Another reason that conspiracy theories are broadcast so effectively over social media is that they get clicks, and hence money, or at least attention for their creators’ purposes.
Ah, I love the click bait aspect!
Speaking of, I ended up getting bored looking for forums, especially with so many widely varying “tin hatter” ideas (not meant to be derogatory, one could say the same of me) and decided to just put some stuff on blast on Twiter instead. I have all of 22 followers. But I was also tweeting the institutions which I need to actually do their jobs, instead of me spending hours of my time doing their jobs.
I decided that was a better plan than searching out folks. Soon enough I’m sure those in my position will find me.
I’m still happy to be here with the forums, though. I’m a psych major and am generally fascinated by people and what they have to say. Especially in the impersonal environment of the www.
What I find so interesting about conspiracy theories which have turned out to be true, to get back on topic, is the belief that the scenarios have ended.
Like MK Ultra. Who is to say it isn’t still going on? Should we really trust that the CIA is tellimg the truth concerning having ended the experiment?
I have a fun theory, unrelated to my original post. The FDA just raised the legal age of tobacco and nicotine products and now requires all tobacco sold in the US to have updated warnings due to a new chemical being added to the tobacco amd nicotine products which is much more harmful to ones health than the tobacco itself.
Anyone here use tobacco or vape?
W4U March 26, 2018 at 1:36 am - As long as we can keep the “separation of powers”, I doubt that any grand conspiracy will take hold.Separation of Powers, used to something we took for granted, wasn't it.
It’s starting to look like another fiction that’s lost it’s hold over our collective imaginations.
Where do we go from here Moscow Mitch McConnell? Actually guess that question should be directed at Putin.
I quit smoking a couple of yrs ago. Before that, when vaping was a relatively new thing, I tried it briefly as an alternative to smoking, but it didn’t take. Now I am glad I never got into vaping.
As far as the govt adding harmful elements to cigs, idk about that. But I recall, some decades ago, the govt tried to kill off illegal marijuana fields by spraying with paraquot, an herbicide. The problem was, marijuana laden with paraquot was still sold. I don’t recall if it was known how much suffering that caused.
March 26, 2018, AH, those were the days. The days when we still believed our government would be protected by “separation of powers”.
Oh, that is wrong. I saw that that information is verifiable by the CDC. I wonder if the spray they used was treated with the blue dye which is mandatory if used in the United States? I wonder if legal action was ever taken against the government for poisoning their own people? (Some possible research for a bored moment. I actually looked up paraquot within the past couple of weeks when thinking of a line from “The Big Lebowski”. My apologies for the reference if you weren’t a fan of the film, but I adore the writers.)
Apparently part of the reason cited for the age increase for tobacco and nicotine products was the staggering number of youths who vaped in recent annual statistics. I never got into vaping, either. It felt funny in my lungs and on my throat. Nor was I a fan of the flavors.
I think they should have just raised the age to vape, frankly. Or simply got rid of them. The black market is already overrun with worse things. Not to mention the batteries can explode.
As a side note, I also think that those in military service should have different age restrictions if the US is actively at war. I am a firm believer that if one is shipped off to possibly die for their country, they should be able to smoke a cigarette/cigar and have an alcoholic beverage if they wish to.
I do smoke and am considering quitting. There was a marked difference in the smell (before and after burning the tobacco), taste and affect of cigarettes into the fall of this year. And I wasn’t the only smoker to think so. I ended up opting for clove cigars, but then even they began to small and taste funny. I recently found a pack of my brand that was normal smelling and smoking. I was a happy camper.
Into the future I believe I will just grow my own tobacco. I have in the past just for fun, and it seems with the general lack of oversight, the government’s negligence, and sometimes complicit actions to hurt its own people (as with the cannabis and paraquot), growing - or personally knowing the source of - all internally taken substances and food is a wise move. Easier said than done, however.
If one could get the “truth” about something someone wants hidden and the evidence which would demonstrate it, what good would it do to attempt to present it to the public?
