3 Easy steps to counter the 'Conspiracy Nut' label
Calling someone a conspiracy theorist is the psychological equivalent of a four letter word. Therefore dealing swiftly with this common ad-hominem attack is essential. Here is a 3 step approach:
1/ Define 'Conspiracy Theorist'?
2/ Why does it apply to me?
3/ Of all people, why does it apply to me and me only?
Here's an example:
Denialist: You're a conspiracy theorist!
Truther: Please define what you mean by conspiracy theorist?
Denialist: A conspiracy theorist is someone who believes that his government killed its own population as a pretext for war.
Truther: How does that apply to me?
Denialist: You believe that our government plotted to kill Americans on 9/11.
Truther: So you're saying that anybody who believes that who believes that his government killed its own population as a pretext for war, is a conspiracy theorist? In that case, all historians having studied Operation Himmler's Reichstag, Nero, Gleiwitz incident, Lavon affair, KGB Chechnya bombings, Algerian civil war, Stalin are all conspiracy theorists?
Just an example, but you can apply this template to any definition the Denialist gives you.
- Emmanuel Goldstein Bis's blog
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Emmanuel, I agree that this is an important issue
But most people using the CT label have no idea why its a bad thing to be, they have been brainwashed by the media's propaganda and they are using it as a slur.
Instead, I propose we embrace the label and begin to undo the idea that a CT is a bad thing to be. " Yes, there is a conspiracy, and my theories about it are based on fact. Bet you don't know that...."
You would probably be interested in two essays I wrote about the CT label, both at:
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/author/SheilaCasey/
Conspiracy Theories and Conspiracy Facts
"Instead, I propose we embrace the label and begin to undo the idea that a CT is a bad thing to be. "
One way to lose a debate for 9/11 truth is to frame it about "theories" when there are enough indisputable facts to show the clear case that the official story is hogwash.
"I would like to ask the National Post: is it a "conspiracy theory" that not one single person within the FAA, NORAD, FBI, CIA, etc was fired or reprimanded after the events of 9/11? Is it a "conspiracy theory" that those most responsible for preventing the attacks were promoted? It is a "conspiracy theory" that investigations into the 9/11 attacks were blocked by the Bush administration for more than a year, or that evidence was destroyed or is being withheld? National Post, were the 9/11 war games involving hijacked airliners on 9/11 as reported by credible news sources a "conspiracy theory"? Shouldn't this information be something that the National Post should be educating their readers about? Is it also a "conspiracy theory" that NORAD intercepts aircraft hundreds of times a year, but on 9/11 we are told... well actually we were told three contradictory stories by NORAD! So when NORAD tells us three contradictory stories in an attempt to explain why they couldn't intercept any planes on 9/11, is that a "conspiracy theory" too? Senator Mark Dayton said in testimony during a Senate Governmental Affairs Committee hearing that NORAD officials "lied"."
http://arabesque911.blogspot.com/2008/10/national-post-911-skeptics-resu...
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A 9/11/2008 Resolution: Start Your Own 9/11 Blog
Thanks...
For the inspiration...
Do these people deserve to know how and why their loved ones were murdered? Do we deserve to know how and why 9/11 happened?
The OCT is a conspiracy theory
Denialist: You're a conspiracy theorist!
Ans: So are you, Why do you believe the official conspiracy?
Did you know that the FBI has NOT charged Osama binLaden with being involved in the 9/11 attacks?
Usama Bin Laden is wanted in connection with the August 7, 1998, bombings of the United States Embassies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya. These attacks killed over 200 people. In addition, Bin Laden is a suspect in other terrorist attacks throughout the world.
http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/terrorists/terbinladen.htm
Did you know that FBI director Muller said that there is no evidence connecting the hijackers with 9/11?
The hijackers also left no paper trail. In our investigation, we have not uncovered a single piece of paper – either here in the U.S. or in the treasure trove of information that has turned up in Afghanistan and elsewhere – that mentioned any aspect of the September 11th plot.
http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/speeches/speech041902.htm
[paragraph 14]
This is EXACTLY
what I do!
If the person I'm speaking with is at all reflective, then they pause and realize that they are a conspiracy theorist as well. If not, then they make a face and walk away, usually grumbling and hopefully when they are alone, they do some research to see if there are any facts supporting their conspiracy theory (hopefully more than just the "better" debunker sites).
I also point out that our courts are constantly trying conspiracy cases.
Facts beget theory, there's just no way of getting around that, so yes, everyone is a conspiracy theorist whether they're willing to admit it or not.
Unless one believes that 9/11 was committed by a "lone gunman", then, by definition, there was a conspiracy.
Of course, the more literate deniers will accuse me of being pedantic before they walk away. This is their way of saying "please don't ask me to think about this".
But seeds have been planted and I will water them every chance I get.
The truth shall set us free, but we have to be willing to receive it.
Love is the only way forward, sometimes it can be a steep uphill climb.