It's unfortunate that "conspiracy theory" has taken on an indisputably negative connotation now. Conspiracies do occur, theories about them form. More often, people and entities behave in concert without conspiring <i>per se</i>, and this could be because of aligned goals or beliefs, or simply regulations that cause corporations to do the same sort of thing, especially when they keep an eye on one another.<p>For example, is "market rent" a conspiracy? Is it price-fixing or collusion? Hey, I just caught you making a theory!<p>I think the main bad thing about conspiracy theories (and other theories that may belong to crackpots and crazies) is that the facts mostly can't be known. If in fact there are conspiracies, nobody who's involved will speak openly and truthfully about them, so I guess just follow the money.<p>Or don't. Why not concern yourself with living your life, enjoying your family and friends, being a good neighbor, having some recreation time outdoors and stuff. All of these things are known cures for the "cluster of psychological features" that may trouble you.
Human history is literally LITTERED with conspiracies.<p>If John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Washington didn't conspire, the United States as-is would still be a colony of Great Britain.<p>Just saying.<p>Addendum: If Stadhouder Willem van Oranje and likeminded people like Andries Hessels, Jacques Tayaert, Jacob Valcke, Pieter van Dieven and Jan van Asseliers didn't conspire against the Spanish throne The Netherlands as-is would probably still be a vassal or colony of Spain.<p>Fun fact: the United States Declaration of Independence was inspired by the Act of Abjuration ("Plakkaat van Verlatinghe") in which the United Netherlands declared their independence from Spain.<p>And I could go on and on and on, but I think you and me both have better things to do on this beautiful Sunday.
And then there is that guy that points out the conspiracy to supplant every suspicion that nefarious actors plot against the unsuspecting masses of all others.<p>There are conspirators against your natural destinies. From profiteers looting government and the populous to secret social and political interests who thrive in the shadow of your refusal to believe.<p>Incredulity, self assurances, and an indulgent delusion of normalcy obscure and protect these conspiracies.<p>You are not the America you think you are, you are the America thought controlled.
The really weird thing though is, how people defend their preconceptions with "conspiracy theories", invoking stigma and thereby inhibiting further inquiry.<p>Which is unfortunate, as the actual reasons are at times much more interesting (and inconvenient) than people's infantilism allows.<p>There have been real conspiracies (MKULTRA might be remembered, Snowden's leaks were mere consiracy theory pre-leak). And those claiming them to be real were shunned as lunatics.<p>The (certainly?) <i>currently existing</i>, real conspiracies hide (are hidden?) behind the stigma as well. Is it wise to let them?
What's the difference between a conspiracy theory and the truth? About 9 to 18 months... Look at the censorship of speech by Facebook and others concerning COVID, done at the direction of the federal government as just one example.