# Conspiracy Theories That Proved True? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 19, 2015, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-theories-that-proved-true/737975 "2015-11-19T13:42:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-theories-that-proved-true/737975/41 "2015-11-20T04:54:35Z")
> [@Oly](#): > > I’ll grant ya those things don’t meet the concept of conspiracy theory as defined in your link, but they do seem to meet the two criteria in the OP. I think the OP probably intended the criterion of a conspiracy theory actually being a conspiracy to go without saying. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-theories-that-proved-true/737975/42 "2015-11-20T06:08:02Z")
This must be true for anything that was a conspiracy. Like Watergate. There have been thousands of them. I think the Drug companies are engaged in a conspiracy which is not universally recognized, although many sensible people know it (Not to mention insensible people like scientologists but there you go) ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-theories-that-proved-true/737975/43 "2015-11-20T10:23:46Z")
Many Middle Easterners believed that public vaccination programs were a plot by the US Government. This was later revealed to be true when it came out that the CIA used a fake vaccination program in an attempt to get Osama Bin Laden. This caused much chagrin among public health officials as they’ve watched Pakistan’s polio cases climb due to a widespread fear of vaccination. Also, among security professionals, the backdooring of [encryption standards by the NSA, including bribing companies to adopt weak standards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_EC_DRBG) was widely regarded as a fringe conspiracy theory until the Snowden leaks confirmed it. The reason why this stands out compared to the other information contained in the leaks is that mass surveillance, while distasteful, is within the purview of a generous interpretation of the NSA charter and thus, was at least conceivable. Deliberately weakening encryption standards, OTOH, was something that most security professionals regarded as a line the NSA was unwilling to cross and so it was a massive shock to find it confirmed. ---
**Author:** ![UncleFred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f0a364/32.png) [@UncleFred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleFred)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-theories-that-proved-true/737975/44 "2015-11-20T15:58:26Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90QB9TuiAY0) ---
**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:** [November 20, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-theories-that-proved-true/737975/45 "2015-11-20T17:38:57Z")
How about the Volkswagen emissions scandal? Does that count as a conspiracy? ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-theories-that-proved-true/737975/46 "2015-11-20T17:43:15Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > Also, among security professionals, the backdooring of [encryption standards by the NSA, including bribing companies to adopt weak standards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_EC_DRBG) was widely regarded as a fringe conspiracy theory until the Snowden leaks confirmed it. The reason why this stands out compared to the other information contained in the leaks is that mass surveillance, while distasteful, is within the purview of a generous interpretation of the NSA charter and thus, was at least conceivable. Deliberately weakening encryption standards, OTOH, was something that most security professionals regarded as a line the NSA was unwilling to cross and so it was a massive shock to find it confirmed. Along these lines, the UK is now trying to force Apple to build them a security backdoor so they can snoop on people’s iPhones, and is threatening to ban the sale of iPhones in the UK if Apple doesn’t comply. Until very recently, government security backdoors were the stuff of paranoid conspiracy theories. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-theories-that-proved-true/737975/47 "2015-11-20T17:51:23Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > How about the Volkswagen emissions scandal? Does that count as a conspiracy? It was certainly a conspiracy, but I don’t think there was any conspiracy theory circulating about it before it was revealed. It was pretty much a surprise to most people. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-theories-that-proved-true/737975/48 "2015-11-20T17:55:20Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > How about the Volkswagen emissions scandal? Does that count as a conspiracy? I’d say yes, except that there weren’t any rumors of it beforehand. Engineers at some of the other automakers wondered how VW was getting such good performance while meeting emissions standards, but the fact that they were blatantly cheating appears to have caught everyone by surprise. ---
**Author:** ![ShawnN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@ShawnN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShawnN)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-theories-that-proved-true/737975/49 "2015-11-20T21:16:00Z")
you have operation northwoods. operation mockingbird. operation paperclip. operation gladio b. and soon it’ll be confirmed that 911 was a conspiracy ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-theories-that-proved-true/737975/50 "2015-11-20T21:19:41Z")
411 is a conspiracy ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-theories-that-proved-true/737975/51 "2015-11-20T21:47:13Z")
> [@ShawnN](#): > > you have operation northwoods. operation mockingbird. operation paperclip. operation gladio b. and soon it’ll be confirmed that 911 was a conspiracy No, [911 is a joke](https://youtu.be/CPNK0VspQ0M) not a conspiracy. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-theories-that-proved-true/737975/52 "2015-11-20T22:07:02Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > Asbestos being banned for use as a building material, being reinstated, and again under attack. > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > I give up. What’s the conspiracy? What’s the theory? > [@the\_diego](#): > > The first time it was banned (in the US) in the 60’s to 70’s they blamed the lumber/forestry block. Then in the 90’s it was cleared to be used again as long as it was bonded permanently in concrete or some other substance (has always been the case, methinks.) Now health people are at it again. > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > That’s a gigantic public front page issue. How is it a conspiracy? What’s the theory? Seriously, in what way does it belong with birthers and truthers and moon hoaxers? According to the link provided by **Diceman** , take post 24 and replace “tobacco” with “asbestos”. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-theories-that-proved-true/737975/53 "2015-11-20T22:22:00Z")
