# Why do we flat out reject CT's? \[Conspiracy Theories\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 2, 2012, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-flat-out-reject-cts-conspiracy-theories/623841 "2012-06-02T03:24:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-flat-out-reject-cts-conspiracy-theories/623841/281 "2012-06-19T03:30:23Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > And you just repeated what I said, minus the observation that they did not endure nor got what they wanted, Serbia had even less independence after the wars and then they had to endure Slobodan Miloševic. I’m going to add to the [list](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_conspiracy_theories) of conspiracy theories that I got from Wikipedia. I reject conspiracy theories involving the assassination of President John F. Kennedy; however, I do not reject conspiracy theories involving the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand. Perhaps now you can see why I do not reject conspiracy theories involving the New World Order. And the Federal Reserve System? Nothing to worry about. It’s just a bank. :rolleyes: From Wikipedia, List of conspiracy theories: World War I - conspiracy involving the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand – real New World Order - possible Federal Reserve System - possible False flag operations - 9/11 – rejected Wars - FDR having full knowledge of the Pearl Harbor attack – rejected Coup d’etat - Operation Ajax – real Assassinations - JFK – rejected Clinton body count - rejected by Snopes Barack Obama birth conspiracy theories - rejected by SDMB Anti-semetic conspiracy theories - The Protocols of the Elders of Zion – rejected as a forgery Armenian International Conspiracy - rejected “Babylon” - Haile Selassie did not die – rejected Eurabia - rejected Arab fascist axis - Martin Bormann did not die - rejected Baha’i - rejected Apocalyptic prophecies - rejected Bible conspiracy theory - Jesus had a wife – possible Catholicism as a veiled continuation of Babylonian paganism - rejected Suppression of technologies - possible Development of weapons technologies - Manhattan Project – real Weapons testing - possible Surveillance, espionage and intelligence agencies - real DTV transition - possible Medicine - AIDS was “invented” – rejected Drug legalization - hemp competing with pulp paper – rejected Diet - rejected Creation of diseases - AIDS is a man-made disease – rejected Water fluoridation - rejected Traditional, natural and alternative medicines – possible Peak oil - possible Real groups said to be involved in conspiracies - possible Alleged groups associated with conspiracy theories - rejected The Plan - rejected Extraterrestrials - Roswell UFO incident – rejected Evil aliens - reptilians – rejected Miscellaneous - rejected Moon landing conspiracy theories - rejected > [@Telemark](#): > > Yup, that Wiki entry convinced me all right. It’s **possible** according to random strangers on the internet. With Wikipedia being the wave of the future and all, _replacing_ Britannica, I figured Wikipedia would be the best reference source. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-flat-out-reject-cts-conspiracy-theories/623841/282 "2012-06-19T03:51:39Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > Perhaps now you can see why I do not reject conspiracy theories involving the New World Order. But, once again, why are you **against** it? Even if by hook or by crook, anything that leads to world government is a good thing. > [@Kozmik](#): > > And the Federal Reserve System? Nothing to worry about. It’s just a bank. :rolleyes: It is not a conspiracy, at any rate. Neither were the First nor the Second Banks of the United States. Andrew Jackson was an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-flat-out-reject-cts-conspiracy-theories/623841/283 "2012-06-19T03:55:37Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > I’m going to add to the [list](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_conspiracy_theories) of conspiracy theories that I got from Wikipedia. > > I reject conspiracy theories involving the assassination of President John F. Kennedy; however, I do not reject conspiracy theories involving the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand. Perhaps now you can see why I do not reject conspiracy theories involving the New World Order. And the Federal Reserve System? Nothing to worry about. It’s just a bank. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: I do reject them because of the big elephant in the room, besides not having evidence beyond a local plot, when I look at history blown up conspiracy theories like that are the first propaganda tool for demagogues to take power, like in Germany when it became gospel that someone did back-stab them after the first world war, guess who they blamed as the ones that controlled everything (and the banks)? No, even if you want to ignore it there are more plausible and limited explanations for assassination plots and manipulative conspiracy theories, many times the result of the ones that attempt them is so convoluted and the opposite of what the plotters intended, that one has to conclude that the truth is what we see: powerful men that also are incompetent and not as far seeing as you want them to be. ---
**Author:** ![FixMyIgnorance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FixMyIgnorance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FixMyIgnorance)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-flat-out-reject-cts-conspiracy-theories/623841/284 "2012-06-19T14:06:49Z")
I honestly don’t know why you guys are bothering. You absolutely cannot change one’s mind once they’ve adopted this ridiculous CT mindset. They can’t put together a consistent argument, let alone understand how to interpret the merits of evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-flat-out-reject-cts-conspiracy-theories/623841/285 "2012-06-20T02:02:11Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > With Wikipedia being the wave of the future and all, _replacing_ Britannica, I figured Wikipedia would be the best reference source. A source without data isn’t a source. