# Ask the conspiracy theorist **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 27, 2012, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-conspiracy-theorist/639012 "2012-10-27T05:07:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-conspiracy-theorist/639012/1 "2012-10-27T05:07:39Z")
It has been brought to my attention that I have not been answering many of the questions that several posters have asked me. I understand now that this is a deficiency that impedes discussion. Hence, this thread. I will answer _all_ of your questions. I only ask that you do not ridicule, which I realize I may be subjecting myself to. Even if you do ridicule me I will still answer your questions. (Your ridicule will not go unnoticed, though.) I also realize, to my utter amazement, that not many Dopers are conspiracy theorists. I do not understand that. I thought that the very nature of the Straight Dope Message Board would draw questions of conspiracy into politics, history, philosophy, religion. It seems to me that many here profess an (implied) complete understanding of, say, politics, in denying the possibility of conspiracy theory. Conspiracy theory is the limit of my understanding of politics, not the beginning of my understanding of politics nor the end of my understanding of politics. I am a conspiracy theorist. I believe the Roswell UFO incident. I believe that there was a conspiracy involving the events of September 11, 2001. I believe that there was a conspiracy involving the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. I believe that there is an Illuminati that is behind the 192 heads of government, and, while I do not have proof for this belief, I further believe that the G-192 summit, if it were to occur, would be evidence of that belief. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-conspiracy-theorist/639012/2 "2012-10-27T05:55:54Z")
Do you believe there is a unifying foundation to these conspiracies or do they have separate origins? ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-conspiracy-theorist/639012/3 "2012-10-27T06:03:44Z")
Do you believe the Roswell UFO incident was a government coverup of a confirmed extraterrestrial visitation, or something else? ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-conspiracy-theorist/639012/4 "2012-10-27T06:08:41Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Do you believe there is a unifying foundation to these conspiracies or do they have separate origins? I believe some of them may have separate origins but that most of them, if not all of them, do have a unifying foundation. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-conspiracy-theorist/639012/5 "2012-10-27T06:23:59Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Do you believe the Roswell UFO incident was a government coverup of a confirmed extraterrestrial visitation, or something else? I believe that the Roswell UFO incident was a double cover-up. The weather balloon being for Project Mogul and also for something else. I do not think it was happenstance that the Roswell UFO incident happened after World War II and that after Roswell there was the Apollo program (I do not believe that Apollo was a hoax but I understand the reasoning of those who do) and Sputnik. And even Arthur C. Clarke believed in extra-terrestrial life. It’s the difference from going from extra-terrestrial life and concluding with the Roswell UFO incident versus going from the Roswell UFO incident and concluding extra-terrestrial life! ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-conspiracy-theorist/639012/6 "2012-10-27T06:44:06Z")
OK. Pick one of your conspiracy theories. Your choice. Now, is there any evidence that, if it came to light, would cause you to disavow that theory? It doesn’t matter if you think that evidence will _likely_ come to light. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-conspiracy-theorist/639012/7 "2012-10-27T07:10:23Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > OK. Pick one of your conspiracy theories. Your choice. Now, is there any evidence that, if it came to light, would cause you to disavow that theory? 9/11. If _The New York Times_ were to have a groundbreaking front page article on how Al Qaeda had evidence that the plan would succeed then I might disavow that theory. Remember that the 1993 World Trade Center bombing was a security failure while 9/11 was an intelligence failure in addition to being a security failure. My main problem with the 9/11 Commission Report is that it is basically, ‘9/11 happened, this is why it happened, and this is what we should do to prevent a future 9/11’. I want something that essentially says, "9/11 happened and this is how it happened’. ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-conspiracy-theorist/639012/8 "2012-10-27T08:20:51Z")
Who got JFK killed? ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-conspiracy-theorist/639012/9 "2012-10-27T09:22:07Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > 9/11. If _The New York Times_ were to have a groundbreaking front page article on how Al Qaeda had evidence that the plan would succeed then I might disavow that theory. Why would that carry more weight than Osama bin Laden’s video claiming responsibility for the attacks? [Also, this PDF seems to be relevant](http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec2001/d20011213ubl.pdf): > [@](#): > > UBL: > (…Inaudible…) > we calculated in advance the number of casualties from the enemy, who would be killed based on the position of the tower. We calculated that the floors that would be hit would be three or four floors. I was the most optimistic of them all. > (…Inaudible…) > due to my experience in this field, I was thinking that the fire from the gas in the plane would melt the iron structure of the building and collapse the area where the plane hit and all the floors above it only. This is all that we had hoped for. So it seems that Osama bin Laden had calculations that slamming a large jet airliner into a skyscraper would, at the very least, cause massive structural damage and loss of life. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-conspiracy-theorist/639012/10 "2012-10-27T09:39:15Z")
Do you think the moon landing was faked? Do you think that building 7 I think… was demolished by the US government on 9/11? For that matter do you think that every building fell on 9/11 due to US government plans? Thoughts on the Mayan 2012 end of days? Were you a huge fan of the X-files? Do you ever go to [beyondtopsecret.com](http://beyondtopsecret.com)? It sounds right up your alley. Do you think the US has an alien corpse anywhere? As a self-labeled “conspiracy theorist”, do you think that says that you are more informed than most, or just get more paranoid for good reason? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-conspiracy-theorist/639012/11 "2012-10-27T09:45:10Z")
