063
Aug 2013
#96
Conspiracy Theories shake up the status quo. The authoritarians among us hate CT.
rhett o rick
Aug 2013
#97
Nah. You have it backwards. Authoritarians & PTB LOVE conspiracy theorists spinning their wheels.
Bernardo de La Paz
Aug 2013
#117
Apologists/sock puppets like to yell "Conspiracy!" whenever you get too close to the Truth.
blkmusclmachine
Aug 2013
#109
OP not interested in discussion. Seems to have posted when she/he wasn't available to respond. nt
Bernardo de La Paz
Aug 2013
#120