Immigration

Teddy Eagle said:
Looks like one just went by.

en.wikiversity.org

Understanding Misbelief/Conspiracy Theories That Turned Out to Be True - Wikiversity

en.wikiversity.org en.wikiversity.org
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I immediately disagreed with the opening claim. That conspiracy theories are just alternative viewpoints. I think there are distinct differences. Alternative viewpoints are perfectly respectable. Conspiracy theories are not, often having no evidence in support at all. So I questioned Google. It agrees, saying this:-


“Conspiracy theories are often framed as alternative viewpoints, but they are technically distinguished from simple alternative views by their reliance on secret plots by powerful groups, lack of evidence, and resistance to being disproven.
While they can, in rare instances, be true (e.g., Watergate), most are considered irrational, unproven, and often fanciful alternatives to mainstream accounts.


Here is a breakdown of why they are distinct from typical alternative viewpoints:

1. Lack of Evidence and Falsifiability
  • Unsupported Claims: Conspiracy theories usually lack evidence and often rely on gaps in knowledge to argue that a conspiracy is the only explanation.
  • Unfalsifiable: They are often impossible to disprove. Any evidence against the conspiracy is frequently re-interpreted as evidence of its truth (e.g., "The cover-up is proof it happened"), creating a circular argument.
  • Opposition to Evidence: While legitimate alternative viewpoints often arise from evaluating evidence, conspiracy theories are driven by fear, paranoia, and the need for control rather than factual reasoning.
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Wisbech Eagle said:
I immediately disagreed with the opening claim. That conspiracy theories are just alternative viewpoints. I think there are distinct differences. Alternative viewpoints are perfectly respectable. Conspiracy theories are not, often having no evidence in support at all. So I questioned Google. It agrees, saying this:-


“Conspiracy theories are often framed as alternative viewpoints, but they are technically distinguished from simple alternative views by their reliance on secret plots by powerful groups, lack of evidence, and resistance to being disproven.
While they can, in rare instances, be true (e.g., Watergate), most are considered irrational, unproven, and often fanciful alternatives to mainstream accounts.


Here is a breakdown of why they are distinct from typical alternative viewpoints:

1. Lack of Evidence and Falsifiability
Click to expand...
Logic chopping again. There are several ideas dismissed as conspiracy theories which turned out to be true. The examples given in the article are proof of that.
 
Teddy Eagle said:
Logic chopping again. There are several ideas dismissed as conspiracy theories which turned out to be true. The examples given in the article are proof of that.
Click to expand...
Even a stopped clock is right twice a day! A blind man can throw a 180. It’s rare, but can happen.

The article stated that conspiracy theories are simply minority viewpoints. Not that there are examples of government or businesses hiding things and people suspecting that they have. Which the examples they give are. Those are not conspiracy theories. They are real. Conspiracy theories have no factual foundation. Those are reasonable concerns based on intellectual analysis of known facts. Wiki defines it like this:-

en.wikipedia.org

Conspiracy theory - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
 
Wisbech Eagle said:
Even a stopped clock is right twice a day! A blind man can throw a 180. It’s rare, but can happen.

The article stated that conspiracy theories are simply minority viewpoints. Not that there are examples of government or businesses hiding things and people suspecting that they have. Which the examples they give are. Those are not conspiracy theories. They are real. Conspiracy theories have no factual foundation. Those are reasonable concerns based on intellectual analysis of known facts. Wiki defines it like this:-

en.wikipedia.org

Conspiracy theory - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
Click to expand...
They are real because they were proved real. Before they'd been proved they were conspiracy theories.
 
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