Did the CIA invent the term 'conspiracy theory' ? - Unexplained Mysteries

submitted by RickC-137 from (unexplained-mysteries.com)

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[–]zyxzevn 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Wrong question.

CIA used the term "conspiracy theory" to attack people who doubt the CIA's made up story. They planted that term in the media to picture such people as mentally unstable.

[–]Tom_Bombadil 2 insightful - 3 fun2 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 3 fun -  (7 children)

But it is safe to assume that it was during the 1980s or 1990s based on cursory investigations.

This article is disinfo.

The term conspiracy theory was an operation mockingbird term. It's from the 60's, and coined because of the JFKA.

[–]JasonCarswellPlatinum Foil Fedora 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (6 children)

That's when it was weaponized.

Why is it disinfo?

[–]Tom_Bombadil 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (5 children)

The article claims it was weaponized in the 80's?

It was weaponized immediately (60's operation mockingbird) to suppress public inquiry into JFK.

It's a revisionist article.

[–]JasonCarswellPlatinum Foil Fedora 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (4 children)

Well... I saw all that.

I know there's the 60s memo proving it was weaponized. It's interesting they didn't mention, cite, or link to it, if I recall.

As far as the 80s goes, I interpreted it as they did another push against conspiracy theorism or whatever, though I don't really recall much of anything about that, both being in my teens, and what I've gleaned about truthseekers since. The 80s were certainly full of conspiracies, like any other decade though - so maybe they needed to fight the truth with a push.

Or maybe you're correct in their intentions, limited though they may be. Further evidence to support your view is that they don't really delve into anything much. Or maybe that's because it's just an over simple introduction, though nearly pointless and fluffy without any teeth.

[–]Robin 4 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

I think you're referring to https://wikispooks.com/wiki/Document:Countering_Criticism_of_the_Warren_Report (1968) - this is the best known, but there is also https://wikispooks.com/wiki/Document:Nicholas_Katzenbach_on_the_importance_of_reassuring_the_US_public_about_Oswald from November 25, 1963

[–]JasonCarswellPlatinum Foil Fedora 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Fuckin eh!
On target like a laser beam!

Saved.

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

The link is an academic publication.

Academic grant funding allocated inversely proportional to an academic's acceptance of political reality.

[–]JasonCarswellPlatinum Foil Fedora 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Ah! Indeed. I didn't see that. Right up front:

"Writing in 'The Conversation', Michael Butter - a professor of American Literary and Cultural History at the University of Tubingen, Germany - explores the origins of the term 'conspiracy theory'."

Germany, one of the worst placed to find truth.

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

Yes they used it to coverup the governments wrong doing