Kudos to Michael Ivey for standing up for conspiracy theorists everywhere [”The Term ‘Conspiracy Theory’ is a Conspiracy,” July 18 Xpress]. Until reading his contribution, I was not aware that the concept of “conspiracy theorist” was itself the result of a conspiracy theory by secret agents, designed to undermine the credibility of those who detect and disclose actual conspiracies. Presumably, this includes not only the events behind 9/11, but also the staged moon landing, the climate-science conspiracy and the bogus claim that the Earth is not flat. I am sure that the objective evidence for these is also “overwhelming,” as asserted by Mr. Ivey (without attribution).
He is at least consistent with his fellow theorists, in that they usually assert the existence of massive evidence for their viewpoint, without actually providing any. And [they] deny the validity of any evidence against their theory as being obvious lies perpetrated by the powerful conspirators arrayed against them. Or explain the motives of said conspirators.
I’ve learned that arguing against such theorists is futile and unrewarding, and that the best response to them is, “You might be right.” Speaking for myself, I feel lucky not to be paranoid, given that the entire world is against me.
— Glen Reese
Asheville
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