A Non-Ontological Status of Conspiracy Theory
Taken from a reply to the blog post "The Ontological Status of Conspiracy Theory", here:
http://www.911blogger.com/node/7310#comment-128766
Where the author takes a "highfalutin" stab at the concept of "conspiracy theory". (my interpretation)
Like so many, if not most, of these types of writings, this is really just so much intellectual masturbation.
Which can be fun. (and interesting)
But, also somewhat usual (imo), it is lacking.
People so easily forget, or perhaps simply do not understand, that so-called "conspiracy theories" are not whimsical, fantastical, illusory, fictions or pseudo-fictions, and the like. They are a real and true part of society and culture, and the human experience itself, really.
From the benign (surprise party) to the legal and criminal (Conspiracy to Commit Murder) and every level in between. (and "larger") They happen every day, all day long, all around the world. (by an untold number of people, possibly numbering in the millions, all told)
As one would expect, they also take larger, (perhaps) more "evil" aspects, with things like 9/11, the JFK Assassination, Watergate, Iran Contra..... the list goes on and on and on. (many, or most, of which, are factual, proved, and beyond question)
Which is why it is so ridiculous and asinine when people attempt to take the "it's just a conspiracy theory" route of dismissal and derogatory inclination and the like. It should be self-evident at this point that anyone who attempts this type of absurdity is engaging in highly self-embarrassing behavior. (with accompanying thoughts and ideas upon which that behavior is based)
To deny the concept of "conspiracy theories" is irrational thought and behavior by definition.
It's actually to the point of it being sad when I see people acting this way. Sad and unfortunate. And almost always incorrect, wrong-thinking, tiny-minded self-destructive behavior. (that is often/usually hurtful towards others, inevitably)
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the need for big T theory
doesn't change the fact that we really do need something along the lines of Conspiracy Theory (big T) much as there are things like Queer Theory, Chaos Theory, etc.
Conspiracies occur all the time, at many levels. The smaller the conspiracy the easier to pull off unnoticed--larger ones do occur, even across decades, and this must be studied. Whereas the small conspiracy thrives on secrecy, the large conspiracy relies on institutionalizing the lie using false historical narratives.
We need to avoid devolving into mental masturbation, I agree, but there is plenty of room for a social science approach to the study of conspiracies and conspirators, so that a clear line can be drawn between serious research and paranoid delusions. I propose a working group!
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Real Truther a.k.a. Verdadero Verdadero
WTCdemolition.com - Harvard Task Force