| Jul 28 @ 12:30 PM |
Conspiracy theorists: A mental disorder?
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SweetNapaGuy
Posts: 8,499
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The article from which my question derives
Pulling out all the partisan stuff, I offer this for discussion:
As I report in the story, Michael Shermer, the publisher of Skeptic magazine (he also holds an undergraduate and a master's degree in psychology) told me, "There's no amount of evidence or data that will change somebody's mind. The more data you present a person, the more they doubt it."
Basically, what happens is that people either ignore the contrary evidence or find some way to dispute it, sometimes by making it a part of the larger conspiracy.
Should conspiracy theorists be considered mentally ill? It's a part of the human psyche, the need to establish patterns, even when none exists.
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| Jul 28 @ 12:45 PM |
Conspiracy theorists: A mental disorder? |
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Gallows_Humor
Posts: 13,662
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no......people who refuse to look at the facts...should be  at...
it is far too easy to dismiss a theory as a tinfoiled wack job rant...
in the end..people believe what they want to.....even if it is wrong..
I still say that bush et al let 9-11 happen....and that the buildings were imploded to save the owner money for demolition
that the Kennedy's were killed by the same people..( and there was more than one shooter in dallas..)
and that the video of the moon landing was staged....(but not the actual landing..)
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| Jul 28 @ 2:14 PM |
Conspiracy theorists: A mental disorder?
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lacyvsq
Posts: 6,162
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It is easy to slap a label on a person or idea to put it into a box and neatly shelve it.
19 muslims hijacking planes that brought down three skyscrapers and put holes into the pentagon and a Pennsylvania field is a conspiracy theory in the true sense of the term.
The question becomes, "When does the conspiracy theory become in fact an actual conspiracy?" ...and shouldn't theories be tested until they are proven true or untrue? And if there is no definitive proof? Is there a possibility of partial truth?
There is no discovery without questions.
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| Jul 28 @ 3:07 PM |
Conspiracy theorists: A mental disorder? |
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musicianfriend
Posts: 2,269
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Should conspiracy theorists be considered mentally ill? It's a part of the human psyche, the need to establish patterns, even when none exists.
Whats even worse is when on presents these 'patterns'...and others refuse to look at them...Thats why were are in the state we are in America today..
Some people do not have the wherewithall to face up to such large schemes..IT makes them feel uncomfortable..
There have been people in all of time who cook up schemes to get power and money...
The bible predicts one of the biggest ones in all of time...the one I beleive is happening right now..
The cashless society? Cant buy or sell without the mark? The unification of Europe....all planned by the same group of people..
What will it take to open you eyes I just do not know....but soon enough..you will be forced to see it because you will be living it...
The conspiracies are far beyond mere human aspirations..but also of spiritual aspirations as well...
I still say that bush et al let 9-11 happen....and that the buildings were imploded to save the owner money for demolition
that the Kennedy's were killed by the same people..( and there was more than one shooter in dallas..)
I agree.....three buildings...all falling down perfectly into their own footprint..is to say the least...a bit hard to swallow...
Building #7 wasnt even touched..yet it was on fire and fell down...perfectly...in its own footprint...
Check this video out...the reporter reported that building #7 had already fell..when in fact...the building is behind her...and some smoke was escaping the building...
BUILDING #7 REPORTED COLLAPESED..BUT ITS RIGHT THERE BEHIND HER HEAD?
WTC BUILDING #7...THE SMOKING GUN OF 9/11
THE DEMOLITION COUNTDOWN-REDCROSS
Question #1...Why would it even be on fire?
Question #2...Who told the news crew the building had fell..when in fact..at that time of the interview..it was still standing..
To many unanswered questions...
I think it was done by our government so they could use the Patriot Act and all this other crap to slowly convience us to give up our freedoms....one at a time....
You see...my friend...they DO have an agenda.....You can call it conspiracy...I will call it agenda...and they are in fact...making it happen now with Obama at high speed ....but it is in fact happening..
The Elites have been doing this to us for decades....just a little at a time.....THE ONE AND ONLY PRESIDENT that didnt follow the AGENDA...was John F. Kennedy...
John F. Kennedys exposes NWO....this is why he was murdered
He wanted to alert the American people..so they can remain free and independent..
Now you can understand why Ted Kennedy is in the hip pocket of the NWO..Hes afraid of assasination by the 'Shadow Government'...
and that the video of the moon landing was staged....(but not the actual landing..)
I dont have an opinion on that...
