Conspiracy theories, their roots and appeal

[user104658]

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a conspiracy theory as;

"A theory that explains an event or set of circumstances as the result of a secret plot by usually powerful conspirators; A theory asserting that a secret of great importance is being kept from the public."

(https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conspiracy%20theory)


But of course, this is a vast over-simplification of something quite psychologically complex. If we want to understand the thinking of the conspiracy theorist, there are a multitude of factors to consider. I've been hobby-reading around this for a couple of weeks and it's actually quite fascinating, and HUGELY relevant in understanding the social and political psychology of the world as we find it in 2021 (US elections, Covid, Climate change etc.). The below is a very good read for those who have the time and inclination. I will warn though it's a very long paper. The excerpt I'm including here believe it or not ( :hehe: ) is only a small section.

Conspiracy theories appear to provide broad, internally consistent explanations that allow people to preserve beliefs in the face of uncertainty and contradiction. Consistent with this analysis, research suggests that belief in conspiracy theories is stronger under conditions of uncertainty (van Prooijen & Jostmann, 2013). Further, belief in conspiracy theories appears to be stronger when people perceive patterns in randomness (van Prooijen, Douglas, & de Inocencio, 2018; van der Wal, Sutton, Lange, & Braga, 2018; Whitson & Galinsky, 2008; but see Dieguez, Wagner-Egger, & Gauvrit, 2015). Conspiracy belief is also stronger among people who consistently seek patterns and meaning in their environment, such as believers in paranormal and supernatural phenomena (Bruder et al., 2013; Darwin, Neave, & Holmes, 2011; Drinkwater, Dagnall, & Parker, 2012; Leiser, Duani, & Wagner-Egger, 2017; Oliver & Wood, 2014a, 2018). It is also stronger when events are especially large-scale or significant and when small-scale, mundane explanations therefore seem unsatisfactory (Leman & Cinnirella, 2013).

People who overestimate their ability to understand complex causal phenomena are also prone to conspiracy beliefs (Vitriol & Marsh, 2018). Conspiracy beliefs have also been linked to the need for cognitive closure (Marchlewska, Cichocka, & Kossowska, 2018; Leman & Cinnirella, 2013), especially when events lack a clear official explanation. Conspiracy beliefs have also been linked to feelings of boredom (Brotherton & Eser, 2015). However, conspiracy theories might appear to satisfy some epistemic motives at the expense of others. For example, conspiracy belief has been linked to the conjunction fallacy (Brotherton & French, 2015; Dagnall, Denovon, Drinkwater, Parker, & Clough, 2017), which is an error of probabilistic reasoning whereby people overestimate the likelihood of co-occurring events (Tversky & Kahneman, 1983).

Other researchers have shown that projection of one’s own personal beliefs onto others is associated with conspiracy belief—that is, the belief that “they conspire” is in part the 8 Douglas et al. result of the belief that “I would conspire” (Douglas & Sutton, 2011). Swami, Voracek, Stieger, Tran, and Furnham (2014; see also Ståhl & van Prooijen, 2018) found that lower levels of analytic thinking predicted conspiracy beliefs. Mikušková (2017) found that student teachers high in conspiracy beliefs were more likely to score lower in rational thinking style. Douglas, Sutton, Callan, Dawtry, and Harvey (2016) found that hypersensitive agency detection — the tendency to attribute agency and intentionality where it does not (or is unlikely to) exist — predicts conspiracy beliefs (see also Brotherton & French, 2015; van der Tempel & Alcock, 2015). McHoskey (1995) found that conspiracy beliefs may be in part a product of biased assimilation—accepting information that confirms one’s views and scrutinizing information that disconfirms one’s views (see also Thorson, 2015).

