Tag: Conspiracy Theories

Against Conspiracy Theories

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Against Conspiracy Theories

This is a follow-up to my widely-shared piece ‘The Reaction of the Left to Lockdown’, in which I criticised dissidents and radicals, like Media Lens, Noam Chomsky, John Zerzan and others for uncritically accepting the response to the coronavirus. As I pointed out there, I don’t know why it happened, and as I point out here, I’m not particularly interested in why. I have almost zero interest in speculating about the motives of world governments and elite players and I’m not an expert on epidemiology or virology. All I am interested in — and have been interested in since March — is that it happened, that it is still happening, and whether it should be questioned or stopped.

Terrorism Experts Say QAnon Conspiracy Theory a Threat to National Security

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Terrorism Experts Say QAnon Conspiracy Theory a Threat to National Security

“Based on the authors’ observation of QAnon activity on Telegram, there is a growing overlap between QAnon channels and more extremist channels affiliated with the proud boys, paramilitary groups, and white supremacists,” they said. “QAnon is arguably no longer simply a fringe conspiracy theory but an ideology that has demonstrated its capacity to radicalize to violence individuals at an alarming speed.”

[2010] Obama staffer wants ‘cognitive infiltration’ of 9/11 conspiracy groups

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Obama staffer wants ‘cognitive infiltration’ of 9/11 conspiracy groups

Sunstein, whose article focuses largely on the 9/11 conspiracy theories, suggests that the government “enlist nongovernmental officials in the effort to rebut the theories. It might ensure that credible independent experts offer the rebuttal, rather than government officials themselves. There is a tradeoff between credibility and control, however. The price of credibility is that government cannot be seen to control the independent experts.”

Related:

Obama confidant’s spine-chilling proposal

Sunstein’s response to these criticisms is easy to find in what he writes, and is as telling as the proposal itself.  He acknowledges that some “conspiracy theories” previously dismissed as insane and fringe have turned out to be entirely true (his examples:  the CIA really did secretly administer LSD in “mind control” experiments; the DOD really did plot the commission of terrorist acts inside the U.S. with the intent to blame Castro; the Nixon White House really did bug the DNC headquarters).  Given that history, how could it possibly be justified for the U.S. Government to institute covert programs designed to undermine anti-government “conspiracy theories,” discredit government critics, and increase faith and trust in government pronouncements?  

Coronavirus: Anti-vaxxers’ pushing crazy coronavirus conspiracy on social media

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Australian anti-vaccine activists have seized on debunked conspiracy theories to spread misinformation about the source of the deadly coronavirus outbreak, sharing false claims to suggest the disease was engineered in order to boost vaccine sales.
— Read on www.news.com.au/technology/online/social/antivaxxers-push-crazy-coronavirus-conspiracy-on-social-media/news-story/994b6693f24199edb9d15b88bdda8ece