Characteristics of Conspiracy Theories

[Violet]

You want an introduction? Do a search on orwells boot. It is an article that I wrote. It is number one all the search engines. factotum666 is me. Because of a link that I put up on my own website, on google I am #1 and #9. Is that a good enough introduction for you?
Before you get into it, it is a 6000 word article. It may exceed your attention span.

Why would I care about Orwell's Boot? Why not his sock instead? Or his left ankle, as is popular in the provinces?

No, it really isn't a good enough introduction for me. Here is where a proper introduction would be.

My attention span is rather good, I find. It got me though the first chapter of The Jungle and into the real story

[Shell B]

Can anyone tell me if there are any atheists or agnostics involved in conspiracy theories. I mean other than the conspiracy to kill christmas. Seriously, does anyone know of any atheist / agnostic involved, not in a conspiracy, but a theory like 9/11 truthers, birthers, alien abduction theories etc.

Thanks

Your later snarkiness and self promotion ignored and aside, I will say that Sae's request that you post an introduction is in keeping with the norm around here. We do prefer introductions before condescending tones and self promotion are applied to new members' posts.

That being said, I suppose, given your most recent description of "involved," that I am involved in conspiracy theories. I investigate them, write articles about them and typically find an explanation that suits my way of thinking better than the old, "the government did it." I am not involved in a "conspiracy" to kill Christmas and that hardly sounds like a conspiracy at all. Please explain.

Oh, and for future reference, we try not to resurrect dead threads. You could have easily posed this question in an introduction thread.

[Minimalist]

Three can keep a secret, if two of them are dead.
Benjamin Franklin

Which is where most of this conspiracy lunacy breaks down.

[Doubting Thomas]

I've found that most conspiracy theories are like religions to the theorists. The CT is absolute truth, any evidence no matter how small or flawed which supports the CT is accepted, while logic & reason and evidence to the contrary are either ignored, explained away with any ad hoc hypothesis, or the person bringing up critical questions or evidence to the contrary is labeled as a "sheeple," "just doesn't get it," or needs to open their eyes.

For a while I was debating chemtrail CT's online and I can't count how many times I was called a "disinformation agent" because I offered up evidence to the contrary or logical arguments which showed that it was all nonsense.

[Minimalist]

There is always the term "BATSHIT CRAZY" D-T.

[Autumnlicious]

I always wondered where the term 'batshit crazy' came from.

[Minimalist]

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.ph...it%20crazy

A person who is batshit crazy is certifiably nuts. The phrase has origins in the old fashioned term "bats in the belfry."

[Doubting Thomas]

Interesting. I'd heard the phrase "bats in the belfry" before but didn't know how it came about.