My dad thinks that 9/11 was an inside job and that aliens are the missing link.
So, yeah, what do you do when they start ranting? Is there anything I could say to him to at least get him off my back?
Generally just ignore them.
I listen but don't engage due to my own experience with conspiracy theorists. Nothing you say or evidence you show them will change there opinion plus there views are usually harmless and sometimes bring to light some really interesting information.
I usually show them the facts (or not, depends on the topic and how much time I want to waste) then move on when they continue to express zero interest in considering more likely solutions to the problems posed by their conspiracy theories.
God is all-powerful.
The government is covering it up.
Both religions and conspiracy theories have one very big thing in common... they both have one statement that can fly in the face of all real evidence. Instead of arguing with them, encourage them. Feed them some more fake facts that reinforce their beliefs. It's fun making gullible people look like idiots.
Quote from: SushiMouse on June 24, 2011, 07:22:13 PM
My dad thinks that 9/11 was an inside job and that aliens are the missing link.
So, yeah, what do you do when they start ranting? Is there anything I could say to him to at least get him off my back?
What evidence does he have to support this hypothesis? Do his extraordinary claims have extraordinary evidence? Does his hypothesis, compared to all other hypothesis, make the least assumptions?
I just ignore them, and I've seen some weird conspiracy theories in my time.
Quote from: SushiMouse on June 24, 2011, 07:22:13 PM
My dad thinks that 9/11 was an inside job and that aliens are the missing link.
That's just stupid, aliens aren't the missing link, but they did steal it.
I have argued in the past but I try to just ignore now. I love the ones involving governments though. The big bad "man" can keep the hundreds of people quiet about their involvement in 9/11 but sex scandals involving a few people happen all the time.
Quote from: The Magic Pudding on June 25, 2011, 01:38:48 AM
Quote from: SushiMouse on June 24, 2011, 07:22:13 PM
My dad thinks that 9/11 was an inside job and that aliens are the missing link.
That's just stupid, aliens aren't the missing link, but they did steal it.
Link isn't missing. He's out back feeding Epona. :D
Quote from: Will on June 24, 2011, 10:59:24 PM
Quote from: SushiMouse on June 24, 2011, 07:22:13 PM
My dad thinks that 9/11 was an inside job and that aliens are the missing link.
So, yeah, what do you do when they start ranting? Is there anything I could say to him to at least get him off my back?
What evidence does he have to support this hypothesis? Do his extraordinary claims have extraordinary evidence? Does his hypothesis, compared to all other hypothesis, make the least assumptions?
Or he could just see these questions as evidence that people are covering up the truth. Sometimes it's pointless.
A hobby like any other, I suppose... Except when it results in a psychotic breakdown.
Avoid, avoid, avoid.
I actually used to be friends with someone who went bonkers after he started getting into conspiracy theories. He moved out of town and completely fell off the map. Most of us didn't know for a year or so if he was even alive any more. It was nuts.
I nod and frown and generally patronise them until they go away. Unless they're the antisemitic, jews-invented-cancer sort, in which case I avoid them entirely. When they're that far gone they just get boring.
I think it would be pretty funny to start a conspiracy theory just to see how big it would get.
Quote from: Jabbles on June 27, 2011, 12:16:14 AM
I think it would be pretty funny to start a conspiracy theory just to see how big it would get.
Like God lives on planet Saturn?
Quote from: Sweetdeath on June 27, 2011, 12:22:29 AM
Quote from: Jabbles on June 27, 2011, 12:16:14 AM
I think it would be pretty funny to start a conspiracy theory just to see how big it would get.
Like God lives on planet Saturn?
You could probably make a decent cult with that theory
Quote from: SushiMouse on June 24, 2011, 07:22:13 PM
My dad thinks that 9/11 was an inside job and that aliens are the missing link.
So, yeah, what do you do when they start ranting? Is there anything I could say to him to at least get him off my back?
Show him this:
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mit.edu%2F%7Eprz%2Fimages%2FTinFoilHatArea.jpg&hash=311995b8994e9c0ae77517e1459a956e3a3a3c34)
An then explain why he's wrong.
Quote from: Sweetdeath on June 25, 2011, 06:23:03 AM
Quote from: The Magic Pudding on June 25, 2011, 01:38:48 AM
Quote from: SushiMouse on June 24, 2011, 07:22:13 PM
My dad thinks that 9/11 was an inside job and that aliens are the missing link.
That's just stupid, aliens aren't the missing link, but they did steal it.
Link isn't missing. He's out back feeding Epona. :D
No, Romani is missing. She was abducted while Link was feeding Epona. ;D
Best thing is to just ignore them. You often find that their "facts" are numerous so you will lose the arguement as they are more practised than you.
Your defense is only that their facts are not correct in the first place.
"May I please have your stuff when the conspiracy (insert type here) happens?"
I've recently registered at the Flat Earth society, and they're one such case. I really don't know why they think that the whole world (meaning everyone who has filmed or taken a picture of the Earth globe would want to falsificate it and photoshop or CGI it into a globe. Why would people do that?
It's ridiculous.
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on July 15, 2011, 08:47:37 PM
I've recently registered at the Flat Earth society, and they're one such case. I really don't know why they think that the whole world (meaning everyone who has filmed or taken a picture of the Earth globe would want to falsificate it and photoshop or CGI it into a globe. Why would people do that?