Of course it figures that no one has mentioned the one conspiracy theory that actually _is_ true. After all these years, and despite the overwhelming evidence, I’m amazed that you’re _still_ trying to suppress it. Okay, let me spell it out for you: you’re all out to get me. But, hey, you knew that already, didn’t you? Go ahead and deny it. Again. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-theories-that-proved-true/737975/54 "2015-11-20T22:22:59Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > Of course it figures that no one has mentioned the one conspiracy theory that actually _is_ true. After all these years, and despite the overwhelming evidence, I’m amazed that you’re _still_ trying to suppress it. > > Okay, let me spell it out for you: you’re all out to get me. But, hey, you knew that already, didn’t you? > > Go ahead and deny it. Again. _You_?!? I thought it was\* me\*. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-theories-that-proved-true/737975/55 "2015-11-20T22:31:15Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > _You_?!? I thought it was\* me\*. :eek: Nice try, but how did you manage to reply to my post so quickly, eh? Fast fingers? Must be that. Because for sure (:dubious:) everyone knows it’s impossible for you to have seen my post when I was previewing it. Silly me. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-theories-that-proved-true/737975/56 "2015-11-20T22:50:30Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > According to the link provided by **Diceman** , take post 24 and replace “tobacco” with “asbestos”. About one billion trillion chemicals are bad horrid evil death-dealing molecules and that doesn’t count radioactivity or GMOs or other stuff. Some of them will prove to be bad for some people in some ways in some dosages or combinations. Some corporations will surely deny or obfuscate or drag their heels. Some governments will help them keep their profits for as long as possible. Yes, we know that people lie and cheat and steal and hide their evil acts. That’s true individually and when they band into groups, religions, corporations, and governments. We’re not going to get rid of every chemical that somebody has put up a webpage about. That’s the way it should be. The vast majority of those chemicals do far more good than harm. The modern world runs on chemicals. Irradiated food will keep without spoiling; it’s a boon for places with poor refrigeration. GMO crops will feed billions and keep the world from starving. If you lump them all together you are literally killing people with your stupidity. You might as well be child-murderer Jenny McCarthy. That’s the human face of a conspiracy theory. Children literally die as a result. Asbestos isn’t a conspiracy theory; it’s everyday life, today’s knowledge yielding to tomorrow’s learning. Cigarettes, BTW, were called coffin nails in the 19th century. People are very choosy about what chemicals they approve of. The difference between something bad happening and a conspiracy theory is life and death. If we don’t learn to distinguish properly between them, we are all accessories. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-theories-that-proved-true/737975/57 "2015-11-20T23:03:12Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > Many Middle Easterners believed that public vaccination programs were a plot by the US Government. This was later revealed to be true when it came out that the CIA used a fake vaccination program in an attempt to get Osama Bin Laden. This caused much chagrin among public health officials as they’ve watched Pakistan’s polio cases climb due to a widespread fear of vaccination. Was there a popular conspiracy theory (or _any_ conspiracy theory) in the Middle East suggesting that polio vaccination was a U.S. government ploy to catch terrorists? The typical antivax CT in poorer countries has vaccinators engaged in [a nefarious plan](http://www.snopes.com/medical/disease/tetanus.asp) to sterilize or otherwise harm the general public, in places like Pakistan and African countries. It’s not that different from [a popular “Western” CT](https://jonrappoport.wordpress.com/2014/09/15/now-we-come-to-vaccines-and-depopulation-experiments/) which postulates that vaccination is a plot to sicken and kill off most of the world’s population (in some way this is supposed to benefit the Illuminati/Big Pharma). This kind of nonsense predated the poorly conceived CIA plan to track Osama (which gave terrorists the pretext to stir up further paranoia and hatred against the U.S. while encouraging violence against native-born vaccine workers). The antivax CTs came first; the CIA gave them a bit of a boost. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2015, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-theories-that-proved-true/737975/58 "2015-11-20T23:42:57Z")
> [@ShawnN](#): > > you have operation northwoods. operation mockingbird. operation paperclip. operation gladio b. and soon it’ll be confirmed that 911 was a conspiracy Those don’t qualify according to what the OP was asking. Northwoods wasn’t a conspiracy, it was an ill-advised response to a brainstorming request. Mockingbird was a conspiracy involving government malfeasance, but wasn’t rumored as a Conspiracy Theory until the news broke. You know, with evidence. Paperclip seems to be standard Cold War spook stuff. I had never heard of Gladio B, but it seems to be a Conspiracy Theory alright, but no confirming evidence that I could find. And of course 911 was a conspiracy, just not a Conspiracy Theory. A bunch of mostly Saudi guys conspired to hit the US with terrorist attacks, and were able to pull it off. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2015, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-theories-that-proved-true/737975/59 "2015-11-21T01:39:23Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > It was certainly a conspiracy, but I don’t think there was any conspiracy theory circulating about it before it was revealed. It was pretty much a surprise to most people. > [@Diceman](#): > > I’d say yes, except that there weren’t any rumors of it beforehand. Engineers at some of the other automakers wondered how VW was getting such good performance while meeting emissions standards, but the fact that they were blatantly cheating appears to have caught everyone by surprise. Apparently there were government inspectors who questioned the Volkswagen numbers but Volkswagen executives would make up some theory about why their emissions were better than expected. So people had suspicions although I don’t know how widespread it was. But I expect it wasn’t a coincidence that when two outside organizations decided to do their own emissions tests, they both chose to focus on Volkswagens. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conspiracy-theories-that-proved-true/737975.md?page=2)