Other cognitive processes linked to conspiracy beliefs involve a tendency to accept epistemically unwarranted beliefs (Lobato, Mendoza, Sims, & Chin, 2014), a quasi-religious mentality (Franks, Bangerter, & Bauer 2013; Wagner-Egger, Delouvee, Gauvrit, & Dieguez, 2018), and lower levels of intelligence (Stieger, Gumhalter, Tran, Voracek, & Swami, 2013). Finally, conspiracy beliefs have been linked to factors such as nonclinical delusional thinking (Dagnall, Drinkwater, Parker, Denovan, & Parton, 2015) and schizotypy (Barron, Morgan, Towell, Altemeyer, & Swami, 2014; Bruder et al., 2013; Darwin et al., 2011; Swami, Pietschnig, Tran, Nader, Stiener, & Voracek, 2013; van der Tempel & Alcock, 2015). Overall, there is evidence that conspiracy theories appear to appeal to individuals who seek accuracy and/or meaning, but perhaps lack the cognitive tools or experience problems that prevent them from being able to find accuracy and meaning via other more rational means.

The full paper takes a much deeper dive into each area of study.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/pops.12568

[Niamh.]

I'm sure the likelihood of a couple of these theories being true is strong but they get buried so deep with false ones then it's impossible to sound rational if you believe one of them. I think the Jeffrey Epstein stuff though proves that, it sounds like a massive conspiracy that the FBI were covering up a child sex trafficking ring to protect rich and powerful people but it turned out to be true, not to mention his "suicide" :suspect:

[Alf]

Next you should read up on and study the principles of Joseph Goebbels propaganda. You'll realise that a lot of that is going on in 2021.

[Crimson Dynamo]

cough

*Madeline McCann*

[Niamh.]

cough

*Madeline McCann*

That's hardly a conspiracy theory, that's an unsolved crime and an opinion on what actually happened. Statistically in fact it's more likely for a parent/relative/friend to have something to do with harming a child than a stranger. One could argue that the abduction is in fact the conspiracy :shrug:

[user104658]

cough

*Madeline McCann*

Madeleine McCann being kidnapped by a predatory paedophile (sometimes the theory is a criminal child sex trafficking group) is, in this case, actually the conspiracy theory. There is no evidence of either scenario. Certainly, the theory that her parents were involved in covering up her disappearance is also largely hypothetical but statistically more likely than the other offered theories.

The actual bare facts of the McCann case is that she is missing, presumed dead, and the circumstances are unknown. "She was kidnapped" is simply not established fact or even an explanation with any supporting evidence whatsoever.

[Crimson Dynamo]

That's hardly a conspiracy theory, that's an unsolved crime and an opinion on what actually happened. Statistically in fact it's more likely for a parent/relative/friend to have something to do with harming a child than a stranger. One could argue that the abduction is in fact the conspiracy :shrug:

half this forum thinks her parents killed her by accident and are covering it up

and that they know better than the detectives who have worked on the case for years


:umm2:

bang on conspiracy theory of the worst kind

[Liam-]

It makes people feel special if they believe they’re part of a small group of people who ‘know’ something the majority don’t, I feel sorry for them really, because it must take a personal with a big mental vulnerability to be able to be groomed by these conspiracy groups, to believe these often insane and easily debunked theories

[Alf]

This is actually a great time in history to be alive, we're at the beginning of a new age. The battle for who rules the new World is happening all around us.

I actually think we're in wartime right now, but it's a new kind of warfare. I think Covid is an act of war, I just don't know who's behind it. What I do know is that the people are gradually rising up all over the World.

Some say it's the information wars.

[user104658]

Next you should read up on and study the principles of Joseph Goebbels propaganda. You'll realise that a lot of that is going on in 2021.

Specifically control through fear / generating "fear of the other" to distract from totalitarian goals? I don't necessarily disagree but these principles hardly originate with Goebbels, they're as old as civilisation itself.

What I would say though, is that current conspiracy peddling is a symptom of that. 2021 (mainly US-based) conspiracies (US election fraud, COVID is a hoax, Climate change isn't real, 5G is Chinese spies etc.) are tools designed to promote and further division and tribalism, dressed up as truth, and sold to gullible people with poor critical reasoning skills.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Specifically control through fear / generating "fear of the other" to distract from totalitarian goals? I don't necessarily disagree but these principles hardly originate with Goebbels, they're as old as civilisation itself.

What I would say though, is that current conspiracy peddling is a symptom of that. 2021 (mainly US-based) conspiracies (US election fraud, COVID is a hoax, Climate change isn't real, 5G is Chinese spies etc.) are tools designed to promote and further division and tribalism, dressed up as truth, and sold to gullible people with poor critical reasoning skills.

