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How do you fight?

JAStewart

Graduate Poster
JAStewart
Joined
Nov 5, 2006
Messages
1,521
I was just wondering what are your ways of combatting conspiracy theorists? I ask because for the second time in a month, I've been at uni and glanced over at someones computer only to see them watching a 9/11 video and so I tear a lil' bit of paper outta my notepad and just silently hand them a list of sites: 911 myths, this forum section, SLC, WTC7 lies paper, lolloosechange.
 
I haven't had too much interaction - I've only met a few in the "real world". Generally I find they lack detailed knowledge and spew the usual garbage. After I've addressed a couple of their vague arguments with clear and specific information, they generally shut up.

The CTers here seem to be very much light weights who back out of a discussion with someone who actually knows anything.

-Gumboot
 
I try to avoid the hard-core ones. There are none so blind as those who will not see, as they say. If I come across a fence-sitter, someone who's watching Loose Change or some stuff like that, I'll say, "Hmmm. That's an interesting theory. You know how you could confirm it? Go to www.911myths.com. They've got a lot of stuff there about the questions in this movie."
 
JAStewart said:
I was just wondering what are your ways of combatting conspiracy theorists? I ask because for the second time in a month, I've been at uni and glanced over at someones computer only to see them watching a 9/11 video and so I tear a lil' bit of paper outta my notepad and just silently hand them a list of sites: 911 myths, this forum section, SLC, WTC7 lies paper, lolloosechange.
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I'm just trying to visualize the scene, and imagine how the video-viewer might have interpreted it. By any chance were you wearing dark sunglasses and a hands-free cell phone headset at the time?

My appropach (partly because it seems to come up with people with whom I have to tread lightly, including clients), has generally been to send people four categories of links, with just two or three links per category: "Conspiracy sites" (LC Forum and whatever else is currently weirdest), "Debunking sites" (911myths, the viewer guide), "Official sources" (NIST, the Commission Report), and "The front Lines" (SLC and here). For people who I know are busy and only mildly curious, who will probably only visit one link and are likely to ignore a wall of text, I headline the list with the pointlesswasteoftime 9/11truth blog entry.

Respectfully,
Myriad
 
I satirize and ridicule conspiracy beliefs on my cable TV show and sundry YouTube and Google Video clips. I use my own silliness to highlight their silliness. I like to point out the lameness of their reasoning on my website and elsewhere.

When it's time to get serious, I supply them with links to The Big Three debunking sites, which you all know:
http://www.911myths.com/
http://www.debunking911.com/
http://internetdetectives.biz/case/loose-change

If they need even more, I link them here. JREF is where I send folks who want high-powered, industrial-strength debunking of everything the conspiracy guys ever said.

And don't forget that all visitors and members of JREF are fighting the conspiracy nuts simply by coming here and learning. We comprise a worldwide community of skeptics and debunkers, who are helping each other by pooling talent, information, and resources.

Anyone who digs into the mountains of information in this forum will surely become a CT-smiting ninja in short order. JREF has also inspired people to do a lot of valuable research and to take personal action against the delusional madness of conspiracy theorists.

The conspiracy guys cower in fear at the mention of JREF, as well they should.
 
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Double tap to the head and a shallow grave. It's the paperwork afterwards which is the biggest problem.
 
Only met one in real life. He introduced me to the 9/11 CT and turned me into a debunker. Good work man! Haha. My way of fighting them is taking everything from a skeptics point of view and calling them out on every bit of BS. I refer to a lot of different people who know more than me, which is what you SHOULD do when you are not an expert in a certain field. Luckily, CFs seem to be more of an internet species (have I heard that before?) and you don't usually have to deal with them in public.
 