But perhaps you could tell us why they would do such a thing? I dont put it past the gov to lie..thats a fact....
Perhaps did they do that to make others think we were superior? To scare the other countries? To make us look superior?
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| Jul 28 @ 3:15 PM |
Conspiracy theorists: A mental disorder?
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Gallows_Humor
Posts: 13,662
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simply to feed the american people an actual picture of what they were doing....to get the american people on board with nasa....
the video had sooo much more impact than just saying..
"we landed on the moon today.....and we need a whole bunch more money....."
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| Jul 28 @ 3:25 PM |
Conspiracy theorists: A mental disorder? |
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musicianfriend
Posts: 2,269
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Should conspiracy theorists be considered mentally ill? It's a part of the human psyche, the need to establish patterns, even when none exists.
This sentence was an attack on anyone who disagrees with you...
What will it take for you to see whats going on?
Fortunately for you...many can see the reality of what is happening to our nation..
There are millions who are brave enough to face the ugly truth of the day...Our nation has been taken over by ruthless Billionaires who seek to turn us into their slaves...to steal away our freedoms..to control us like animals....to destroy us to de populate the earth...according to their descretions...
This is the most dangerous times we have ever faced in our lives..
Obama...is a tool of the NWO...
Why all the secrecy? Just like JFK talked about....secret societies...
This whole thing is HUGE....VERY VERY HUGE.>
[Edited on 7/28/2009 3:27 PM]
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| Jul 28 @ 3:26 PM |
Conspiracy theorists: A mental disorder?
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MotownManiax
Posts: 9,737
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To me, conspiracy theorists go way beyond merely asking questions. Even when their questions are answered ad nauseum with facts, expert analysis, logic, rebuttal's from pertinent technical and historical authorities, and simple common sense, they still "choose" not to believe.
Then the argument becomes all the evidence and expert testimony to refute their theory is just part of a "wider" conspiracy to hide the truth, so can't be trusted, either.
I just read somewhere the mindset of a conspiracy theorist is not evidence-based. There are NO arguments they believe, since everything's a conspiracy so of course must be dismissed. They never question the veracity of conspiracy proponents and peddlers with the same fierce focus and venom, though.
To avoid being labelled chronic paranoids, most will trot out real conspiracies and say, "See, see!! I'm not dreaming this up. They've happened before?", while ignoring just because conspiracies exist doesn't mean "everything" is one.
A simple logic test to make my point: I see a vehicle accident, so I reason all drivers will get into an accident. I know bad drivers exist and sooner or later one will probably cause an accident. However, I also personally know people that have driven for decades, have never gotten into an accident, and have spotless driving records. Those conflicting views should demand modification of my original position, which at the very least would make me conclude accidents happen, but they are random and based on many factors not directly linked to driving a vehicle. Conspiracy enthusiasts don't allow such reasoning. To them, if one is in a position of power and influence and something bad happens (which automatically equates that people in these positions are inherently evil), it's the work of a conspiracy.
We have an out-of-control conspiracy culture that shows no signs of abating.
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| Jul 28 @ 3:28 PM |
Conspiracy theorists: A mental disorder? |
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SweetNapaGuy
Posts: 8,499
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This sentence was an attack on anyone who disagrees with you..
As opposed to the "wake up, sheeple, you have to believe like I believe, or you're a bunch of nitwits" tone you tend to use?
Whats even worse is when on presents these 'patterns'...and others refuse to look at them...Thats why were are in the state we are in America today..
Or the people who've seen your "patterns" and found them to be ridiculous? Because, after all, you're so brilliant, you see patterns that nobody mainstream can see...
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| Jul 28 @ 3:30 PM |
Conspiracy theorists: A mental disorder?
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MotownManiax
Posts: 9,737
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I also found this on the net and wholeheartedly agree ....
Conspiracy theories and conspiracism share three problems:
•Unfalsifiability
•Fallacy
•Naivete
Unfalsifiability
The main problem with any particular conspiracy theory is not that it's wrong, but that it's inarguable; not that it's false, but that it is unfalsifiable. Because it is unfalsifiable, a conspiracy theory is not provable or disprovable.
A theory is falsifiable if it is possible to test it against evidence to discover if it is true. To test a scientific theory, for example, a scientist would examine a body of evidence to formulate a general theory, which he/she, in turn, would test against more evidence to try to determine whether the theory might be true. Conspiracy theory is untestable because it invariably proposes that the evidence has been tampered with. In fact, conspiracy theory does more: it asserts that any evidence against the theory is actually evidence for it, in that it shows the great cunning and power of the conspirators: No evidence? Ah! That proves they destroyed it. Evidence to the contrary? Aha! See how they have forged, bribed, brainwashed, planted false leads....
