Conspiracy versus Conspiracy Theory
With the attempted murder of quite a few people, including a member of Congress yesterday, I thought it timely to put up this post up. The perpetrator was a conspiracy theorist. We have said repeatedly that we do not ascribe to conspiracy theories, do not like conspiracy theories and that we abhor violence of any kind. The stress induced by this type of environment often gives unstable people cover for violence as well as pushing people over the edge.
Conspiracy is when two or more entities plot actions against another. That happens every day. It happens at work as you plot against a competitor. It happens every day in Washington as lobbyists plot their own self-interest in conjunction with politicians.
In the not too distant past I saw one of America's well known conspiracy theories try to equate conspiracy and conspiracy theory as the same thing. Conspiring is not even closely related to conspiracy theory if you understand the human mind.
Conspiracy theory is a factless attempt to take a chain of events and assign them to a person or persons who had an intent to make those events come to pass. Often to project blame. Conspiracy theory is a manifestation of the human mind driven by an overly stimulated sense of paranoia. And paranoia is not one of the human condition's most pleasant traits. Paranoia is a thought process heavily influenced by anxiety or fear, often to the point of irrationality and delusion. Paranoid thinking typically includes persecutory beliefs concerning a perceived threat towards oneself.
Conspiracy theory is driven by a delusional state of fear. Have you ever tried to reason with anyone who is fear-stricken? Conspiracy theory is a manufactured reality created by the brain's fear response. It is your mind terrorizing you. Are there many conspiracies around us. Sure there are. But unless one has sufficient facts to draw reasoned and rational conclusions about those conspiracies, conclusions surrounding these events are based in paranoia and unreasoned thought. We don't allow unreasoned conspiracy theories in a courtroom because as a society based on reason, we require evidence and facts to uphold the rule of law.
Remember this the next time you are listening to ad hominem attacks or hyperbole or personal attacks as a basis for any argument. Those who seek to control have a primary element of knowing how to manipulate people. People who seek power are very good at this game. And that means they know how to manipulate the masses with hyperbole. So when politicians and fringe elements of society remark that President Obama may "harbor a Kenyan, anti-colonial worldview", what are they actually doing? Or when politicians remark of death panels in the health care bill, what are they doing? They are attempting to terrorize our minds with paranoia, delusions and fear - the same foundational elements of conspiracy theory.
It is important to deal with truth, facts and reason when it comes to the rule of law. Conpiracy theory is often a witch hunt. Remember those? Mass hysteria and mass murder driven by paranoia. Not one of humanity's greatest moments.
The future can be based on reason, facts, the search for truth and the rule of law. Or it can be based on hysteria, fear and paranoia. I know which I prefer.
Conspiracy is when two or more entities plot actions against another. That happens every day. It happens at work as you plot against a competitor. It happens every day in Washington as lobbyists plot their own self-interest in conjunction with politicians.
In the not too distant past I saw one of America's well known conspiracy theories try to equate conspiracy and conspiracy theory as the same thing. Conspiring is not even closely related to conspiracy theory if you understand the human mind.
Conspiracy theory is a factless attempt to take a chain of events and assign them to a person or persons who had an intent to make those events come to pass. Often to project blame. Conspiracy theory is a manifestation of the human mind driven by an overly stimulated sense of paranoia. And paranoia is not one of the human condition's most pleasant traits. Paranoia is a thought process heavily influenced by anxiety or fear, often to the point of irrationality and delusion. Paranoid thinking typically includes persecutory beliefs concerning a perceived threat towards oneself.
Conspiracy theory is driven by a delusional state of fear. Have you ever tried to reason with anyone who is fear-stricken? Conspiracy theory is a manufactured reality created by the brain's fear response. It is your mind terrorizing you. Are there many conspiracies around us. Sure there are. But unless one has sufficient facts to draw reasoned and rational conclusions about those conspiracies, conclusions surrounding these events are based in paranoia and unreasoned thought. We don't allow unreasoned conspiracy theories in a courtroom because as a society based on reason, we require evidence and facts to uphold the rule of law.
Remember this the next time you are listening to ad hominem attacks or hyperbole or personal attacks as a basis for any argument. Those who seek to control have a primary element of knowing how to manipulate people. People who seek power are very good at this game. And that means they know how to manipulate the masses with hyperbole. So when politicians and fringe elements of society remark that President Obama may "harbor a Kenyan, anti-colonial worldview", what are they actually doing? Or when politicians remark of death panels in the health care bill, what are they doing? They are attempting to terrorize our minds with paranoia, delusions and fear - the same foundational elements of conspiracy theory.
It is important to deal with truth, facts and reason when it comes to the rule of law. Conpiracy theory is often a witch hunt. Remember those? Mass hysteria and mass murder driven by paranoia. Not one of humanity's greatest moments.
The future can be based on reason, facts, the search for truth and the rule of law. Or it can be based on hysteria, fear and paranoia. I know which I prefer.
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