# Conspiracies through the ages
**URL:** https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/conspiracies-through-the-ages/9997
**Category:** Politics and Social Issues
**Created:** [November 28, 2022, 7:33pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/conspiracies-through-the-ages/9997 "2022-11-28T19:33:41Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@lausten](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/lausten)
#### Post date: [November 28, 2022, 7:33pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/conspiracies-through-the-ages/9997/1 "2022-11-28T19:33:41Z")
I’m going to put this here, even though, for me, it relates to other conversations. Others might not see it my way, so I’ll keep this isolated for now. It’s so great to find an academic who understands conspiracy theories, so if you want a connection from the ancient idea of “blood libel” to pizzagate, she explains that. But what I really enjoyed was her quick synopsis of how a conspiracy theorist thinks. It comes at 29 minutes and doesn’t take long.
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvtf2TYmuw8)
There is stuff around it, so you might want more. Before, she is talking about how woodcuts were once used to spread theories, and how they really took off with the invention of the printing press. I think that’s important, to understand that what we are seeing now isn’t new in the broad sense of how humans deal with reality. There have always been people who gain or solidify power by lying to people who don’t know how to determine what’s true.
If you’re busy, or need more of teaser, here’s her explanation of the story that conspiracy theorists make up that keeps them detached from reality.
> There once was a time when we were safe and in charge of our environment. The “monsters” took over. They did it in secret, so we didn’t notice, and they remain secret now. The conspiracy believer, let’s call him Bob, is the embattled hero who has enough of the goods on the monster to justify his actions and is fighting for the right side. There is no reasoning with Bob because this is about the literal destruction of the world, or at least that safe environment that needs to be restored. All outside information is suspect, there is no democratic or scientific path to fixing this, it’s Bob’s personal gut feelings. If violence is required, then it’s justified based on all of the above.
---
### Author:  [@russianguy0](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/russianguy0)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2022, 12:38am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/conspiracies-through-the-ages/9997/2 "2022-11-29T00:38:47Z")
Russiagate and more!!!
---
### Author:  [@write4u](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/write4u)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2022, 2:18am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/conspiracies-through-the-ages/9997/3 "2022-11-29T02:18:51Z")
Yesss, arrest all Russian officials in the US and put them in jail until Russia releases Brittney Griner who is a US citizen and was not a threat to their country in any way.
The only way to deal with authoritarian governments is to make any hostile action on their part cost so much that it doesn’t pay to even try.
---
### Author:  [@lausten](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/lausten)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2022, 3:21am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/conspiracies-through-the-ages/9997/4 "2022-11-29T03:21:53Z")
There’s nothing here about Russia.
---
### Author:  [@russianguy0](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/russianguy0)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2022, 3:51am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/conspiracies-through-the-ages/9997/5 "2022-11-29T03:51:56Z")
It should be. An all time chart topper in the America Democrats conspiracy top 100. More insidious than pizzagate as this one is used to justify wars.
---
### Author:  [@russianguy0](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/russianguy0)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2022, 3:54am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/conspiracies-through-the-ages/9997/6 "2022-11-29T03:54:54Z")
Says the person who lives in the land of the free and the brave which holds 20% of the worlds prison population and where possessing 16 oz of marijuana can get you 3 to 15 years in gaol.
---
### Author:  [@write4u](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/write4u)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2022, 4:56am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/conspiracies-through-the-ages/9997/7 "2022-11-29T04:56:37Z")
No it doesn’t.
Moreover, CBD oil is only used for medical purposes because it has not enough THC for recreational use and is not classified as a hallucinogenic.
The Russian government lied and called it hashish oil, which is a hallucinogenic cannabinoid, but not an addictive opioid like heroin.
# Where marijuana is legal in the United States
> Since then, the medical use of cannabis has been legalized in 39 states and the District of Columbia. The recreational or adult-use of cannabis has been approved in DC and 21 states.
> [https://mjbizdaily.com/map-of-us-marijuana-legalization-by-state/](https://mjbizdaily.com/map-of-us-marijuana-legalization-by-state/)
What do you really know about the US?
---
### Author:  [@write4u](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/write4u)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2022, 5:04am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/conspiracies-through-the-ages/9997/8 "2022-11-29T05:04:57Z")
> [@russianguy0](#):
>
> More insidious than pizzagate as this one is used to justify wars.
And what “gate” did Putin use to destroy and lay waste to Ukraine, a country of 42.81 million people?
This will go down in history as one of the most illegitimate and brutal wars against a peaceful nation.
Don’t talk to me about morals. You have no idea what that even means.
---
### Author:  [@russianguy0](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/russianguy0)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2022, 5:16am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/conspiracies-through-the-ages/9997/9 "2022-11-29T05:16:35Z")
More horrendous and brutal than the the million plus iraqis slaughtered by freedom loving sweet baby jesus america ?
---
### Author:  [@russianguy0](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/russianguy0)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2022, 5:20am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/conspiracies-through-the-ages/9997/10 "2022-11-29T05:20:35Z")
> [@write4u](#):
>
> What do you really know about the US?
Yes
> **[This 38-Year-Old Man Will Spend Life in Prison Over 1.5 Ounces of Marijuana](https://reason.com/2021/05/13/this-38-year-old-man-will-spend-life-in-prison-over-1-5-ounces-of-marijuana/)**
>
> Plus: The gas crisis, it's time to free Reality Winner, and more...
---
### Author:  [@write4u](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/write4u)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2022, 5:22am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/conspiracies-through-the-ages/9997/11 "2022-11-29T05:22:30Z")
> [@russianguy0](#):
>
> More horrendous and brutal than the the million plus iraqis slaughtered by freedom loving sweet baby jesus america ?
