Every once in a while, we will get a poll that is truly unnerving like the percentage of Americans who entirely reject evolution or think that the Earth is only a few thousand years old. However, a University of Chicago study on conspiracy theories is enough for you to put on your tinfoil hat and look yourself in your underground shelter. Eric Oliver and Thomas Wood at the University of Chicago found that half of the country holds these conspiracy theories and some are just plain wacky.
Conspiracy theories are defined in the study as one that exists regardless of countervailing evidence and the person often converts such evidence into ways of supporting the theory. The authors state:
Although conspiracy theories have long been a staple of American political culture, no research has systematically examined the nature of their support in the mass public. Using four nationally representative surveys, sampled between 2006 and 2011, we find that half of the American public consistently endorses at least one conspiracy theory and that many popular conspiracy theories are differentiated along ideological and anomic dimensions. In contrast with many theoretical speculations, we do not find conspiracism to be a product of greater authoritarianism, ignorance, or political conservatism. Rather, the likelihood of supporting conspiracy theories is strongly predicted by a willingness to believe in other unseen, intentional forces and an attraction to Manichean narratives. These findings both demonstrate the widespread allure of conspiracy theories as political explanations and offer new perspectives on the forces that shape mass opinion and American political culture.
Some theories are not surprising like 19 percent of Americans believe the U.S. government was behind the 9/11 attacks. However, it is surprising to see one in four people believing that the financial crisis was caused by the small cabal of Wall Street bankers. Then there are those 11 percent of people who believe the switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs is part of a government conspiracy to make people obedient and easy to control.
It find this all very disappointing and frustrating. Everyone knows that the Green Bay Packers caused the financial crisis and that connection between the Chicago Bears being kept out of the playoffs and the introduction of the bulbs is no coincidence. I mean, geez.
Source: NPR
Because the official narrative is often so unbelievable (9/11) and has so many contradictions and impossibilities in it, it is only reasonable to draw various conclusions that some will label as conspiracy theories while some will turn out to be more accurate than the official narrative.
Very interesting case Dredd. The use of secret evidence at any level is remarkable and it should be unconstitutional.
Very disturbing results, but not surprising. I am surprised that only 25% of Americans think the banksters were behind the financial collapse of 2007. It should be 100%,
rafflaw wrote: “I am surprised that only 25% of Americans think the banksters were behind the financial collapse of 2007. It should be 100%.”
Are you joking? The reasons are much more complicated than blaming it all on the “evil banksters.”
I recommend you read the Senate report, “Wall Street and the Financial Crisis: Anatomy of a Financial Collapse.”
http://www.hsgac.senate.gov//imo/media/doc/Financial_Crisis/FinancialCrisisReport.pdf
Keep in mind that this is a government report which because of natural self interest does not highlight the role that government played in the collapse. However, the data is there in the report to show that Democrat policies by congressmen like Barney Frank pushing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac so that everyone in America can become a homeowner contributed to the making of high risk loans. Consider also the government insurance for all these loans, basically making investors not care about the risk of the loans because the government guaranteed to protect their investments. This collusion led to a lot of available money for people to borrow.
Now set aside the lenders for a moment, the ones you denigrate as banksters, and consider the borrowers. What responsibility do the borrowers have? I don’t know about you, but I consider my ability to pay back a loan before I take one. The problem was that a lot of people borrowed money who knew they could not pay it back. These are the real evil players in the whole financial crisis, and unfortunately, none of the elites in power who create the reports will dare point their finger at the borrowers. How can you possibly think that in a transaction where one party is willing to loan money at a particular interest rate, and another party is willing to borrow that money at said interest rate, that 100% of the fault for the loan going bad lies with the person lending the money? That’s like saying if I loan you $100 and expect you to pay me back $101 in one month (12% per annum interest rate), and you never pay me back, that it is all my fault that the loan went bad. You are arguing that I should have been wise enough to know that you would never pay me back and that you the borrower have no obligation to tell me that you will not be able to pay me back. I’m sorry, but some personal responsibility to repay a loan lies with the borrower, so contrary to what you claim, the lenders do not have sole responsibility to make sure the loan does not go bad.
I actually like this UFO conspiracy theory “klaatu barada nikto”.
But everyone knows that the mob killed JFK.
I have some aliumini in my cuppoard that I can loan them.
“Paul is absolutely right.”
“Every once in a while, we will get a poll that is truly unnerving like the percentage of Americans who entirely reject evolution or think that the Earth is only a few thousand years old” – JT (emphasis mine).
That is perhaps the oldest known conspiracy theory.
Paul,
“I do it to be mean and screw up the data set.”
What an exciting life you must lead.
You should let ol’ Nickers know so that he can account for you when he quotes polling data.
Paul C. Schulte
Be wary of any polling. People lie to pollsters. There was an article last year about the number of lies teens tell pollsters, just to be funny. I do it to be mean and screw up the data set.
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davidm2575
Paul is absolutely right. I hear my kids tell me this all the time about how their friends joke about how they responded to surveys with hilarious responses. I think many adults will do that too. Phone surveys are not usually taken too seriously. A face to face survey is a little different.
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Polls are useful for determining the political orientation of those who do not like a particular poll’s results.
And those who do.
“Conspiracy theories are defined in the study as one that exists regardless of countervailing evidence and the person often converts such evidence into ways of supporting the theory.” – JT
That also describes a typical court trial where opposing lawyers group together to formulate their theory of the case.
Especially when two experts in the case have opposing opinions on the same evidence.
Paul is absolutely right. I hear my kids tell me this all the time about how their friends joke about how they responded to surveys with hilarious responses. I think many adults will do that too. Phone surveys are not usually taken too seriously. A face to face survey is a little different.
But Judge Posner is an outstanding legal scholar and justice! If he does it, it MUST be legal! At least according to many on this site.
Paul,
Skewing statistical data is just another conspiracy theory.
When the idea was first raised that the federal government was collecting personal data on Americans by monitoring all their phone calls and emails, the idea was dismissed as a conspiracy theory. Since Edward Snowden’s revelations, that idea is no longer considered a conspiracy theory, and even congress appears to want to curtail some of the administration’s abilities to collect such information. Some conspiracy theories really do turn out to be true.
Be wary of any polling. People lie to pollsters. There was an article last year about the number of lies teens tell pollsters, just to be funny. I do it to be mean and screw up the data set.
Sounds like a good time to get into the Tin Foil Hat business.
Here’s a nice video review of the JFK Conspiracy Theories. The thing itself speaks. Ignorance is strength.
Here is an event that is typical of those that engender conspiracy theories or condemnation of some other sort:
(Dissenter). Does that turn on any light bulbs?
It is true that having a fluorescent bulb turned on when it is dark has an impact on one’s mind, compared to when the bulb is turned off in the dark.
If it doesn’t render a different result in the two contrasting contexts, then get a check up.
Avoid the dementia or treat it.
Conspiracy theories are different animals from one culture to another, one subculture to another.
Just like non-conspiracy theories.
In main-stream establishment culture a conspiracy theory is anything that is not part of the group-think, the dogma.
Same thing in alternative anti-establishment circles … proper mental fashion is wearing the proper conspiracy theory.