I would like to contribute: all 12 signs! Haha, I've heard it said that everyone's a conspiracy theorist these days so it has to be all 12.
We were talking about this ten years ago... note how "conspiracy theorist" used to not be denigrated. You can see how the narrative has been steered. Freakin' interesting.
@elsa I remember. Conspiracy theories were fun things like Big Foot and UFOs and seances. I used to read that stuff like mad when I was a kid. At least that’s what conspiracy theory was presented to a 10 year old…
I was starting a new thread and this came up... from 2012.
I watched a documentary recently on people who are referred to as conspiracy theorists.
One of the guys indicated that he’d prefer to be known as a hypothesiser (no negative connotations).
@hades-moon the negative connotation was applied to suppress people who ask questions. What's wrong with a person thinking about things they see, that don't make sense or seem off in some way? Are we not designed to do this? I think we are.
I mean, what if what you learned in third grade seemed off at the time. You get older and see it is off. But you shouldn't think about it?
Could this be how people get dumbed down? Seems the definition of mind control.
Absolutely! One of the three letter agencies is said to have coined the phrase to discredit some too-close-for-comfort "theories."
Ironically, one of the most popular entertainment genres has always been the mystery story featuring a relentlessly observant "hypothesiser" detective.
Long Live Lt. Columbo!
@elsa Yes!! . I totally agree. Anyone who is a critical thinker and has a mind of their own is made to feel less than. What a load of rubbish!
Degrading those with fine minds who analyse and evaluate information should be a crime!
Yes, it all comes down to control. They want to make smart people look idiotic. How dare they! 🤬
Exactly! Yet "Critical Thinking" was a mandatory foundation course in school -- have they cancelled it?
@warped In my psychology degree, critical thinking was a huge focus. We were taught this to be able to be ascertain what research papers to take seriously and what ones to discard. Eg. If research on a particular drug is funded by the company that makes it, then it’s likely to be bias etc.
I think critical thinking needs to be introduced in schools prior to university. Critical thinking is essential to our survival these days.
@hades-moon I remember the critical thinking push and it was such a great theory to apply.
Do you think it’s been co-opted like so many good sounding practices? Or do you think it’s been co-opted sonce then: prepackaged, remodeled, new formula? I tend towards the latter. People are familiar with the name so some slight changes at intervals along the way might not be noticeable until the end product is completely different.
@allie120 TBH, I can only factually comment on my personal experience at uni (although I would tend to agree that it’s likely to be modified at certain learning institutions).
Basically, we were taught to operate on an evidence based level and not to take things at face value. To analyse, probe and discern. This was particularly applied to research papers . I can utilise this skill set outside my field ( eg. medicine) and it’s come in very handy. When I go to specialists I can discuss/debate my treatment based upon my critical review of the relevant research. I have been fortunate that so far this has been well received. Nobody’s ego has been bruised 😄.
@hades-moon That is the approach I’m familiar with when I think “critical thinking”.
I started noticing things decades ago (not critical thinking, exactly, but things like changing words, definitions, approaches to things). It was a little here and there and it seemed off.
Anyway, I think I’m starting to go off on a tangent so I’ll rein it in. Thanks for your input!
I have a Sagittarius cousin who is a full blown conspiracy theorist!
Well, my grandfather told me the food was poison. He did not see a single doctor for fifty years. He also taught me to THINK.
I thought about starting a thread (and someone else can) - when was the first time you thought authority should be questioned... like in your own soul.
For me, it was that food pyramid. When it came out, I thought our official government was everything. EVERYTHING! You mean, I can have 10-14 servings of pasta a day? And meat. And fruit... etc.
I got so fat as did everyone around me. At that point I knew, blind trust was out.
Thirty years later, considering it might have been sabotage is no great leap.
I have said this at least ten times - our own (liberal) top doc, Koop, wrote a book about having to er... deal with the old people, back in the 1970's. In plain language... they do not have the money to pay... there has been mass killing throughout history. Your mistake is thinking it can't happen to you. Like this is a BIG, BIG, BIG mistake to make.
It's very funny... a person's beliefs get in the way of them knowing anything.