Religion was invented to make large groups of people achieve common goals and not kill each other

[Alf]

I don't really care anymore if I'm called a conspiracy theorist to me it's just my opinion on what I've seen. What I think I am is a truth seeking theorist.

[arista]

I don't really care if I'm called a conspiracy theorist to me it's just my opinion on what I've seen. What I think I am is a truth seeking theorist.



Naz on LBC does
he cut a caller off fast
after the caller called him that

[user104658]

Religion was invented to make large groups of people achieve common goals and not kill each other

Largely to unite disparate warring tribes under one banner, yes. To achieve larger goals I agree with - I wouldn't necessarily call them "common goals", they'd more accurately be described as the goals that best benefit the leadership. The other part... I don't personally believe that having them not kill each other was ever part of the motivation.

The emergence of "quasireligion" in the late 20th/early 21st centuries is fascinating (from a sociopsychological perspective). Terrifying from a "person who actually has to live in this world" perspective :joker:.

[Niamh.]

Madeleine McCann being kidnapped by a predatory paedophile (sometimes the theory is a criminal child sex trafficking group) is, in this case, actually the conspiracy theory. There is no evidence of either scenario. Certainly, the theory that her parents were involved in covering up her disappearance is also largely hypothetical but statistically more likely than the other offered theories.

The actual bare facts of the McCann case is that she is missing, presumed dead, and the circumstances are unknown. "She was kidnapped" is simply not established fact or even an explanation with any supporting evidence whatsoever.

And actually there is some evidence to suggest that the parents were involved if you take the Dogs into consideration

[Niamh.]

half this forum thinks her parents killed her by accident and are covering it up

and that they know better than the detectives who have worked on the case for years


:umm2:

bang on conspiracy theory of the worst kind

The case was shelved in Portugal with the parents as people of interest, it's only the UK Police who hadn't considered them suspects and I'm not sure they even looked into that possibility which seems a bit irresponsible, surely every angle should be looked into

[user104658]

half this forum thinks her parents killed her by accident and are covering it up

and that they know better than the detectives who have worked on the case for years


:umm2:

bang on conspiracy theory of the worst kind

It is no more of a conspiracy theory than the theory that she was taken by a stranger or group. The case is unsolved.

[Crimson Dynamo]

It is no more of a conspiracy theory than the theory that she was taken by a stranger or group. The case is unsolved.

yes but there isnt tons of youtube videos, websites, facebook groups all dedicated to that possibility

unlike the "the parents did it coz they is posh and rich" brigade

Here is an actual professional detective who has worked on the case and seen all the evidence

-sXVHA_-i7U

[user104658]

Worth pointing out at this point; a hypothetical discussion of possibilities is NOT a conspiracy theory; an important part of that transition is the level of certainty of those holding the theory and how specific they are in those beliefs. That is, an insistance on "what is the case" rather than "what is within the realms of possibility".

[user104658]

yes but there isnt tons of youtube videos, websites, facebook groups all dedicated to that possibility


:think: There are entire feature-length+ professional documentaries.

[Niamh.]

yes but there isnt tons of youtube videos, websites, facebook groups all dedicated to that possibility

unlike the "the parents did it coz they is posh and rich" brigade

Here is an actual professional detective who has worked on the case and seen all the evidence

-sXVHA_-i7U

And the actual Lead detective in Portugal thinks they're guilty :shrug:

[Crimson Dynamo]

And the actual Lead detective in Portugal thinks they're guilty :shrug:

His job is not to think people are guilty its to prove with evidence

He may also believe there is an invisible man in the sky who made the world

[Niamh.]

His job is not to think people are guilty its to prove with evidence

He may also believe there is an invisible man in the sky who made the world

He had evidence from the dogs and suspicious behaviour from the McCanns such as not answering straight forward questions, doing the opposite of what the Police advised in their appeals such as revealing her unusual eye marking

as for your second paragraph, pretty hyperbolic

[AnnieK]

His job is not to think people are guilty its to prove with evidence

He may also believe there is an invisible man in the sky who made the world

So the professional who has seen all the evidence months after it was collected and agrees with your train of thought is credible but the professional who worked the case as it happened isn't credible and could believe in God? Riiigghht :laugh:

[Niamh.]