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-flat-out-reject-cts-conspiracy-theories/623841/286 "2012-06-20T02:25:18Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Even if by hook or by crook, anything that leads to world government is a good thing. Why is it always assumed that world government necessarily leads to pacifism? As if _all_ the solutions to the problems of the [242 countries of the world](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population) are to be found in world government. > [@Telemark](#): > > A source without data isn’t a source. Duly noted. > [@FixMyIgnorance](#): > > I honestly don’t know why you guys are bothering. You absolutely cannot change one’s mind once they’ve adopted this ridiculous CT mindset. They can’t put together a consistent argument, let alone understand how to interpret the merits of evidence. I will have a consistent argument once I reply to this post: > [@GIGObuster](#): > > :rolleyes: > > I do reject them because of the big elephant in the room, besides not having evidence beyond a local plot, when I look at history blown up conspiracy theories like that are the first propaganda tool for demagogues to take power, like in Germany when it became gospel that someone did back-stab them after the first world war, guess who they blamed as the ones that controlled everything (and the banks)? > > No, even if you want to ignore it there are more plausible and limited explanations for assassination plots and manipulative conspiracy theories, many times the result of the ones that attempt them is so convoluted and the opposite of what the plotters intended, that one has to conclude that the truth is what we see: powerful men that also are incompetent and not as far seeing as you want them to be. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-flat-out-reject-cts-conspiracy-theories/623841/287 "2012-06-20T03:13:52Z")
And while you are at it, don’t forget to read about the harm many do suffer for swallowing conspiracies like that when they follow them against all evidence: > **[What's the harm in believing in conspiracy theories?](http://whatstheharm.net/conspiracytheories.html)** > > These are stories of people who have been harmed by not thinking critically about conspiracy theories. This includes deaths, injuries, hospitalizations, major financial loss and other damages. The point here is that until there is no chaos, conspiracies will only affect a few clueless people, but once disaster strikes history shows that then many conspiracy theories are used very effectively by demagogues to mobilize thousands if not millions that can be misled easily when very difficult times come. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-flat-out-reject-cts-conspiracy-theories/623841/288 "2012-06-20T03:24:22Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > Why is it always assumed that world government necessarily leads to pacifism? Pacifism or not, it leads to **peace.** And environmental problems do not respect political boundaries – the world is like a spiderweb where whatever happens at location A has some effect at location B – we need some kind of global EPA with real teeth. Once again, **why** do you have anything against this “New World Order,” if it exists? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-flat-out-reject-cts-conspiracy-theories/623841/289 "2012-06-20T03:35:51Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > The point here is that until there is no chaos Dang, change that to “ **until there is chaos** ” ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-flat-out-reject-cts-conspiracy-theories/623841/290 "2012-06-20T03:45:08Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Pacifism or not, it leads to **peace.** And environmental problems do not respect political boundaries – the world is like a spiderweb where whatever happens at location A has some effect at location B – we need some kind of global EPA with real teeth. Once again, **why** do you have anything against this “New World Order,” if it exists? I would make the point also that it will not be the countries governments the reason that could cause a world government to be formed, but it will be because many corporations are doing such unsavory stuff at a global level that the governments and even other corporations that will be affected negatively will unite to reign the rogue companies in. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-flat-out-reject-cts-conspiracy-theories/623841/291 "2012-06-20T16:16:44Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Pacifism or not, it leads to peace. And environmental problems do not respect political boundaries – the world is like a spiderweb where whatever happens at location A has some effect at location B – we need some kind of global EPA with real teeth. Once again, why do you have anything against this “New World Order,” if it exists? [/QUOTE] The simple answer is that if a NWO type organization exists (which it doesn’t), then they are working behind the scenes and in the shadows, and are doing so for their own ends and using distasteful methods to accomplish those ends. We aren’t talking about nations (and their citizens) engaged in wanting to form a world government, but a few (supposed) shadowy and extremely powerful people trying to do this for their own gain and pretty much against the interests and certainly without the knowledge of the vast majority of the citizens in the countries being bonded together by fiat and the will of a powerful few. If you don’t see why this is a Bad Idea™ then I’m not sure what more to tell you. Thankfully, it’s a load of horseshit, so not something we need to fret about. 😛 -XT ---
**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:** [June 20, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-flat-out-reject-cts-conspiracy-theories/623841/292 "2012-06-20T17:05:22Z")
We flat out reject Conspiracy Theories because we are in the pay of They Who Do Not Want You To Know. You’ll just have to accept it. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-flat-out-reject-cts-conspiracy-theories/623841/293 "2012-06-20T17:08:00Z")
