http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2013/01/18/what-to-tell-conspiracy-theorists-who-think-that-the-newtown-school-shooting-didnt-actually-happen Comments On: What to Tell Conspiracy Theorists Who Think That the Newtown School Shooting Didn't Actually Happen by Cienna Madrid en-us Copyright 2013 The Stranger. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, The Stranger readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact The Stranger. webmaster@thestranger.com (The Stranger Webmaster) Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:01 -0700 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:00:00 -0700 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Posted by MOTR]]> Tue, 19 Feb 2013 12:14:29 -0800 The Stranger Posted by EndlessMike]]> Thu, 31 Jan 2013 17:45:07 -0800 The Stranger
I think it's like this -- the scientific method was an astonishing leap forward in human development, and if you truly understand it, then you get why science is different from religion, magic, superstition, folk customs, and anything else that came before it. But if you don't get it -- you don't even get what it is you're not getting. It's a Dunning-Kruger effect.
Posted by McJulie]]> Sun, 20 Jan 2013 07:21:20 -0800 The Stranger Posted by NaFun]]> Sun, 20 Jan 2013 00:19:28 -0800 The Stranger http://www.gallup.com/poll/1597/confiden… ) conspiracy theorists find fertile ground. Working to establish a representative and functional government would likely be more effective than debating conspiracy theorists.
Posted by anon1256]]> Sat, 19 Jan 2013 13:17:46 -0800 The Stranger
I would like to have a long conversation with anyone who believes this shooting was a conspiracy theory. I've believed in, or have been open to, some conspiracy theories before. But this? Hell no. I'm not even surprised that it happened. With all the untreated mentally ill folks in this country (most of whom are more subject to violent attacks than actually being violent) and all the goddamn guns we have sitting around, and violence celebrated all throughout this culture, it is no surprise. There will probably be another massacre somewhere in this country next week whether or not it involves a bunch of kids.

Obama derangement syndrome is fucking up toooooons of people in this country and it's rather sad, seriously. People who honestly believe the USA is finished thanks to Obamacare, the Obama czars, and these new gun regulations. Has this country ever been so freaked out by the non-existent secret agenda of a US president before?
Posted by i'm pro-science and i vote]]> Sat, 19 Jan 2013 10:48:41 -0800 The Stranger @44 - See @7.
Posted by Free Lunch]]> Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:45:36 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Y.F. Redux]]> Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:14:19 -0800 The Stranger Posted by MacCrocodile]]> Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:00:50 -0800 The Stranger
They believe in things like crystals, homeopathy, and Buddhist monks hat sustain themselves for months on prayer.
Posted by emor]]> Fri, 18 Jan 2013 17:07:53 -0800 The Stranger Posted by biffp]]> Fri, 18 Jan 2013 17:05:09 -0800 The Stranger
Wait, so you seriously believe that Wal-Mart is planting these theories so they can sell guns? Your conspiracy theory sucks.

Anyways, I'm nervous that some of my coworkers believe this stuff. In fact, one of them fits the "I'm smarter than most I know things you don't" mold perfectly. I'm pretty sure he reads those weird conspiracy sites, too. Hmmm. Better keep all conversation centered on work.
Posted by emor]]> Fri, 18 Jan 2013 17:04:18 -0800 The Stranger Posted by originalcinner]]> Fri, 18 Jan 2013 17:02:38 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Cienna Madrid]]> Fri, 18 Jan 2013 16:59:15 -0800 The Stranger
"never met anyone involved in the massacre so I had no way of knowing if it actually happened" Is he taking intro to philosophy as an elective at the local c.c.? Sounds kind of brain in a vat-esque to me. Of course the in-vogue question these days is "DO WE LIVE IN A SIMULATION?" which is weirdly probable when you get down to it. It appears that the batman shooter was deeply interested in these ideas; professionally and philosophically [as was Ted Kaszinsky as evidenced in his fringe but sound arguments]

This stuff is only gonna get worse people; as society becomes increasingly shallow and materialistic and less community based and self reliant.
The chickens coming home to roost y'all! I advocate pulling out the troops metaphorically and literally. Let half the states [the dumber ones] regress back to deep red and watch the other half progress at a break neck pace. Its so inhumane to poke these angry knuckle draggers [or fucking idiots as the author calls them] with sticks; why not let em' go? Eventually you will agree with me; what else can be done? Try to make the argument that things are not getting worse for the majority of people in our society; and spare me the racial argument [there's more black guys in prison right now in the US than there were enslaved at the height of slavery.]
Posted by carsten coolage]]> Fri, 18 Jan 2013 16:30:40 -0800 The Stranger Posted by It is true]]> Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:06:27 -0800 The Stranger Posted by ScienceNerd]]> Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:55:04 -0800 The Stranger
(ducks)
Posted by Will in Seattle]]> Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:48:42 -0800 The Stranger
It's also correlated with PTSD, and Seattle is known for having a very high number of veterans residing here.

So, "arguing" might not be the most effective strategy.
Posted by Will in Seattle]]> Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:47:21 -0800 The Stranger
I've already seen conspiracy theories that Israel was behind 9/11. Haven't you seen the claims that no Jewish workers showed up for work in the towers that day? A really adorable conspiracy theory I saw recently posited that Israel was behind riots in the Middle East. The evidence: some rioters had the Star of David tattooed under their clavicle. That Jews are religiously forbidden from getting tattoos apparently escapes anti-Semitic conspiracy nutters.
Posted by keshmeshi]]> Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:35:52 -0800 The Stranger
The gist of it was to reply to Truthers with the competing theory that it was the gub'mint's way of disposing of a couple of outdated Chemtrail jets. And we all know how explosive the Chemtrail chemicals are, donchaknow...?
Posted by Dr_Awesome]]> Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:30:29 -0800 The Stranger
Yes, it's not a matter of a point-by-point rebuttal. They'll just spawn ten alternative theories for every one you shoot down.

It has to do more with the tolerance of paranoia in general in American politics, and the practice of false equivalence in even quality news sources. Treating Fox News or the Daily Kos as legitimate news sources.

Also, the internet. Where a tiny fringe can be magnified. And where many of these theories are actually spread by jokers and trolls. It's a lot deeper than proving individual facts.
Posted by Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn]]> Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:19:14 -0800 The Stranger
It fell flat on me since like many from Washington I have been to Idaho and know several people who live in Idaho, but I suppose that isn't true of your average Pennsylvanian.
Posted by fletc3her]]> Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:05:35 -0800 The Stranger Posted by biffp]]> Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:04:10 -0800 The Stranger Posted by MacCrocodile]]> Fri, 18 Jan 2013 13:58:24 -0800 The Stranger