So the professional who has seen all the evidence months after it was collected and agrees with your train of thought is credible but the professional who worked the case as it happened isn't credible and could believe in God? Riiigghht :laugh:

Seems about right.....

[user104658]

So the professional who has seen all the evidence months after it was collected and agrees with your train of thought is credible but the professional who worked the case as it happened isn't credible and could believe in God? Riiigghht :laugh:

Seems about right.....

"McHoskey (1995) found that conspiracy beliefs may be in part a product of biased assimilation—accepting information that confirms one’s views and scrutinizing information that disconfirms one’s views (see also Thorson, 2015)."

[Niamh.]

"McHoskey (1995) found that conspiracy beliefs may be in part a product of biased assimilation—accepting information that confirms one’s views and scrutinizing information that disconfirms one’s views (see also Thorson, 2015)."

Yeah i can definitely see that. Tbh when it first happened I didn't think the parents did have anything to do with it, It's not a nice thought to think they did, I don't want them to have had anything to do with it (well a part from, it may have been the easiest thing for Madeline herself to have died in an accident, some of the other scenarios could be awful) but thinking a parent or both parents were responsible in some way is awful. I guess, to me when I think about how they were willing to leave 3 virtual babies alone at night in an an apartment, the likelihood of some thing happening accidentally seems likely to me.

[jet]

I haven’t really followed the case from the beginning or read anything in detail about it, but weren’t all the adults dining that night taking it in turns to check on all the kids every half hour? How would it be possible for one of the McCanns to dispose of her body so thoroughly that it has never been found in that time frame? For those who think the parents did it, what are the theories concerning the hiding of the body?

[Niamh.]

I haven’t really followed the case from the beginning or read anything in detail about it, but weren’t all the adults dining that night taking it in turns to check on all the kids every half hour? How would it be possible for one of the McCanns to dispose of her body so thoroughly that it has never been found in that time frame? For those who think the parents did it, what are the theories concerning the hiding of the body?

I mean they Said they were but that doesn't mean that's true and that's the actual window of opportunity, They also refused to do a reenactment for the investigation

Concerning hiding the body? I have no idea but I don't think you really need to have a theory on what they did with her afterwards to think they might be involved in some way :shrug:

[user104658]

I haven’t really followed the case from the beginning or read anything in detail about it, but weren’t all the adults dining that night taking it in turns to check on all the kids every half hour? How would it be possible for one of the McCanns to dispose of her body so thoroughly that it has never been found in that time frame? For those who think the parents did it, what are the theories concerning the hiding of the body?

They claimed so however in my opinion they were most likely checking far less often, and they collectively decided to say they checked frequently as they knew it would look worse if they admitted it was infrequent (or not at all).

[jet]

It still means there was a limited time frame to hide Maddies body so thoroughly that it has never been found in what is really a limited seach area if it was them that caused her death.
....and as the kids were all playing together before bedtime, either or both of the McCanns would have to have been missing from the meal for quite some time in that case....
Much more likely that she was taken and driven far away by a stranger.

[Niamh.]

It still means there was a limited time frame to hide Maddies body so thoroughly that it has never been found in what is really a limited seach area if it was them that caused her death.
....and as the kids were all playing together before bedtime, either or both of the McCanns would have to have been missing from the meal for quite some time in that case....
Much more likely that she was taken and driven far away by a stranger.

All what kids? When was she actually seen alive by people other than the McCanns or their friends?

[jet]

All what kids? When was she actually seen alive by people other than the McCanns or their friends?

The friends kids. Do you think the McCanns friends knew they caused her death and have been covering for them all these years?

[Niamh.]

The friends kids. Do you think the McCanns friends knew they caused her death and have been covering for them all these years?

I just checked and the last time anyone saw Maddie was 6pm at the Kids club where Maddie and the twins ate dinner then returned to the apartment, they didn't see or play with anyone elses kids after that

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/apr/11/madeleinemccann

[jet]

I just checked and the last time anyone saw Maddie was 6pm at the Kids club where Maddie and the twins ate dinner then returned to the apartment, they didn't see or play with anyone elses kids after that

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/apr/11/madeleinemccann

Gerry asked a friend to check on Kate and the kids at 6.30 and arrives back at the apartment at 7PM.
So there is 1 hour 30 mins - between 7pm and 8.35 to accidentally kill Maddie, dispose of her body so well it has never been found, without being seen by anyone, get back to the apartment and shower and change and be the first to arrive at the restaurant for dinner at 8.35 where they act totally normal? It’s too far fetched for me. :shrug:

[Niamh.]