They have been slow in their payments to me, then, so not sure if I can continue to go along. I might have to come out with real evidence demonstrating that many of the more popular Conspiracy Theories are, in fact, real and… … Is that a helicopter I hear in the distance? I’ll get back to you guys later… -XT ---
**Author:** ![FixMyIgnorance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FixMyIgnorance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FixMyIgnorance)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-flat-out-reject-cts-conspiracy-theories/623841/294 "2012-06-20T17:54:27Z")
I think ultimately the point is that if a conspiracy is so secret that its effect on the world is indistinguishable from not having that conspiracy in the first place, why bother assuming it exists? Same logic applies to Santa Claus, God, etc. Unfortunately, God happens to be a crazy exception to this sort of mindset. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-flat-out-reject-cts-conspiracy-theories/623841/295 "2012-06-20T17:54:44Z")
> [@XT](#): > > The simple answer is that if a NWO type organization exists (which it doesn’t), then they are working behind the scenes and in the shadows, and are doing so for their own ends and using distasteful methods to accomplish those ends. We aren’t talking about nations (and their citizens) engaged in wanting to form a world government, but a few (supposed) shadowy and extremely powerful people trying to do this for their own gain and pretty much against the interests and certainly without the knowledge of the vast majority of the citizens in the countries being bonded together by fiat and the will of a powerful few. If you don’t see why this is a Bad Idea™ then I’m not sure what more to tell you. > > Thankfully, it’s a load of horseshit, so not something we need to fret about. 😛 > > -XT > [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > There are a number of events out there that I think prove that the US govt had manipulated events for its own good > [@Kozmik](#): > > There are a number of events out there that I think prove that the Illuminati had manipulated _governments_ for its own ends. At the lowest level is governments, at a higher level is the Illuminati, and at the highest level is _someone_ - known to no one - manipulating the Illuminati for their own design. ---
**Author:** ![FixMyIgnorance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FixMyIgnorance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FixMyIgnorance)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-flat-out-reject-cts-conspiracy-theories/623841/296 "2012-06-20T17:55:33Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > At the lowest level is governments, at a higher level is the Illuminati, and at the highest level is _someone_ - known to no one - manipulating the Illuminati for their own design. Sorry, but now you’re just making me laugh out loud ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-flat-out-reject-cts-conspiracy-theories/623841/297 "2012-06-20T18:28:05Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > At the lowest level is governments, at a higher level is the Illuminati, and at the highest level is _someone_ - known to no one - manipulating the Illuminati for their own design. I am curious as to why you even bother believing this sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-flat-out-reject-cts-conspiracy-theories/623841/298 "2012-06-20T18:29:32Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > I am curious as to why you even bother believing this sort of thing. But below us, it’s turtles, all the way down! ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-flat-out-reject-cts-conspiracy-theories/623841/299 "2012-06-20T22:30:17Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > I do reject them because of the big elephant in the room, Ok. > [@GIGObuster](#): > > besides not having evidence beyond a local plot, Ok. > [@GIGObuster](#): > > when I look at history blown up conspiracy theories like that are the first propaganda tool for demagogues to take power, There’s propaganda for the people and then there’s even propaganda for the propagandists. > [@GIGObuster](#): > > like in Germany when it became gospel that someone did back-stab them after the first world war, guess who they blamed as the ones that controlled everything (and the banks)? Who controlled _them_? > [@GIGObuster](#): > > No, even if you want to ignore it there are more plausible and limited explanations for assassination plots and manipulative conspiracy theories, many times the result of the ones that attempt them is so convoluted and the opposite of what the plotters intended, Gavrillo Princip was the assassin. Dragutin Dimitrijevic was the plotter. Who do you suppose was behind the plotter? > [@GIGObuster](#): > > that one has to conclude that the truth is what we see: Which is? > [@GIGObuster](#): > > powerful men that also are incompetent and not as far seeing as you want them to be. At [the highest level](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15188092&postcount=294), they are neither powerful nor competent. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-flat-out-reject-cts-conspiracy-theories/623841/300 "2012-06-20T22:45:09Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > At the lowest level is governments, at a higher level is the Illuminati, and at the highest level is _someone_ - known to no one - manipulating the Illuminati for their own design. But… When this _someone_ dies, who replaces him? How is this person notified that “The Ruler of Earth died and you’re now in charge”? Certified mail? Western Union? Text message? Are the Illuminati notified that they have a new master, or does this guy just secretly take over the reins? I’m really interested in the succession issues these _someones_ have dealt with for the past 200-odd years, and so secretly, too. Enquiring minds want to know! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-flat-out-reject-cts-conspiracy-theories/623841.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-flat-out-reject-cts-conspiracy-theories/623841.md?page=16)