I'm new here, but one thing that has struck me here and on other fora is the continual appearance of people expounding conspiracy theories of one kind or another, from local to global. I can't help wondering WHY it's so common? Is it Hollywood? The Media? Generalised paranoia?
I know there have been, and are, various "conspiracies" in some areas, but they tend to be brief, and almost inevitably self-destruct, due to the human tendency among the powerful to greater and greater greed.
Why are so many so keen to see them everywhere?

Maximillion,

Could you please be specific, and post links to three posts on OLO that each propound what is, in your view, a different conspiracy theory?

Just in case (being new to this forum) you do not know how to post a link to a specific post, you click the last icon in the row of icons beneath the timestamp on each post. A mouse-over of this icon brings up 'Copy comment URL to clipboard'. A left-click does it when your browser is Internet Explorer. If using Firefox, right-click the icon and choose 'Copy link location': return to your text editor, place the cursor where you want the link, then click 'paste'. (The same goes for using the OLO posting pane direct. Its just that there's a risk of your post evaporating to cyberspace while using the posting pane if you take too long in composition.)

The phrase 'conspiracy theory' is bandied around a bit by some who are simply too intellectually lazy, ignorant, or possessed of a propensity for an almost reflexive destructiveness of discussion, in order to disguise what is in reality 'argument by abuse'. Some OLO users are getting very sick of such tactics.

It could be an interesting and productive discussion.

The world seems to be divided evenly into two main groups. There are those who try to control their own destiny. They tend to be pragmatic, realistic, accept responsibility for themselves and their own actions. They demonstrate a balanced and healthy scepticism; focus most of their energy, love and compassion on those closest to them, they typically don’t see themselves as victims and are not vulnerable to the fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD) to which we are all exposed on a daily basis.

The other group see “others” as responsible for their destiny, they tend not to be pragmatic, even developing a comfort zone out of pseudo-realism and do not accept responsibility for their own actions, it’s always someone else’s fault. They demonstrate a very unhealthy scepticism which is normally focused upon some “authority” or what they see as overly powerful institutions, thus feeding their sense of helplessness.

They also feed off and react irrationally and emotionally to external stimulations (external because this from where they see the threat) at the expense of their immediate issues or relationships. Typically they see themselves as the worlds “victims” and, as a direct consequence, they are highly vulnerable to one or more of the institutionalized FUD generators, Politics, Religion, Society and most of all, the Media and Entertainment industries.

Intelligence in the academic sense has little to do with it. In fact many highly intelligent people use their intelligence to justify the pseudo-reality they have created, by generating what the first group might see as horrendously complex ideologies. One of the enduring frustrations for such people is that the first group intuitively knows pseudo-reality when they see it and cannot be influenced by it.

Oddly enough, the pseudo-reality evangelists have become part of the same FUD generation industry that stimulated them in the first place which, even more sadly, has made their frustration self perpetuating.

Conspiracy theories are simply a manifestation of that frustration, an ever louder shout to get the attention they desperately need. What they are actually shouting is “see, I told you it wasn’t my fault!”

FG, I have seen these comments and fears spread across a variety of threads, especially those relating to money, Gov' et.al. I don't propose to go back and re-read them all to satisfy your not-unreasonable request, sorry, but I feel that you can either take my question at face value, you must have seen them too, or you can deny it, that's your right.
I haven't used any abusive tactics here, as you suggest some do, it's not my way, I prefer reasoned discussion, though I accept you may be right in some cases.
I'm hoping you, and others, will enjoy this topic, and participate, that's why I asked in the first place.
I found Spindoc's post quite good, and to the point, but it still begs the question, why, or is it, seeming to be becoming so very common?
Is it just my perception, or not?

I don't think it's becoming "more common", perhaps just more obvious.

With the speed and breadth of modern communications - free from censorship - people are hearing and seeing a lot more about everything. Much of it is demonstrably false and prejudicial but a lot of it isn't.

Reading about an event overseas is not quite the same as seeing immediate video and hearing multiple first-hand accounts.

I think everybody can safely assume that politicians and the media sometimes lie and that the history we are being presented with is littered with half-truths and gaping holes.

You can "join-the-dots" and create your own alternative version of reality or can simply treat a lot of things with a healthy dose of scepticism.

The alternative is to believe only what one source tells you, be silent and question nothing.

I have a theory about conspiracy theories, and conspiracy theorists, that involves a conspiracy theory in a theoretical way that could be conspiratorial.

The term conspiracy theory is a conspiracy used by opponents of conspiracy theories to invent a conspiracy theory about conspiracy theories and alleged conspiracy theorists.

My conspiracy theory is that such non-conspiracy theorists are all right, left, middle, Christian, non-Christian and all other people who deliberately are conspiring to create their conspiracy theories and non-conspiracy theories to make us worry more about conspiracy theories.

I hope that makes sense!