Gerry asked a friend to check on Kate and the kids at 6.30 and arrives back at the apartment at 7PM.
So there is 1 hour 30 mins - between 7pm and 8.35 to accidentally kill Maddie, dispose of her body so well it has never been found, get back to the apartment and shower and change and be the first to arrive at the restaurant for dinner at 8.35 where they act totally normal? It’s too far fetched for me. :shrug:

He did, iirc the versions of events of that that call were very different between Kate and David Payne (the friend) though, it seemed fishy. I'll try to find that if I can for you to read

[user104658]

Gerry asked a friend to check on Kate and the kids at 6.30 and arrives back at the apartment at 7PM.
So there is 1 hour 30 mins - between 7pm and 8.35 to accidentally kill Maddie, dispose of her body so well it has never been found, get back to the apartment and shower and change and be the first to arrive at the restaurant for dinner at 8.35 where they act totally normal? It’s too far fetched for me. :shrug:

Everything between 6pm and 10.15pm is "self reported" (unverified by anyone other than the McCann group). Also, the prevailing theory is that she was hidden nearby and moved the following day.

The theories are compelling and just as realistic as the idea that she was taken (there are several holes in that theory, too) BUT for me the important factor is simply remembering that ALL explanations for what happened to her are just theories.

No one knows what happened to her. There is no solid evidence of any kind. Not of someone who knew her doing harm to her... not of a kidnapping... nothing. The only thing in the entire case that is a verified fact is that she disappeared. A lot of people think it's "established" that she was kidnapped and the idea that this wasn't what happened is a "counter-narrative". This is largely because of how it was reported in the UK press... and is not representative of the facts. It has not been established in any way that she was kidnapped.

[jet]

He did, iirc the versions of events of that that call were very different between Kate and David Payne (the friend) though, it seemed fishy. I'll try to find that if I can for you to read

Ok, thanks.

[jet]

Everything between 6pm and 10.15pm is "self reported" (unverified by anyone other than the McCann group). Also, the prevailing theory is that she was hidden nearby and moved the following day.

The theories are compelling and just as realistic as the idea that she was taken (there are several holes in that theory, too) BUT for me the important factor is simply remembering that ALL explanations for what happened to her are just theories.

No one knows what happened to her. There is no solid evidence of any kind. Not of someone who knew her doing harm to her... not of a kidnapping... nothing. The only thing in the entire case that is a verified fact is that she disappeared. A lot of people think it's "established" that she was kidnapped and the idea that this wasn't what happened is a "counter-narrative". This is largely because of how it was reported in the UK press... and is not representative of the facts. It has not been established in any way that she was kidnapped.

The only way the McCanns could have done it that I can see is if their friends all agreed to a cover - up and helped them. If that was the case, I wonder how their consciences are faring seeing the McCann’s doing everything they can over the years to keep the case open and alive.
Why on earth would the McCanns do that? Surely they would be saying ‘we got away with it’, and want it forgotten like the thousands of other children who are missing, especially since they have 2 more children to consider?

[Niamh.]

He did, iirc the versions of events of that that call were very different between Kate and David Payne (the friend) though, it seemed fishy. I'll try to find that if I can for you to read

So these are both from the official Police interviews. As you can see the versions on David calling are different. In Davids version he says he called to check if Kate was Ok about Gerry staying at the tennis court a bit longer where as Kate says that David had called to help her bring the kids down to the recreation area near the courts but that she'd changed her mind about going as the kids were too tired. In Davids version he went inside and marveled at how angelic the kids looked and what a perfect family they were. In Kates version, she'd just got out of the shower when she heard the knock and was wrapped in a towel, David only stood there for 30 seconds and never came in to the apartment -

