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If the author thinks 'the assumed essential decency of the state and its agents' is the reason people are against conspiracies, he's got no understanding of the

If the author thinks 'the assumed essential decency of the state and its agents' is the reason people are against conspiracies, he's got no understanding of the issue at all. Some of us object to conspiracy-mongering because we know people are only human, and have a limited capacity for outrage and action - there's only so much we can do beyond taking care of our families. At the same time, we know that plenty of objectionable things that deserve our attention are happening every day - things that are known and acknowledged to be happening, things that may be perfectly legal and constitutional but are nonetheless repugnant. When the public's attention is drawn to an entertaining and sexy conspiracy theory, something that might have happened but very very probably didn't, the public's attention is no longer focused on the absolutely-100%-objectionable things taking place every day. That's why conspiracy-mongering is a net loss for society, and why I'll happily crack tinfoil hat jokes at the author's expense - it's not because I think the government's a big group of lovable folks, it's because all that time we're collectively spending writing the script for a future episode of Ancient Aliens could be so much better spent.

Goladus 13y ago
Several days after a car accident just happens to incinerate a controversial journalist, it's extremely unfair to label questions about potentially suspicious circumstances as a "conspiracy theory." Suggesting that it's possible Hastings was murdered is not "conspiracy-mongering." The author is likely right that people who assume the essential decency of the state and its agents are likely to prematurely dismiss such questions and falsely label them conspiracy-mongering when they are not. When the public's attention is drawn to an entertaining and sexy conspiracy theory, something that might have happened but very very probably didn't, the public's attention is no longer focused on the absolutely-100%-objectionable things taking place every day. That's why conspiracy-mongering is a net loss for society, and why I'll happily crack tinfoil hat jokes at the author's expense - it's not because I think the government's a big group of lovable folks, it's because all that time we're collectively spending writing the script for a future episode of Ancient Aliens could be so much better spent. Meanwhile, while you are busy cracking tinfoil-hat jokes, your attention is no longer focused on the "absolutely-100%-objectionable things" taking place every day... It's true there is a cottage industry of conspiracy mongering with minimal basis in reality that serves essentially as entertainment for its consumers. It's irrational and counter-productive. But there is a much larger and more influential industry that makes money selling indignation, contempt, and outrage; none of which do anything to address real problems.

Goladus 13y ago

Several days after a car accident just happens to incinerate a controversial journalist, it's extremely unfair to label questions about potentially suspicious circumstances as a "conspiracy theory." Suggesting that it's possible Hastings was murdered is not "conspiracy-mongering." The author is likely right that people who assume the essential decency of the state and its agents are likely to prematurely dismiss such questions and falsely label them conspiracy-mongering when they are not. When the public's attention is drawn to an entertaining and sexy conspiracy theory, something that might have happened but very very probably didn't, the public's attention is no longer focused on the absolutely-100%-objectionable things taking place every day. That's why conspiracy-mongering is a net loss for society, and why I'll happily crack tinfoil hat jokes at the author's expense - it's not because I think the government's a big group of lovable folks, it's because all that time we're collectively spending writing the script for a future episode of Ancient Aliens could be so much better spent. Meanwhile, while you are busy cracking tinfoil-hat jokes, your attention is no longer focused on the "absolutely-100%-objectionable things" taking place every day... It's true there is a cottage industry of conspiracy mongering with minimal basis in reality that serves essentially as entertainment for its consumers. It's irrational and counter-productive. But there is a much larger and more influential industry that makes money selling indignation, contempt, and outrage; none of which do anything to address real problems.