Conspiracy Theories--Are you a Buff or are they Bunk?

[Golden Avalanche]

I would like to point out that there is a difference between a conspiracy theory and a rumor -- and a lot of these are just rumors.

Sadly in 2019, this is a distinction without a difference.

There used to be an art to the creation of a conspiracy theory and an attempt to flesh it out. But now it's just a matter of "many people are saying........." and new "theories" are born every minute. Like suckers.

[Heisenberg]

Who knew that aliens/UFOs are partisan?

"STORM AREA 51"
Is The U.S. Government Hiding Something About UFOs?
Jul 17, 2019
https://www.statista.com/chart/18712/share-of-the-us-public-believing-the-government-has-ufo-information/

[brewcity77]

Interesting that the total percentage of respondents that answered "don't know" was higher than any individual percentage. Is that even possible?

[warriorchick]

This conversation inspired me to watch the movie Capricorn One.

O.J. Simpson as an astronaut!

[Jockey]

Interesting that the total percentage of respondents that answered "don't know" was higher than any individual percentage. Is that even possible?

Of course.  it's the only correct answer.  "Don't know" should have bordered on 100%.

[Herman Cain]

In the old days there were lots of  quality conspiracies. Today people are not intellectually skilled enough to pull them off as much.

[The Sultan]

A fellow Marquette alum -- and classmate to many of us -- on the question of whether intelligent life exists in the universe (and why it hasn't contacted us).

A fellow Marquette alum (and classmate of many of us) on the question of whether intelligent life exists in the universe.

Yep.  Thanks very much for this.

[Cheeks]

A fellow Marquette alum -- and classmate to many of us -- on the question of whether intelligent life exists in the universe (and why it hasn't contacted us).

A fellow Marquette alum (and classmate of many of us) on the question of whether intelligent life exists in the universe.

Excellent

[brewcity77]

Of course.  it's the only correct answer.  "Don't know" should have bordered on 100%.

No, what I mean is that 19% of the total respondents said "Don't know." However when broken down by demographic, Democrats & Republicans said "Don't know" at a rate of 15% each while Independents said "Don't know" at a rate of 18%. How do you get to a total of 19% when no individual group was over 19%. Mathematically I don't think that's possible.

In addition, "Don't know" is also the smallest percentage in each group. It might be the correct answer, but none of the demographic groups nor the country as a whole (according to this seemingly faulty survey) is willing to admit what they don't know.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Who knew that aliens/UFOs are partisan?

"STORM AREA 51"
Is The U.S. Government Hiding Something About UFOs?
Jul 17, 2019
https://www.statista.com/chart/18712/share-of-the-us-public-believing-the-government-has-ufo-information/

Sept. 20 is not going to end well.

[CTWarrior]

I tend not to believe conspiracies because people in general can't keep their mouth shut. 

The one that is missing from the list that I hear all the time from various people is that we have discovered the cure for cancer but the pharmaceutical companies are keeping it from the public and are killing the doctors who try to make it public.  It is a very popular conspiracy theory.  In fact I am pretty sure Big Pharma threatened houwarrior to keep it off his list. 

You'd have to be Snidley Whiplash twirling your moustache evil to keep a cure for cancer from getting out.

[MU82]

A whole lot of these aren't conspiracy theories, including most of the ones mentioned in the last 3 pages.

[warriorchick]

The U.S. government deliberately infected African Americans with AIDS.

I saw that pasted on a wall in Europe in 1984.

[Herman Cain]

A fellow Marquette alum -- and classmate to many of us -- on the question of whether intelligent life exists in the universe (and why it hasn't contacted us).

A fellow Marquette alum (and classmate of many of us) on the question of whether intelligent life exists in the universe.

This was excellent. Thanks for posting it.

[🏀]

Tiger is currently serving a two-month suspension from the PGA Tour.

[wadesworld]

Jake Arrieta didn't juice.

No Cub has ever juiced.  Or corked a bat.

Soccer is a sport.

[Cheeks]

A whole lot of these aren't conspiracy theories, including most of the ones mentioned in the last 3 pages.

LOL....yes, please point out which ones are alarming to you that you feel don't fit the definition.

[StillAWarrior]

Yep.  Thanks very much for this.

Excellent

This was excellent. Thanks for posting it.

Peter was (and is) a great guy and very talented.  I'd imagine several on this board know him.  A couple years ago he made this spoken word piece into a book, which is available on his website.  I don't own the book (but do own a number of his CDs and have seen him in concert).  This is not a paid endorsement, but I do endorse him.  Enthusiastically. 

[Benny B]

LOL....yes, please point out which ones are alarming to you that you feel don't fit the definition.

I don't know... maybe anything that doesn't involve two or more parties conspiring with one another.  Or, for those who don't like to define a word using a root of the word, a conspiracy requires two or more parties (generally more, but two is enough) acting methodically and in concert with one another with the primary purpose to deceive or withhold truth in manner benefiting at least one of the actors but that is also detrimental to, or against the best interests of, a significant population.

A person sleeping with another person's wife isn't a conspiracy.  Claiming the holocaust didn't happen isn't a conspiracy (though the holocaust itself was).  Someone paying the Hausers to go somewhere other than UW isn't a conspiracy. 

[MU82]

LOL....yes, please point out which ones are alarming to you that you feel don't fit the definition.

Exactly what I (and Benny) said.

[rocket surgeon]

Of course.  it's the only correct answer.  "Don't know" should have bordered on 100%.

classic-it is ok not to know what you believe?  if you believe in something, it doesn't necessarily mean it's true or not.  people, at least those in my sphere, are allowed to believe in what they want to believe.  it doesn't make them true, false, fact or not factual

    then there are those who blanket their beliefs over a group of people; either they are very persuasive or they are speaking to sheep. the people i hang with have the ability to make their own choices/form their own beliefs.   

     who do you get your marching orders from??  those with "only the correct answer" of course...scarey

if you want to go on facts, that's a whole different subject, but i have a funny feeling your facts are different from mine

[real chili 83]

The beer summit.

[JWags85]

In the old days there were lots of  quality conspiracies. Today people are not intellectually skilled enough to pull them off as much.

Maybe there is just too much easily accessible information and ways for people to speak out to keep stuff properly suppressed enough for a conspiracy to live

[The Sultan]

So I have been thinking about the whole "NBA suspending MJ for gambling" conspiracy.  I can't figure out the NBA's motivations for taking that course of action.

If MJ had actually been gambling against NBA rules, why not make an example out of him? (Like the NFL did with Hornung and Karras back in the day.)  If you aren't going to do that, then you might as well ignore it and let your top player continue playing.  Quietly suspending him means you aren't public with your punishment AND you don't have your A-player.  That seems like the worse option possible. 

Am I missing something?  Maybe it was a negotiated suspension? 

[MU82]

So I have been thinking about the whole "NBA suspending MJ for gambling" conspiracy.  I can't figure out the NBA's motivations for taking that course of action.

If MJ had actually been gambling against NBA rules, why not make an example out of him? (Like the NFL did with Hornung and Karras back in the day.)  If you aren't going to do that, then you might as well ignore it and let your top player continue playing.  Quietly suspending him means you aren't public with your punishment AND you don't have your A-player.  That seems like the worse option possible. 

Am I missing something?  Maybe it was a negotiated suspension?

You're not missing anything. Like 99.9% of conspiracy theories, this one is ridiculous.