but I remember then you know I went over to see err Gerry at the err you know tennis courts, just to see you know what was happening, and err decided that we'd, you know I'd come, come back to play tennis and err Gerry had asked me just to pop in and check everything was alright err with Kate or you know again I can't remember the exact reason whether he was just making sure it was alright that he could stay there and you know more time but you know he'd asked me to pop in.
So I walked back err from the tennis courts, err back to err you know Kate and Gerry's apartment and the time you know looking at, you know we've looked obviously at photographs since then and you know the time that we've got that I was you know going to Kate's about six thirty, err and I went into their apartment through the patio doors. The three children were all you know dressed you know in their pyjamas, you know they looked immaculate, you know they were just like angels, they all looked so happy and well looked after and content and I said to Kate, you know it's a bit early for the you know, for the three of them to be going to bed, she said ah they've had such a great time, they're really tired and you know err so I say, you know I can't remember exactly what, what you know the night attire, what the children were wearing but white was the predominant err colour, but you know just to reinforce they were just so happy, you know seeing you know obviously Gerry wasn't there but they were just all, just so at peace and you know they looked like a family who'd had such a fantastic time

https://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/DAVID-PAYNE-ROGATORY.htm

While the children were eating and looking at some books, Kate had a shower which lasted around 5 minutes. After showering, at around 6:30/6:40PM and while she was getting dry, she heard somebody knocking at the veranda door. She wrapped herself in a towel and went to see who it was. This door was closed but not locked as Gerry had left by this door. She confirmed it was David Payne, because he called out and had opened the door slightly. David's visit was to help her to take the children to the recreation area. When David returned from the beach he was with Gerry at the tennis courts, and it was Gerry who asked him to help Kate with taking the children to the recreation area, which had been arranged but did not take place. David was at the apartment for around 30 seconds, he didn't actually enter the flat, he remained at the veranda door. According to her he then left for the tennis courts where Gerry was. The time was around 6:30-6:40PM.

https://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/KATE-MCCANN_ARGUIDO.htm

[jet]

Thanks Niamh :thumbs:
I'll read through those links when I get time, its not something I've been following; just reading about some of it on here, but I want to look into it all more.

[Niamh.]

Thanks Niamh :thumbs:
I'll read through those links when I get time, its not something I've been following; just reading about some of it on here, but I want to look into it all more.

It's an interesting case for sure, a real mystery that unfortunately I think will never be solved. I just hope whatever did happen to her that she didn't suffer too much or for too long

[Niamh.]

Thats a terrible view.


Someone alive may know the Child Sex Killer

That's a terrible view, how do you know it's a "child sex killer"

[Niamh.]

also there's no such thing as "child sex" the word you'd be looking for there is rapist

[arista]

also there's no such thing as "child sex" the word you'd be looking for there is rapist


Rapist Killer of Children,
someone will know him.

[Niamh.]

Rapist Killer of Children,
someone we know him.

And how do you know it was a child rapist kidnapper, there's literally no evidence to support that theory

[arista]

And how do you know it was a child rapist kidnapper, there's literally no evidence to support that theory


Some in Germany.
Was reported

[Niamh.]

Some in Germany.

No evidence to support that theory.

[arista]

It was an ITN Docu
some years back

[bots]

the german angle proved to be nonsense years ago

[arista]

the german angle proved to be nonsense years ago


OK

[Niamh.]

he only believes you because you're a man BOTS :idc:

[arista]

he only believes you because you're a man BOTS :idc:


Thats so not true


I proved you wrong on that
Alf thread
The Dead Lady on the Film Set

You need to stop doing these attacks on me

https://www.thisisbigbrother.com/forums/showthread.php?t=378393&page=4

[Niamh.]

Thats so not true


I proved you wrong on that
Alf thread
The Dead Lady on the Film Set

You need to stop doing these attacks on me

Well Arista, if you'd stop saying sexist things, I wouldn't be so paranoid about your motives

[arista]

Well Arista, if you'd stop saying sexist things, I wouldn't be so paranoid about your motives


Do you have an example?

[Niamh.]

Do you have an example?

I mean I could quote your entire Women at Work thread, that would savesome time going through posts, that's it honey

[arista]

I mean I could quote your entire Women at Work thread, that would savesome time going through posts, that's it honey



A thread on Chat and Games


I am so disappointed in your example

[Niamh.]