Most conspiracy theories, then, are to some extent simply an article of faith.
Fallacy
In addition to being unfalsifiable, conspiracy theories fall into a variety of fallacies. For example, the insufficiency of evidence leads to the fallacy of hasty conclusion. The tendency to demonize the conspirators falls into the ad hominem fallacy. Circular reasoning or special pleading emerges when, while the freedom fighters agree in principle that claims should be substantiated by evidence, in the special case of this conspiracy, evidence has been lost/altered/fabricated/destroyed. Non-believers are forced into a false dilemma: to declare themselves with the rebels or be, themselves, suspect. In addition, the links from unlikely co-conspirators (think George W. Bush and Kim Jong Il, perhaps), through their dastardly deeds, to the nefarious results, are improbable and complex. When the chain of cause-and-effect breaks down or becomes absurdly long, the slippery slope or questionable cause fallacies result. (For more, see the TIP Sheet "Fallacies.")
The following summarizes a conspiracy found on a single conspiracy website. Look for hasty generalization, demonization/dehumanization of conspirators, questionable cause, and special pleading:
The aliens ("Reptilians," actually fallen angels; chapter and verse usually cited here) have co-mingled alien and human DNA since ancient times, though over the centuries obvious alien characteristics have disappeared. The latest U.S. president to sign a treaty with the aliens is George W. Bush, who is himself part Reptilian. Members of the House of Rep(resentatives) are Rep(tilians), too. According to the terms of the treaty, a small group of humans receive cool alien technology in return for a U.S. government cover-up, and the aliens are free to abduct random humans for breeding experiments. The aliens are also allowed to eat children. They eat about 200,000 a year-that's where the missing children go. They implant microchips (the "Mark of the Beast") in selected abductees, the better to keep track of the pesky humans when the one-world government finally comes down. GPS technology is also part of the alien tracking plan. The United Nations is a first step toward the aliens' one-world government by which they will subjugate earth. The secret Tri-Lateral Commission exists to advance the aliens' plan, too-you can tell because the Tri-Lateral Commission uses the aliens' spacecraft insignia as its own.... (There's lots more. You can check it out at http://www.thewatcherfiles.com/.)
Naivete
What's wrong with the above theory, one might well ask, other than unfalsifiability and fallacy? Philosophy professor Jerry Goodenough at the University of East Anglia, U.K., points out in his article "Critical Thinking About Conspiracy Theories" (www.uea.ac.uk/~j097/CONSP01.htm) that "believers" often fail to take a sufficiently critical look at the quality of evidence, such as it is. Objective evidence for conspiracy theories is typically sketchy or absent. Eyewitness evidence, then, is the mainstay, even though study after study demonstrates the inaccuracy of most eyewitness accounts. Moreover, conspiracy eyewitnesses are often once- or twice-removed from the speaker, who knows someone who knows someone whose neighbor personally was abducted by the aliens (the "friend of a friend of a friend" syndrome. For more, see the TIP Sheet "Urban Legends.")
Goodenough observes that believers typically make another mistake of naivete: Faced with a choice between a complex, suspicious explanation and a simple, commonplace one, they prefer the complex. This violates the principle of
Occam's Razor, which states that the better explanation is usually the one requiring the fewest unsupported assumptions. In other words, when you hear hoof beats, think horses, not zebras.
Entire Source
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| Jul 28 @ 3:31 PM |
Conspiracy theorists: A mental disorder? |
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musicianfriend
Posts: 2,269
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That brings me to the 'other side' of life....The spiritual side..
This battle has been fought over and over in time..The book of Genisus..."I WILL BE LIKE THE MOST HIGH GOD!"
but never has it be able to come to this place...to actually happen...just like written in the Bible..all predicted..perfectly and to the point..Until now....Technology has now permitted the prophesies to be fulfilled...
The prophetic books have never made sense in all of time.....It is written in the Bible that these books were sealed until the end of days...THese books NOW are beginning to make sense....Thats one sign..
Coming soon to a country near you...
Cashless society
The 'Mark' microchips (that will harm your body.. at the
whim of the government with one press of a button....)