It's ridiculous.
Because they've hidden all the evidence of a JFK conspiracy involving the FBI, mafia, and Lyndon Johnson on the underside of the Earth's disk. By falsifying the somewhat spherical nature of the earth, they can keep intelligent folks from knowing the truth and finding that evidence.
Quote from: fester30 on July 16, 2011, 08:00:05 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on July 15, 2011, 08:47:37 PM
I've recently registered at the Flat Earth society, and they're one such case. I really don't know why they think that the whole world (meaning everyone who has filmed or taken a picture of the Earth globe would want to falsificate it and photoshop or CGI it into a globe. Why would people do that?
It's ridiculous.
Because they've hidden all the evidence of a JFK conspiracy involving the FBI, mafia, and Lyndon Johnson on the underside of the Earth's disk. By falsifying the somewhat spherical nature of the earth, they can keep intelligent folks from knowing the truth and finding that evidence.
If you just added one more thing - the evil freemasons - then everything would make perfect sense. I can see the bigger picture now.
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on July 16, 2011, 01:18:58 PM
Quote from: fester30 on July 16, 2011, 08:00:05 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on July 15, 2011, 08:47:37 PM
I've recently registered at the Flat Earth society, and they're one such case. I really don't know why they think that the whole world (meaning everyone who has filmed or taken a picture of the Earth globe would want to falsificate it and photoshop or CGI it into a globe. Why would people do that?
It's ridiculous.
Because they've hidden all the evidence of a JFK conspiracy involving the FBI, mafia, and Lyndon Johnson on the underside of the Earth's disk. By falsifying the somewhat spherical nature of the earth, they can keep intelligent folks from knowing the truth and finding that evidence.
If you just added one more thing - the evil freemasons - then everything would make perfect sense. I can see the bigger picture now.
You can't just throw in free masons without linking them to the conspiracy. In this case, you happen to be right, but I'm not certain if you're aware of why, so I'll tell you. The free masons are designing a gigantic table to set the earth disk upon so as to better stabilize it, so as to give us better predictability of the orbits of the sun, moon, and stars around our earth. Scientists have been feeding us misinformation about the wobble of the stars, and they say the wobble means they don't orbit us. All wobbles of all heavenly bodies in the firmament above the earth disk are actually due to the wobble of the earth disk itself. Imagine a juggler spinning a plate on a stick and how the plate wobbles. That's similar to our current situation. The free masons are actually providing earth a great service by working to stabilize our disk.
Quote from: fester30 on July 16, 2011, 02:52:26 PM
You can't just throw in free masons without linking them to the conspiracy. In this case, you happen to be right, but I'm not certain if you're aware of why, so I'll tell you. The free masons are designing a gigantic table to set the earth disk upon so as to better stabilize it, so as to give us better predictability of the orbits of the sun, moon, and stars around our earth. Scientists have been feeding us misinformation about the wobble of the stars, and they say the wobble means they don't orbit us. All wobbles of all heavenly bodies in the firmament above the earth disk are actually due to the wobble of the earth disk itself. Imagine a juggler spinning a plate on a stick and how the plate wobbles. That's similar to our current situation. The free masons are actually providing earth a great service by working to stabilize our disk.
I hope you don't put yourself at too much risk gathering this sort of information.
There is life on the underside of the disk, but not as you know it.
Quote from: The Magic Pudding on July 16, 2011, 03:12:33 PM
Quote from: fester30 on July 16, 2011, 02:52:26 PM
You can't just throw in free masons without linking them to the conspiracy. In this case, you happen to be right, but I'm not certain if you're aware of why, so I'll tell you. The free masons are designing a gigantic table to set the earth disk upon so as to better stabilize it, so as to give us better predictability of the orbits of the sun, moon, and stars around our earth. Scientists have been feeding us misinformation about the wobble of the stars, and they say the wobble means they don't orbit us. All wobbles of all heavenly bodies in the firmament above the earth disk are actually due to the wobble of the earth disk itself. Imagine a juggler spinning a plate on a stick and how the plate wobbles. That's similar to our current situation. The free masons are actually providing earth a great service by working to stabilize our disk.
I hope you don't put yourself at too much risk gathering this sort of information.
There is life on the underside of the disk, but not as you know it.
-
I'm not worried. All I have to do is gain access to one of your hats and they let me in the club.
I think the Flat Earthers got Fester.
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FVE5S9.png&hash=b27fc6329e1883440be9a475097341b2a874e5c8) (https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FIldsB.png&hash=d8d61df8846aa0cf0a7c631b108b7867b07758fe) (https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FkqWtA.png&hash=1c05ad1b0860ce28900ad98bc0804c1526f37d9f) (https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fwjkti.png&hash=2830e19c30ff5f40da2d8bcdedc390282b224b0f)
I don't believe in conspiracy theories.
What do you guys think about conspiracy theorists and how do you deal with them?
I laugh.
I laugh also.
A big problem I have with the conspiracy theories is that it seems to me that any real conspiracies that are uncovered and factual happen before any sort of conspiracy theory cult grows around it. There wasn't some big conspiracy theory surrounding Watergate until it was actually exposed. Then it wasn't a conspiracy theory, it was a scandal.
Some conspiracy theories turn out to be true but others don't. It depends.
I think this sums up this topic the best.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOo6aHSY8hU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOo6aHSY8hU)