A thread on Chat and Games


I am so disappointed in your example

So sexism only exists in certain sections of the Forum? :suspect:

[Crimson Dynamo]

So sexism only exists in certain sections of the Forum? :suspect:

You dont get any in LT's Weather centre

:hmph:

[arista]

So sexism only exists in certain sections of the Forum? :suspect:


The point is, that is a Joke Section.


You must have more than that?

[arista]

You dont get any in LT's Weather centre

:hmph:



Well Respected Thread

[Niamh.]

You dont get any in LT's Weather centre

:hmph:

:laugh:

The point is, that is a Joke Section.


You must have more than that?

You honestly think I'm going to go searching through your posts? :laugh2: Describing every woman in any professional job as the "lady" Doctor, the "lady" Solicitor etc etc spring to mind though

[arista]

:laugh:



You honestly think I'm going to go searching through your posts? :laugh2: Describing every woman in any professional job as the "lady" Doctor, the "lady" Solicitor etc etc spring to mind though


Thats Just Facts


You are getting Crazy


Perfect thread for you.

[thesheriff443]

Germany have a child rapist currently in prison who they believe took Madeline McCann

[arista]

Germany have a child rapist currently in prison who they believe took Madeline McCann



Yes that was the news
the docu' said he took his van to Portugal

[thesheriff443]

Yes that was the news
the docu' said he took his van to Portugal

It’s a major development and it’s still ongoing

[Niamh.]

Germany have a child rapist currently in prison who they believe took Madeline McCannThey have no evidence against him other than he's paedo and was in Portugal

[Crimson Dynamo]

"Conspiracy theories resist falsification and are reinforced by circular reasoning: both
evidence against the conspiracy and an absence of evidence for it are re-interpreted as
evidence of its truth"

[thesheriff443]

They have no evidence against him other than he's paedo and was in Portugal

That’s not what the German police have been saying

[bots]

:laugh:



You honestly think I'm going to go searching through your posts? :laugh2: Describing every woman in any professional job as the "lady" Doctor, the "lady" Solicitor etc etc spring to mind though

don't forget the b word

[Jordan.]

It's hard to take any conspiracy theories seriously these days when right wing trolls and the "fake news" era have dumbed them down so much by making out everything they don't agree with is a conspiracy.

[Crimson Dynamo]

It's hard to take any conspiracy theories seriously these days when right wing trolls and the "fake news" era have dumbed them down so much by making out everything they don't agree with is a conspiracy.

It's hard to take any conspiracy theories seriously these days




what?:joker:

[James]

With a proper, normal line of investigation someone would gather the facts and come to a conclusion from them.

With a conspiracy theory someone starts with the conclusion and tries to find facts that only support it.

[Alf]

With a proper, normal line of investigation someone would gather the facts and come to a conclusion from them.

With a conspiracy theory someone starts with the conclusion and tries to find facts that only support it.Re open the original Jussie Smollett thread, you'll see that I did exactly that and others did what you say in the second part.

It's worth opening back up anyway because he's about to go on trail.

[bots]

every planned action has the potential to cross over and become a conspiracy at some point and the world has an awful lot of planned actions going on at any given time. Add onto that the simple truth that many planned actions have unexpected (unplanned) results that may or may not affect other planned actions and you have yourself a conspiracy.

Where it goes wild is on things like Bill Gates is injecting us all with nano bots or that the vaccine makes you magnetic. People that propagate that sort of stuff should be in jail. We are much too lenient on them

[Alf]

Re open the original Jussie Smollett thread, you'll see that I did exactly that and others did what you say in the second part.

It's worth opening back up anyway because he's about to go on trail.

every planned action has the potential to cross over and become a conspiracy at some point and the world has an awful lot of planned actions going on at any given time. Add onto that the simple truth that many planned actions have unexpected (unplanned) results that may or may not affect other planned actions and you have yourself a conspiracy.

Where it goes wild is on things like Bill Gates is injecting us all with nano bots or that the vaccine makes you magnetic. People that propagate that sort of stuff should be in jail. We are much too lenient on themPut people in jail for having an opinion on the news you mean?

Sounds like a horrible, oppressive World you want. China probably do similar for what you're calling for.