If I may generalize, conspiracy theorists believe in secret groups that are able to conceal their existence and activities over a period of decades. But at the same time, these same conspiracy theorists feel they have found evidence that proves these groups exist. If these groups are inept enough to leave evidence of their existence lying around that single individuals can uncover, why is it that countries and investigative agencies and news media are unable to uncover the existence of these clandestine groups? ---
**Author:** ![dimmy\_derko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/43a26b/32.png) [@dimmy\_derko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dimmy_derko)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-conspiracy-theorist/639012/12 "2012-10-27T10:54:58Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Do you believe there is a unifying foundation to these conspiracies or do they have separate origins? I suppose I’m a bit of a conspiracy theorist. I believe billionaires in Russia, China, the Americas, Europe, etc, have more in common with each other than they do with the lowly plebs of their countries of birth and they will happily scheme to screw those plebs over to maintain their own power and wealth. ---
**Author:** ![dimmy\_derko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/43a26b/32.png) [@dimmy\_derko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dimmy_derko)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-conspiracy-theorist/639012/13 "2012-10-27T10:59:39Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Why would that carry more weight than Osama bin Laden’s video claiming responsibility for the attacks? > > [Also, this PDF seems to be relevant](http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec2001/d20011213ubl.pdf):So it seems that Osama bin Laden had calculations that slamming a large jet airliner into a skyscraper would, at the very least, cause massive structural damage and loss of life. If they’d thought about it that much and maximum damage was the aim, they’d have chosen later flights when the buildings were more well populated. If you are gonna go to the effort, why wouldn’t you maximise damage? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-conspiracy-theorist/639012/14 "2012-10-27T11:08:19Z")
**Kozmik** –have you ever believed that you were being followed, watched or had your phone tapped, due to your beliefs? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-conspiracy-theorist/639012/15 "2012-10-27T13:17:25Z")
Are there any popular conspiracy theories that you think are bull? Do you have a college degree, and if so, in what discipline? Have you ever got into trouble over the theories you believe? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-conspiracy-theorist/639012/16 "2012-10-27T13:24:03Z")
If the Illuminati are so all powerful and wide reaching so that they control every government and world leader, why do they allow you to expose them in a public forum? ---
**Author:** ![dimmy\_derko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/43a26b/32.png) [@dimmy\_derko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dimmy_derko)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-conspiracy-theorist/639012/17 "2012-10-27T13:31:09Z")
Because they can rely on unpaid “skeptics” to do their ridiculing and character assassinations until the noise level reaches a state they cannot ignore. Then, the resourcefulness that allowed them to accumulate billions without anybody else taking over their lucrative affairs, comes into play. ---
**Author:** ![eclectic\_wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac91a4/32.png) [@eclectic\_wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eclectic_wench)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-conspiracy-theorist/639012/18 "2012-10-27T13:33:47Z")
What do you think about people who don’t believe in any conspiracy theories, or very few? Both people who absolutely believe official versions of events (where you don’t), and people who are sceptical about some details of official versions but think that the basic outline is probably pretty much true? Like, do you think they’re gullible sheeple, or do you see where they’re coming from but disagree? Also, what do you think of people who believe conspiracy theories that you consider blatantly whacko? Have you ever changed your mind about a CT - started out by believing it, then read up on more evidence and decided you don’t believe it after all? ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-conspiracy-theorist/639012/19 "2012-10-27T13:54:51Z")
You don’t think the moon landing was a hoax, based on your hoax here, so you don’t buy into every conspiracy theory. But certainly you are familiar with people who whole heartedly believe, and are as convinced of you, of conspiracy theories that you yourself think are wrong and unfounded. My question is - can you see the sort of behavior that these people exhibit in believing what are, from your perspective, false and unfounded conspiracy theories? Can you see how they dismiss contradictory evidence as being part of the conspiracy? Or when someone corrects or debunks one particular point, rather than reflect on that, they simply keep moving on to the next point completely undeterred? In general, how they make unfounded leaps from point to point, connecting things that aren’t really connected, coming up with theories that strain plausibility, etc.? Do you look at the people who believe that, for instance, heads of state are secretly lizard people as being kooky\*? Do you think that what seperates your conspiracy beliefs from theirs is simply the amount of evidence? Plausibility? Your own confidence in your intuitive gut feeling on the issue? With them being sincerely convinced of something that you can tell is bullshit, can you see any of the same patterns in their behavior as you have in your behavior? Can you understand why someone would look at your 9/11 conspiracy theories in the same way that you might look at someone who was utterly convinced in lizard people? - Let’s assume you think the people who believe in lizard people are kooks. Maybe you don’t, maybe you think they’re right. In any case, surely you can think of some conspiracy theory that’s so out there that you can’t help but think it’s wrong. Apply that to the question. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-conspiracy-theorist/639012/20 "2012-10-27T14:35:48Z")
Do you believe the video in this OP is real? > **[Is this a video of Obama's birth? No. Will people believe it is? Some of them.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=670158)** > > Vice.com has the video. Now, you might note some slight inconsistencies, like how this purports to be Super 8 film from 1961, when, in Liberal-land, Super 8 didn’t exist until 1965. Also, the flag in the background is the post-colonial Kenyan flag,... [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-conspiracy-theorist/639012.md?page=2)