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[–]i_cansmellthat 6 insightful - 2 fun6 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 2 fun -  (19 children)

"Hart hopes the research advances the understanding of why some people are more attracted to conspiracy theories than others."

Once they know why we are attracted to conspiracy theories, they will make sure to limit that attraction. This study is a conspiracy. /s

But seriously, who funds these studies?

[–]Tom_Bombadil 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (18 children)

I think that these conducted to try to find ways to condition evidence theorists who are looking into conspiracy's and "reform" or "condition" these folks back into complacency.

It used to be easy to suppress evidence theorists before the internet, because they could be ignored. Now they are trying to understand them to better develop strategies.

[–]magnora7 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (17 children)

Well the term "conspiracy theorist" was pushed by the CIA through the media starting in 1969, to delegitimize people who questioned the JFK assassination. They heavily associate "crazy person" with "conspiracy theorist" even though "conspiracy" is a legal term that essentially means the same as collusion.

Now I see OP posting dozens of articles with the word "conspiracy" in the headline every day, and running 2 conspiracy subs, almost as if with the intent to make saidit look like a "conspiracy website" so people will ignore it.

Part of the reason we made saidit was to get away from being forced to post anything controversial in /r/conspiracy. That word is used to delegitmize real discussions that need to be had. By framing them as "conspiracies" instead of just actual news, it re-frames the conversation in an unhelpful way.

Am I alone in seeing it this way? Maybe OP isn't doing this intentionally, but it's beginning to seem like it.

[–]Tom_Bombadil 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (10 children)

3 hours ago this individual posted 12 messages all within 1 hour at around 12 CST.

11/12 of these posts had the word conspiracy in the title.

So, that is unusual... Could be a conspiracy.

[–]magnora7 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (8 children)

He started a sub called "Conspiracy headlines" where every single submission has the word "conspiracy" in it. If someone wanted to make saidit look like a conspiracy website to drive people away, that's how they'd it. Thing is a lot of the articles are legit. But some aren't and are just basically smear articles against conspiracy theorists, implicating saidit and its users by association... makes me uncomfortable tbh. It wouldn't be bad if the guy didn't post about it so much. I've contacted him directly and I'm going to see what he says. I don't want to censor anyone, but I also don't want this site to get taken over by a mountain of bullshit articles that dilutes any real discussion. It's a thin line.

[–]Tom_Bombadil 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

The account is 5 months old. Seems like most posts are legit. Wouldn't be a bad idea for the poster to tamp down on the usage of the conspiracy word.

It probably shouldn't come as a surprise that the first ones to Exodus Reddit would be the more conspiritorialially minded. Although, it's interesting that this sub has this mod, who posted 12 articles in the span of less than one hour, with 11 conspiracy titles.

Why would someone save articles, and then mass post? Somewhat dubious mod intent.

[–][deleted]  (5 children)

[deleted]

    [–]magnora7 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

    Do you really think conspiracies drive people away?

    Yes I really do. That word has had a CIA program lasting 50 years programming the public to be scared of that word. Literally any other word would do. Collusion is a good one. It adds SO much legitimacy in the eyes of newcomers and it's just one less reason for people to dismiss what you're saying. If you care about convincing people, it seems only logical to drop this word. Using that word plays right in to the years of careful programming they've done through the media. Ignoring that word and using another sidesteps all their effort.

    [–][deleted]  (3 children)

    [deleted]

      [–]magnora7 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

      Conspiracies are a daily occurrence in the criminal justice system. I'm not going to be bullied by the masses just because their understanding of a common legal term has been propagandized by the oppressors.

      But you can use the word "collusion" and it means the same thing, but people will actually listen to what you're saying instead of dismissing you because of one trigger word... do you not see the value in this?

      Again, even with the propagandization of the word, I think your concerns are unwarranted.

      So you think the CIA spent decades putting deliberate spin on that word in the eyes of the public just for fun or something? Seriously why not just use the word collusion? If you want to take language back, then use the language that empowers you the most...

      [–][deleted]  (1 child)

      [deleted]

        [–]i_cansmellthat 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (5 children)

        I do agree with you in that if the word "conspiracy" is in the majority of titles when one comes to the opening page of the site, saidit will come across as a conspiracy website. Factual (or speculative) content that doesn't mesh with mainstream should be openly viewed and discussed without the crazy conspiracy theorist label. People seeking that will quickly go elsewhere if confronted by 10 articles titled with conspiracy.

        That said, it could be that OP is just very enthusiastic and this is his/her thing. Maybe they didn't think about the implication of so many conspiracy related articles being linked.

        [–]magnora7 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

        I agree with your analysis and I've talked with OP and made my concerns clear. Hopefully they'll see why it's not helpful and change the wording of their contributions.

        [–][deleted] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

        Hey man. I think OP is trying to do some kind of sociological study or tracking on how "conspiracy theorist" is viewed by MSM or society, although I completely see and agree with your perspective too. Maybe some of this is our bad for showing it on home when it's more of an s/all thing. The hot algorithm loves new posts, so the archiving stuff use case can really take over s/home

        [–]magnora7 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

        Maybe I was too hard on OP. Hopefully we'll come to some compromise

        [–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

        Well I think we have approaches figured out for a more curated home page if we decide to go that route. With more traffic and upvotes, the problem might just fix itself too.

        (just speaking to mass posting overwhelming the home page which I think is bound to happen)*