[user104658]

“The vaccine contains magnetic nanobots” isn’t an opinion though, it’s a delusion, and it’s perfectly well established that there is a line that crosses into dangerous extremism. E.g. “[People of my faith] should kill and cause destruction against others because [My version of god] says so.” is “just an opinion” as well. We don’t allow opinions that constitute incitement to violence, so it’s not unprecedented to say that other types of opinion that cause direct harm could be punishable.

For what it’s worth, I don’t think they should be illegal or punishable as a criminal offence, but I do think large platforms should be prohibited from giving them significant air time “for the masses”.

[Alf]

What's your opinion's on Dr Fauci and what he's been doing to animals particularly dogs?

If you don't know about it, look it up.

[Alf]

What's your opinion's on Dr Fauci and what he's been doing to animals particularly dogs?

If you don't know about it, look it up.My advice to Kazanne would be don't even look at this, it will upset you and this is just the tip of the iceberg.



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[Alf]

Just to cover my back form the accusations of conspiracy theorist, I'll post this from a US Senator, just to show that the allegations are real.

It's even more sick. If you want to find out, look it up yourselves, because my research isn't appreciated.



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[user104658]

This is a totally different issue really, it has nothing to do with conspiracy theories. Animal testing sadly does happen. It’s a bit of a moral grey area really, we wouldn’t have half the medical breakthroughs we have today without it, but I also fully understand why people find it unacceptable. From what I’ve heard though, Fauci isn’t directly involved and it’s been denied that organisations he’s involved with are either. Though I don’t know whether that’s true or not.

Either way - and not to be blasé about the puppies - but… what is your point ultimately? That Fauci is involved in animal testing, therefore he can’t be trusted regarding Covid? That’s a logical non-sequitur I’m afraid, the two things have nothing to do with each other.

I do also sometimes wonder why you’re so focussed on US internal politics Alf? Trump, Fauci, etc… not that these things aren’t interesting… but the focus of most of your political critique is heavily slanted towards the US point of view (I don’t think ANYONE here currently is from the US). Maybe other sites/people you follow come from a largely US perspective?

[Alf]

This is a totally different issue really, it has nothing to do with conspiracy theories. Animal testing sadly does happen. It’s a bit of a moral grey area really, we wouldn’t have half the medical breakthroughs we have today without it, but I also fully understand why people find it unacceptable. From what I’ve heard though, Fauci isn’t directly involved and it’s been denied that organisations he’s involved with are either. Though I don’t know whether that’s true or not.

Either way - and not to be blasé about the puppies - but… what is your point ultimately? That Fauci is involved in animal testing, therefore he can’t be trusted regarding Covid? That’s a logical non-sequitur I’m afraid, the two things have nothing to do with each other.

I do also sometimes wonder why you’re so focussed on US internal politics Alf? Trump, Fauci, etc… not that these things aren’t interesting… but the focus of most of your political critique is heavily slanted towards the US point of view (I don’t think ANYONE here currently is from the US). Maybe other sites/people you follow come from a largely US perspective?Because US politics is far better entertainment. They have a far better grasp of free speech than us. Our news is just boring stuff like Harry and Meghan, extinction rebellion and what Simon Cowell had for his tea.

Also America is the last stand, that's the pinnacle, so why would I settle for second best, when now with the Internet, I can have the best?

[Alf]

This is a totally different issue really, it has nothing to do with conspiracy theories. Animal testing sadly does happen. It’s a bit of a moral grey area really, we wouldn’t have half the medical breakthroughs we have today without it, but I also fully understand why people find it unacceptable. From what I’ve heard though, Fauci isn’t directly involved and it’s been denied that organisations he’s involved with are either. Though I don’t know whether that’s true or not.

Either way - and not to be blasé about the puppies - but… what is your point ultimately? That Fauci is involved in animal testing, therefore he can’t be trusted regarding Covid? That’s a logical non-sequitur I’m afraid, the two things have nothing to do with each other.

I do also sometimes wonder why you’re so focussed on US internal politics Alf? Trump, Fauci, etc… not that these things aren’t interesting… but the focus of most of your political critique is heavily slanted towards the US point of view (I don’t think ANYONE here currently is from the US). Maybe other sites/people you follow come from a largely US perspective?Do you feel that you always have to take the alternative viewpoint to me?

Would you say Rolf Harris should be allowed back on the TV because being a pedo has nothing to do with being a TV presenter?