I think it would do no good to prove FDR knew the Japanese were about to attack Pearl Harbor, that Truman put off Japanese attempts to surrender so we could experiment with the bomb -twice, that the CIA killed JFK because of him pulling air support for the Bay of Pigs invasion, that Reagan authorized a spy plane to follow KAL flight 007 into Russian airspace, that Reagan authorized missiles to be carried into space on board the space shuttle Challenger, that US Army doctors gave Reagan drugs that rapidly brought on symptoms of Alzheimer’s before he could clear his conscience in his memoirs or that a USA spy plane from a base in Australia tucked in under the tail of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 collided with the airliner and brought it down.
When I was 18, I was in very real danger of being drafted to die in Viet Nam. But I was not of legal drinking age. At age 19 for me, the law was changed to 18, so at least I could have legally gotten inebriated some time before I was sent to my death.
So I agree, if there is a chance you are going to die for your country, alcohol should be legal for you.
Your argument is valid, Bob. If you know, you know. So why continue to broadcast it.
I suppose it is a matter of many still calling such events “conspiracy theories”. As well as the general hope that the public finds out about the event before it has become history.
In both cases we miss the mark. But there is also the mentality of “So what? I can’t do anything about it.” Or “It is history now, even if true” which is how the concept of conspiracy theories which have been proven true perpetuates more conspiracies, and more actions that are so bizarre they could be defined as conspiracies and merely theories.
I think the root issue of people feeling strongly about actions and instances which have been deemed conspiracy theories is a matter of accountability and transparency. Those actions and instances, of course, have led to people having less trust in the powers that be because of a lack of the aforementioned traits. It is a never ending cycle.
It certainly is a point of intrigue for a lot of folks. As TomB brought up, the click bait aspect. I think obsessing over any of it is an unhealthy distraction, however. I think that may have been in part what you were trying to impart, yes?
I’m glad you were not drafted before you were allowed to have a drink, and I’m glad you didn’t get drafted and die!
War is just so pointless to me. I understand it has to happen at times, but most of thr time it doesn’t.
I’m fascinated by “Us versus Them” dynamics. It brings out very antisocial behavior in people. A shortsighted aggression which, for my purposes, is in part a psychosis.
I am glad that I was able to legally drink, and not have to go die in Viet Nam, also. Tho my 1st experience with drinking was a college keg party, in the dark at a local lake. I decided to drink 10 large glasses of beer, for no good reason, other than it seemed like a good idea at the time. So I did, in relatively short order. Talk about alcohol poisoning. I was miserable, and throwing up over and over, and over, even when it seemed there could be nothing left to throw up. The good news is I survived, and never became an alcoholic.
BTW, Forte, many many people consider “The Big Lebowski” to be an honored classic.
Forte: “It certainly is a point of intrigue for a lot of folks. As TomB brought up, the click bait aspect. I think obsessing over any of it is an unhealthy distraction, however. I think that may have been in part what you were trying to impart, yes?”
Yes. One of the most useless things a person can have is information that he cannot use. I think it does no good, and has great potential for harm, when we try to satisfy our curiosity just so we can judge.
Yikes, TomB! Yeah, alcohol poisoning is a kicker. Alcohol generally is too widely used too frequently. Although relaxing the nerves is a definite medicinal use for the substance.
I find it interesting that alcohol is so accessible and legal and other illicit substances are not. Apparently, during the prohibit the government poisoned alcohol and tons of people died. Does that keep our convo on topic for conspiracy theories? Hehehe.
I adore the Coen brothers. All of their movies are terrific. Even “The Lady Killers”, which was by far their least popular. I would love to meet them!
I think, Bob, that people like to be informed of the government being dubious in a “once bitten, twice shy” aspect. “Trust, but verify” also comes to mind.
I think knowing that programs like MK Ultra existed/exist is quite useful. I’m still in the phase of finding ways to properly use that knowledge. But time shall tell.
I recently read a meme that stated “Thinking is hard, that is why most people judge”. I thought it apt.
TimB said,Talk about alcohol poisoning. I was miserable, and throwing up over and over, and over, even when it seemed there could be nothing left to throw up. The good news is I survived, and never became an alcoholic.
You unwittingly practised “adversion therapy”.
I had a similar experience with Tequila. During my travels with the musical group, we were invited one afternoon to a small party where I drank three shots of Tequila with the salt and lime kickers.
The next thing I remember is standing on stage four hours later, playing my bass. I had lost 4 hours out of my life. Never again did I allow myself to lose such complete control over my actions. It was embarrased by this lack of discipline over my actions.