| Aug. 2nd, 2007 @ 10:13 pm Conspiracy Theories Considered Harmful |
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We probably all know at least one guy (or girl) whom we term a 'conspiracy nut'. This person can seemly transform the most innocent of incidents into vast complex conspiracies 'reaching to the highest levels of society!' Usually, we laugh them off, or at least try to get away from their incessant banter.
Conspiracy theories should be considered harmful. Not to say that there is no such thing as a true conspiracy theory, I will, however, boldly claim that there is no such thing as a good conspiracy theory. Why is that? If the theory is true, why is it not 'good'?
I have considered conspiracy theories myself, and I do not doubt that conspiracies exist. But I have found that worrying of their existence in no way helps me achieve my goals. Spending effort on something that will not even help you if you find it to be true or false, is a waste of effort. I could be spending the effort trying to achieve my goals, instead of worrying about possible conspiracies that may or may not exist. Another problem with conspiracy theories is that they breed a sense of helplessness. "I cannot possibly achieve my goals, because 'the man' conspires to keep me down." Conspiracy theories try to shift responsibility for failures from the conspiracy theorist to the possible conspirators. This means that the theorist will probably never achieve his goals and never better himself, because, in his mind, it's not his fault anyway, it's the people conspiring against him.
So while I do think conspiracies exist, people should not obsess over them as an end. Instead they should pursue their goals, and perhaps keep in mind the possibility speed-bumps (aka conspiracies)---never conceding to a mentality that they cannot better themselves because of actions that others may or may not have taken. |
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