More justified , yes. Saddam Husein was a brutal dictator who first tried to annex Kuwait, an ally of US and then used chemical warfare on the Kurdish people. He was a ruthless criminal, just like Putin.
---
### Author:  [@russianguy0](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/russianguy0)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2022, 5:27am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/conspiracies-through-the-ages/9997/12 "2022-11-29T05:27:09Z")
Absolutely destroyed that country and others
> [@write4u](#):
>
> More justified , yes. Saddam Husein was a brutal dictator who first tried to annex Kuwait, a
Hi Dick Cheney. Didnt know you were still alive
---
### Author:  [@write4u](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/write4u)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2022, 5:39am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/conspiracies-through-the-ages/9997/13 "2022-11-29T05:39:13Z")
> [@russianguy0](#):
>
> [This 38-Year-Old Man Will Spend Life in Prison Over 1.5 Ounces of Marijuana](https://reason.com/2021/05/13/this-38-year-old-man-will-spend-life-in-prison-over-1-5-ounces-of-marijuana/)
Are you comparing this unjustified sentence of a person with a prior criminal record by the government of an individual state where MJ is still illegal to Russia’s sentence of 9 years for some legally obtained medical oil for pain by a sportswoman who competes in a very physically demanding sport like basketball?
Great you just compared Russia to one of the US lowest ranking states of the US.
# Mississippi
#49 in [Overall Rankings](https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings)#48 out of 50 in 2019
## Overview of Mississippi
AREA
48,436 SQ. MI.
GDP
$116 Billion
COLLEGE EDUCATED
32.8%
POPULATION
2,976,149
CAPITAL
Jackson
MEDIAN INCOME
$24,519
---
### Author:  [@write4u](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/write4u)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2022, 5:44am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/conspiracies-through-the-ages/9997/14 "2022-11-29T05:44:43Z")
> [@russianguy0](#):
>
> Hi Dick Cheney. Didnt know you were still alive
Please don’t engage in a subject you know absolutely nothing about.
### President George H.W. Bush orders Operation Desert Shield
[https://www.history.com](https://www.history.com) › this-day-in-history › bush-or…
> On August 7, 1990, _President George Herbert Walker Bush_ orders the organization of Operation Desert Shield in response to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait on August 2.
> ([President George H.W. Bush orders Operation Desert Shield | August 7, 1990 | HISTORY](https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bush-orders-operation-desert-shield))
---
### Author:  [@lausten](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/lausten)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2022, 9:32am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/conspiracies-through-the-ages/9997/15 "2022-11-29T09:32:41Z")
@russianguy0
Do you have anything other than whataboutisms?
---
### Author:  [@russianguy0](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/russianguy0)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2022, 11:07am UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/conspiracies-through-the-ages/9997/16 "2022-11-29T11:07:00Z")
> [@lausten](#):
>
> Do you have anything other than whataboutisms?
The criminal calling others criminal for the very crimes he has himself committed. I dont think so.
---
### Author:  [@write4u](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/write4u)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2022, 4:21pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/conspiracies-through-the-ages/9997/17 "2022-11-29T16:21:39Z")
> [@russianguy0](#):
>
> The criminal calling others criminal for the very crimes he has himself committed. I dont think so.
Just as Putin does, right?
---
### Author:  [@lausten](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/lausten)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2022, 4:49pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/conspiracies-through-the-ages/9997/18 "2022-11-29T16:49:53Z")
i don’t see how that’s a response in any normal sense of the word. The account has been suspended indefinitely.
> [@Why are accounts suspended?](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/why-are-accounts-suspended/9999):
>
> Membership has continued to grow, and with that, I hope the diversity of opinions also grows. To that end, sometimes, accounts are suspended. The more obvious violations of spam and aggressive behavior are deactivated quickly. Some aren’t so clear. A common problem is that someone is passionate about their opinion but is not as well informed as think they are. If the passion continues, but the response to input from other members is not acknowledged, there is no point in further attempts to eng…
---
### Author:  [@mriana](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/mriana)
#### Post date: [November 29, 2022, 5:10pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/conspiracies-through-the-ages/9997/19 "2022-11-29T17:10:38Z")
@ [russianguy0](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/russianguy0) Please start making sense and contributing to conversations or you will be banned next time and not suspended.
---
### Author:  [@cuthbertj](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/u/cuthbertj)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2022, 6:21pm UTC](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/conspiracies-through-the-ages/9997/20 "2022-11-30T18:21:22Z")
Going back to the OP. Here’s the problem with that - it all depends. Here’s a blurb about Galileo:
> Galileo’s championing of Copernican heliocentrism (Earth rotating daily and revolving around the Sun) was met with opposition from within the Catholic Church and from some astronomers. The matter was investigated by the Roman Inquisition in 1615, which concluded that heliocentrism was foolish, absurd, and heretical since it contradicted Holy Scripture.
Pretend we don’t know the truth about the solar system, i.e. pretend you’re just an average person during that time period, you go to church, do normal everyday things, the church is your authority etc.
Then someone tells you about this conspiracy theory some nut in Italy is spouting, something about the earth, which clearly is not moving, is actually moving at unimaginable speeds around the sun, which obviously moves around the earth.
Oh those lousy conspiracy theorists are just nuts, trying to bring down the church, my family, corrupt our kids.
My point is, in those times Galileo was a nutcase conspiracy theorist. (Please don’t say the church was wrong in this case, that’s not the point.) As long as a large enough group of people believe X, then anyone believing not-X can be labeled a conspiracy nut.
In the case of the church, they handled Galileo stupidly, given their goal (which of course I disagree with). What they should have done is brand him as a conspiracy nut just. Mission accomplished. 911 anyone?
[Next page](https://forum.centerforinquiry.org/t/conspiracies-through-the-ages/9997.md?page=2)