The vaccines that will be used as the catalyst to spread disease..just like
they did with Aids and the hepititis vaccine
Unification of Europe
A One World Gov. System
A one World Religious System (They wont rule religion completely out as it
will be used to keep the populous under control
more peaceful...by distorting the scriptures of
Christ through the apostate churchs that are
now ...even this day in existance..)
The starving of millions...(Right now..as we speak..the gov is taking away your
food sources...Forcing farmers and ranchers and dairy
men out of business..Thus....mostly imported foods...
The gov. at the drop of a hat able to cut off your food
supplies...Thus..they have total control of the people.
They will come after your water sources next...They
will have their way with you..whether you like it or not.
Pestilences.............(all predicted...all manmade...Did you pray for protection
today?)
These evil possesed men and womenlack a concience...YOu are now living in a world ran by people who have no God.. , these BILLIONAIR ELITES that you think are your 'representitives' care nothing about you...Your are being fooled..tricked...lead like little obedident little sheep...all heading for the slaughter....
Millions and millions of Americans already get it....That Tea Party was the biggest ever protest in all of American History...and yet...did you hear that on your government Elite NWO controlled media?
Enjoy the internet while you can....cause they are right now scheming how they are going to take that from us too...Good luck in the NWO..Its happening Napa..better face it..
If you have ever been in a slaughter plant..you would understand what Im talking about....they run them one by one..up a ramp...one following the other..having no idea where they are going..but finding solice in that the others are all going that way as well....only the sheep in the front know the truth..but are killed and unable to warn the others...But they have no choice...because they are controlled by their handlers...they cannot escape no matter what they do...
If only they had ran away while they were safe in the pasture..free..
But now.. they have gone TOO FAR into the slaughter plant...They cannot turn back...Its over for them..Bang...their dead..
We are being 'rounded up'....we are still free for the time being...Able to choose our own fate in unity...but we will fail if divided..which is what these evil people promote daily...and you who beleive them..are but their tools...
...Will we stay that way..a free people....or find solice in the fact that 'everyone else' is heading the same way...and buy into that false HOPE....that false CHANGE.....THAT FALSE UTOPIA...
A UTOPIA ONLY FOR THE ELITES...NOT FOR YOU...YOU WILL BE THEIR SLAVES..
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| Jul 28 @ 3:37 PM |
Conspiracy theorists: A mental disorder?
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Gallows_Humor
Posts: 13,662
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To avoid being labelled chronic paranoids, most will trot out real conspiracies and say, "See, see!! I'm not dreaming this up. They've happened before?", while ignoring just because conspiracies exist doesn't mean "everything" is one.
.... reread this Mo...what does it really say??
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| Jul 28 @ 3:42 PM |
Conspiracy theorists: A mental disorder? |
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musicianfriend
Posts: 2,269
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Theyve been working on Europe for years...Now they are working on us...for decades now..
So tell me this Max....
Question #1 ....Why was the Federal Reserve Started...and why was the Council on foreign Relations....all fueled by the commie Mandell House?
Why was the American Taxpayers money put into an institution that we could not track...Its a private company...Why would ANYONE give any private bank this much power over an entire nation?
Way back then..there were no 'world wide' problems...
Question #2....Why are they trying to con the world with their Global Warming lies? All being used to scare the crap out of people so they will give up their nation and their freedoms..
Its been proven a lie by 19,000 scientists who oppose global warming....only around 2,000 are supporting global warming..yet...the media..and governments are all ignoring what people are saying..and doing what they please..of course depending on the mindless sheep that will follow them...to their own demise..at the slaughter plant one day..
Question #3 Why do the writtings of the united nations and agenda contain talk about DEPOPULATING the earth? Who gives them the right to murder millions...As if they havent been doing this all along anyway...
You talk about Niativity..but what of your own....Have you ever read anything that they publish? Agenda 21?
They depend on niave people like this so they can keep doing what they are doing..and all with the help of those who refuse to see whats actually going on...
Big fancy words...college educations cannot take the place of the wisdom to smell the smoke in the air...and know that a fire is coming....
Good luck in the NWO..
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| Jul 28 @ 3:44 PM |
Conspiracy theorists: A mental disorder?
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MotownManiax
Posts: 9,737
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GH, simply saying because conspiracies exist does not mean they are omnipresent. 
...added
And MF, I find it amusing you're attacking "me" about information from a source written by someone "else". If you want to write and argue with that author, please be my guest.
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| Jul 28 @ 3:48 PM |
Conspiracy theorists: A mental disorder? |
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SweetNapaGuy
Posts: 8,499
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And what's worse, they can't imagine that SOME conspiracy theories are, in fact, the product of a conspiracy to distract the restless populace.
