Why believe conspiracy theories?

[DPrime]

Reading the MJ thread really made me think - why do people take such stock in these crazy things? Keeping an open mind and questioning commonly accepted theories/historical events/etc is one thing, to a certain point of course... I just don't understand the irrationality behind some of this stuff, like accepting, at face value, some Youtube video about Michael Jackson's battle against the forces of the Illuminati, to name a recent example.

What's the attraction there? Are people just bored with regular life? Is that it?

 

[pixletwin]

1) They give people's lives meaning.
2) They make them feel important. Like a street preacher or a TV Saleman
3) It makes life seem more exciting when it plays out like a badly written pulp fiction.
4) Its stimulating to believe you have a grasp on a very important piece of knowledge that other people aren't privy to. Like a social club.

 

[MaulFan]

 

[King Darkness]

1) They give people's lives meaning.
2) They make them feel important. Like a street preacher or a TV Saleman
3) It makes life seem more exciting when it plays out like a badly written pulp fiction.
4) Its stimulating to believe you have a grasp on a very important piece of knowledge that other people aren't privy to. Like a social club.

.......

 

[FQRizzo]

*waits for Teemu to appear*

 

[Kuzeh]

Well...
First, we need to understand the main issue here:
Beliefs...
people NEED to believe in something...
be it:

- God, Satan
- UFOS,
- Angels
- Monsters
- Conspiracies
- CNN, FOX, etc...
- Tabloids...

It gives people comfort to think "they know" something unique and powerful...
as weird as it sounds, it makes you "feel" safe... even though in any given moment,
all can end... and it doesn't matter if you believe in heaven, hell or big brother...
it doesn't change a thing... the world will still be spinning in the morning...
We all believe in something... and it gives us the illusion of "safety and comfort"....
I think that's it...

 

[Voorhees27]

Teemu will be able to answer all questions shortly ................. oh and thanks for making another future "closed" thread.

 

[Shropt]

It's engrained (sp?) in the human brain to believe in something bigger. Some use a god, some Star Wars/Star Trek, others conspiracy theories. It's just that easy.

 

[barryo]

I.B.T.L.

 

[Skiman]

 

[The Ween]

I.B.T.L.

OMG! It's the Spaghetti and Meatball Monster!!! He's always bothering me when I go to Olive Garden.

 

[Kuzeh]

OMG! It's the Spaghetti and Meatball Monster!!! He's always bothering me when I go to Olive Garden.

 

[barryo]

OMG! It's the Spaghetti and Meatball Monster!!! He's always bothering me when I go to Olive Garden.

...........well ween you can defeat him in battle with these weapons....

 

[DPrime]

Teemu will be able to answer all questions shortly ................. oh and thanks for making another future "closed" thread.

lol, yeah, the thought of that happening did cross my mind.

I just don't understand how people can be so irrational sometimes...

 

[Kuzeh]

lol, yeah, the thought of that happening did cross my mind.

I just don't understand how people can be so irrational sometimes...

I gotta question for you...
Do you believe in God?...
Satan?...
other?...

Just curious...

 

[Shatterer of Dreams]

say what you will but i like it when Teemu enters the picture, i don't believe in the things that he believes in but i do read his stuff, it's fascinating.

To all you conspiracy theorists out there please keep writing you give me hours of entertainment.

 

[DPrime]

I gotta question for you...
Do you believe in God?...
Satan?...
other?...

Just curious...

No, not really. God, perhaps in some sense exists, but not as portrayed by any specific religion.

Good and evil is really just a matter of perspective.

 

[-Super Hans-]

always question what your told

 

[Mikey2Bullets]

the best thing never said of conspiracies

"no plan, no matter how detailed, no matter how concise, will not survive initial execution"

you might as well try to herd cats.

 

[The Ween]

always question what your told

Why?