Conspiracy Theories

Conspiracy theories are never far from the subject of autism. Mostly, that's regarding what might cause autism, about which science is still somewhat uncertain. Rather than address the specifics of conspiracy theories relating to autism, I would prefer to come at the subject in a more broad fashion. That is to say that I would like to debunk the very notion of conspiracy theories. Now, there can certainly be such a thing as a legitimate conspiracy and such a phenomenon ought to be investigated, proven, and prosecuted. However, this is not the conspiracy theory that so enraptures people. Those kinds of conspiracy theories are not sincerely investigated with legitimate science. Instead, they are based upon mere suspicion, fallacy, and wishful thinking. Simply put, if you merely suspect a conspiracy, but are unable to prove it, you have nothing worth talking about. Yet people do talk about it endlessly, in private conversations, books, television, movies, and, of course, on the Internet. I am here to tell you why everyone must stop this.

All conspiracy theories have the same basic bones. First, we have a a bad thing. It may be some kind of phenomenon, a murder, an official decision, or nearly anything you can imagine, so long as it is bad. Second, we have an official explanation, or no explanation at all, that the conspiracy theorist finds deeply unsatisfying. Third, we have the explanation the conspiracy theorist invents of which they subscribe. The only real requirement for a conspiracy theory is that it must explain the bad thing in a way commiserate with the conspiracy theorist's preexisting bias and suspicion. Invariably, the people behind the conspiracy will be people the conspiracy theorist does much like or trust. Proving the theory is actually beside the point for them because what they actually seek to do is convince others of the untrustworthy nature of whoever they claim is behind the conspiracy. Once you understand how generally untrustworthy these people are, they figure, you'll understand why they just have to be behind the bad thing, as opposed to what THEY would have you believe.

Since I don't believe ANY conspiracy theories, I'm sure I'll get some flack for what I've written here. Everybody seems to have a pet conspiracy theory. Believers might call me naive and generally sheep-like to not believe any of their nonsense, but I look at it another way. Every conspiracy theory anyone's ever invented has in common a tremendous amount of confidence in the competence of vast numbers of human beings. At a minimum, a conspiracy theory involves a select few powerful men pulling the strings. On the larger end of the spectrum, you've got worldwide organizations, entire races, religions, sexual orientations, international corporations, and more. Imagine for a moment the number of people who would have to do their job completely competently for an extended period of time, up to the present day, to maintain the conspiracy. Then ask yourself how many people that competent you've ever even met who are daft consistently competent. Remember, never ascribe to malice what can be explained by stupidity.

-Frank