For instance, the whole "birther" conspiracy theory. Wouldn't that be a lovely way for the liberals (or, if you want, the NWO) to make the fringer right-wingers look positively nuts?
And some conspiracies exist, but are ignored by the conspiracy theorists. They think that, because they see one conspiracy (real or imagined), they can spot ALL conspiracies.
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| Jul 28 @ 3:50 PM |
Conspiracy theorists: A mental disorder?
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musicianfriend
Posts: 2,269
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The main problem with any particular conspiracy theory is not that it's wrong, but that it's inarguable; not that it's false, but that it is unfalsifiable. Because it is unfalsifiable, a conspiracy theory is not provable or disprovable.
Evidence....things that are happening or have happened....
It like building a building...one piece at a time..at first..your not sure what its going to be....then as time goes along..and more and more pieces are put together..you beging to recognize it....then...in the end...there stands a building..
So it is with these 'AGENDAS' of evil men and women..They are becoming much more transparent...They are coming out of the closet now...
Even Presidents many of them have talked right there on the TV of the coming New World Order..
What kind of evidence do you want or need before you can smell the smoke of a conspiracy..or agenda...when your all the way up in the kill line and its too late?
Doesnt matter...in not much time..people like you will be the minority....Alot of people are waking up...theres a rat in the closet...there is smoke in the building...something is very very wrong...
Why did they allow the Federal Reserve to take control of America's money?...
What purpose did that serve?
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| Jul 28 @ 3:52 PM |
Conspiracy theorists: A mental disorder? |
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musicianfriend
Posts: 2,269
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And MF, I find it amusing you're attacking "me" about information from a source written by someone "else". If you want to write and argue with that author, please be my guest.
Pardon me...but I thought because you posted it...it represented you position..
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| Jul 28 @ 3:54 PM |
Conspiracy theorists: A mental disorder?
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SweetNapaGuy
Posts: 8,499
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Does the earth revolve around the sun, or does the sun revolve around the earth? Just because you can put a pattern together, doesn't mean you'll put it together right. For thousands of years, we thought that the sun revolved around the earth. We had all the information, but we came to the wrong conclusion.
Sheesh. Haven't you watched TV over the last 50 years? If TV has taught you nothing else, it should have taught you that humans leap to conclusions on insufficient evidence, and if they just stopped, withheld judgment for a little bit, and engaged in clear communication... well, the whole sitcom industry would collapse.
But we'd also get fewer of these insane conspiracy theories.
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| Jul 28 @ 3:54 PM |
Conspiracy theorists: A mental disorder? |
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burnslikethesun
Posts: 13,027
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Everything in moderation, and its all good.
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| Jul 28 @ 4:00 PM |
Conspiracy theorists: A mental disorder?
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musicianfriend
Posts: 2,269
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For instance, the whole "birther" conspiracy theory. Wouldn't that be a lovely way for the liberals (or, if you want, the NWO) to make the fringer right-wingers look positively nuts?
Regardless....Obama has NEVER shown his original birth certificate...
There is alot of evidence to support him not being a citizen of the US...
the Constitution requires that you be a citizen first to be a president of the USA...
It probably has something to do with loyalty...Now we can see how important that one little requirement is in looking at what Obama has done to us...
The first red flag should be the Porkulous bill...never designed to stimulate our economy...that should be his first order of the day....Not opening up abortions to all all across the world at the taxpayers expense...
I thought we were broke? I dont think we are...They are lying...why would they put this financial burden on us if we were...
This whole 'crisis' is the same as global warming....
They are trying to wear us down...to force us into what they want...
They want to rule the world...they are but power mongers and money grubbers..
They think they are superiour to us..but in their actions..they are nothing but common theives dressed up in nice clothes driving slick cars...
It is these people who are sick minded....They all need to be in jail...The people in the penitentuaries have committed lesser crimes than the Elites have...
These Elites are murderers...robbers...theives...a have commited felonies by purposely destroying our business's and our retirements...they are known to molest young boys...and girls for their own personal pleasures...
And worse of all...they are destroying our great nation and its people...
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| Jul 28 @ 4:02 PM |
Conspiracy theorists: A mental disorder? |
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Gallows_Humor
Posts: 13,662
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GH, simply saying because conspiracies exist does not mean they are omnipresent.
ok...but..it also says...
that some of them...
are real...... 
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