JAStewart said:
I was just wondering what are your ways of combatting conspiracy theorists? I ask because for the second time in a month, I've been at uni and glanced over at someones computer only to see them watching a 9/11 video and so I tear a lil' bit of paper outta my notepad and just silently hand them a list of sites: 911 myths, this forum section, SLC, WTC7 lies paper, lolloosechange.
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I honestly think the best way is to show them that their logic is fundamentally flawed. They need to understand why they're wrong- not simply that they are wrong- because they will just reject your assertion, even with evidence. This is why I confront conspiracists in a way similar to my 9/11 Conspiracy Challenge. Comparing evidence all day won't work: conspiracists won't admit that they're wrong, usually- and will usually just move right on to the next piece of crap until they finally come up with something you cannot easily explain or have never heard of- and then they claim victory... ignoring the fact that you've debunked everything up until that point and a conspiracy would make no sense.

We've had many a great debunkers show them undeniably that they're wrong- round after round... but they still repeat it. I think they believe they're right, and they will do whatever they can to maintain a theory which is self-defeating. The only way I can see around that is to actually show them that they are not being rational.
 
Totovader said:
I honestly think the best way is to show them that their logic is fundamentally flawed. They need to understand why they're wrong- not simply that they are wrong- because they will just reject your assertion, even with evidence. This is why I confront conspiracists in a way similar to my 9/11 Conspiracy Challenge. Comparing evidence all day won't work: conspiracists won't admit that they're wrong, usually- and will usually just move right on to the next piece of crap until they finally come up with something you cannot easily explain or have never heard of- and then they claim victory... ignoring the fact that you've debunked everything up until that point and a conspiracy would make no sense.

We've had many a great debunkers show them undeniably that they're wrong- round after round... but they still repeat it. I think they believe they're right, and they will do whatever they can to maintain a theory which is self-defeating. The only way I can see around that is to actually show them that they are not being rational.
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Everything I've read in this thread can just as easily be said of you skeptics. Just cut & paste CTer with JREF.

MM
 
Miragememories said:
Everything I've read in this thread can just as easily be said of you skeptics. Just cut & paste CTer with JREF.
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Well, naturally. Everything in this thread or in any thread anywhere can be said of anyone at all. For instance, you can find & replace CTer with Oprah Winfrey or Jesus or Harvey the Wonder Hamster. See? It's easy!

Whether something can be said isn't the issue. It's whether it's true when you say it!

Respectfully,
Myriad
 
Miragememories said:
Everything I've read in this thread can just as easily be said of you skeptics. Just cut & paste CTer with JREF.

MM
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You wish.

Problem is- you can't demonstrate this, because it isn't true.

That's why my challenge to conspiracists works for skeptics/scientists, but cannot be answered by a conspiracist without them arriving at an obvious contradiction. It's logic put into practice.

Go ahead, watch it. Watch how I can easily answer it. Watch how your peers struggle, fail, and then disappear.

Watch what happens when you try to answer it. Post your answer here or create a video as a response and you'll see. This is a battle for reason and logic- and you cannot simply will truth without them.
 
I encourage my students to ask questions about the conspiracy theories and engage in debate.
I use it as an exercise in critical thinking.

Critcal thinking helps in troubleshooting Computers.
 
Gumboot says
I haven't had too much interaction - I've only met a few in the "real world". Generally I find they lack detailed knowledge and spew the usual garbage. After I've addressed a couple of their vague arguments with clear and specific information, they generally shut up.
Click to expand...

State of Grace says
I have honestly never met one in real life.
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I have had the exact experience as State of Grace never met a true 9/11 was an inside job person in the flesh. I have met some who feel it wouldn't have happened if Bush had not been President. But because of incomptetence not foreknowledge or inside job.

I kniow this is not a professional study but
Why is this when 84% agree with them???
Why is this if even 10% believe with them??
IF I believed it I would be telling people everywhere because it was such aa heinous crime.

If such a large amount believe why have only a few hundred people registered for the conference in Phoenix . Maricopa county has a population of about 3,000,000.

If there are so many believers why is it the same small circle of people who are on the message boards.
 
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