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

Great post, also check out this 1967 CIA document detailing the plan. https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-02-23/1967-he-cia-created-phrase-conspiracy-theorists-and-ways-attack-anyone-who-challenge

JFK was assassinated in 1965, so it's right on the heels of trying to cover up any conspiracy investigations. This meme of "conspiracy theorist = crazy" was then spread throughout the media so the label could be used as a way to silence people.

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

Just reading the Wikipedia page on this - a professor named Blaskiewicz claims this term was already derogatory from the 19th century. He fails to note that the media has deployed this term systematically - and always with reference to anti-establishment, anti-war and anti-corruption individuals and groups - and that, regardless, the CIA did at least co-opt it for such a use.

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

Yes many will argue that the CIA didn't invent the term, therefore the claim is invalid. However the real claim is that the CIA popularized the term (and the connotation/stigma associated with it) through the media. I've never heard a good refutation to this, because it seems that's what happened.

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

I've never heard a good refutation to this

Thanks for clarifying; I had suspected as much.