Loose Change

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Public skepticism is good for our democracy, provided it isn't directed at one and only one source of information (e.g., the government). We should be skeptical of the official government line AND conspiracy theories. But, for whatever reason, many people only direct their skepticism at the government and become "sheep-like" when presented with a wacky conspiracy theory. Therein lies a great deal of irony; the conspiracy theorists chuckle at the general public for buying the official government line and then proceed to buy into a conspiracy theory that defies the laws of science and is premised on the notion that thousands of people could keep a secret of massive proportions.

The sad fact is that many people find comfort in the notion that the universe is orderly and that all events are controlled by a small group of people. According to these people, whom I shall call "idiots," there is always a man hiding behind a curtain pulling strings. The "idiots" cannot come to grips with the notion that the universe is dominated by one thing...chaos.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

Public skepticism is good for our democracy, provided it isn't directed at one and only one source of information (e.g., the government). We should be skeptical of the official government line AND conspiracy theories. But, for whatever reason, many people only direct their skepticism at the government and become "sheep-like" when presented with a wacky conspiracy theory. Therein lies a great deal of irony; the conspiracy theorists chuckle at the general public for buying the official government line and then proceed to buy into a conspiracy theory that defies the laws of science and is premised on the notion that thousands of people could keep a secret of massive proportions.

The sad fact is that many people find comfort in the notion that the universe is orderly and that all events are controlled by a small group of people. According to these people, whom I shall call "idiots," there is always a man hiding behind a curtain pulling strings. The "idiots" cannot come to grips with the notion that the universe is dominated by one thing...chaos.

I gotta agree. The need to define and "see" a problem through some organized set of variables goes our nature of wanting to control things...or fix them. Many things aren't so simply fixed. Or simply can't just be blamed on one person or source.

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

Public skepticism is good for our democracy, provided it isn't directed at one and only one source of information (e.g., the government). We should be skeptical of the official government line AND conspiracy theories. But, for whatever reason, many people only direct their skepticism at the government and become "sheep-like" when presented with a wacky conspiracy theory. Therein lies a great deal of irony; the conspiracy theorists chuckle at the general public for buying the official government line and then proceed to buy into a conspiracy theory that defies the laws of science and is premised on the notion that thousands of people could keep a secret of massive proportions.

The sad fact is that many people find comfort in the notion that the universe is orderly and that all events are controlled by a small group of people. According to these people, whom I shall call "idiots," there is always a man hiding behind a curtain pulling strings. The "idiots" cannot come to grips with the notion that the universe is dominated by one thing...chaos.

Ahh, but from the chaos God brought order.

Since we've had conspiracy theories, gambling, and conspriracy theory redux (did I miss one?), I just thought I'd threadjack it into a religious debate about the essence of the universe.

Now, if we can just work in the Simpsons, the Nazis and a sprinkling of cowboy hate, we would have the beginnings of another epic thread.

[cpayne5]

To me, 99.9% of the evidence tells me the plane went down on its own. Yes there is that .1%, but is that .1% significant enough to question the other 99.9%? To me, it's not.

[JoeRedskin]

Didn't I brilliantly answer the whole "Question Authority" issue back on page three?

Wait, "Question" "three" - It IS a conspiracy. See how the pieces fit neatly together?

[JoeRedskin]

For all you skeptics - Would you want to see God if that meant you had to believe in Jesus, the devil and all the angels?

Deep thoughts pal. Deep thoughts.

[70Chip]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

For all you skeptics - Would you want to see God if that meant you had to believe in Jesus, the devil and all the angels?

Deep thoughts pal. Deep thoughts.

yablabliblibli...

[JGisLordOfTheRings]

Wow....Look WTF I started. I SOMEHOW got jsarno and Schneed into it over a gambling system and now it's come BACK to the "Loose Change" topic?

Wow. Would it be safe to say I MAY have started a thread that, if for nothing else, was entertaining? lol I feel bad because my contribution was the canvas for Warpath on Warpath crime.....

[724Skinsfan]

Having worked at NORAD I can safely say it would take such a massive undertaking to quieting down all of the personnel that have access to the resources that would allow one to view a plane being shot down that we/I would have heard from someone with some decent information about it by now. At the very least 100 people between the civilian, officer and enlisted people there would know what happened, which is that the plane was forced down by the people piloting the plane.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by 724Skinsfan

Having worked at NORAD I can safely say it would take such a massive undertaking to quieting down all of the personnel that have access to the resources that would allow one to view a plane being shot down that we/I would have heard from someone with some decent information about it by now. At the very least 100 people between the civilian, officer and enlisted people there would know what happened, which is that the plane was forced down by the people piloting the plane.

Well gee whiz, that just makes too much sense to be true!

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by 724Skinsfan

Having worked at NORAD I can safely say it would take such a massive undertaking to quieting down all of the personnel that have access to the resources that would allow one to view a plane being shot down that we/I would have heard from someone with some decent information about it by now. At the very least 100 people between the civilian, officer and enlisted people there would know what happened, which is that the plane was forced down by the people piloting the plane.

That's my feeling. I always am amazed at how people can think a massive conspiracy can take place and not get out. People are people and people talk. If there were more than one shooter in JFK's assassination then we'd know by now. If the US gov't shot down a plane I just find it completely inconceivable that it could be kept quiet. And I also wonder why? If they shot the plane down I have no idea why they wouldn't just say so. It was clearly intended to be a missile to take out a gov't target so the people on it were doomed anyways. I don't really think there would have been that great an outcry.

[724Skinsfan]

Has there ever been a really good conspiracy that was proven?

[hooskins]

Originally Posted by 724Skinsfan

Has there ever been a really good conspiracy that was proven?

Good question, I highly doubt there are many.

[mheisig]

Originally Posted by 724Skinsfan

Has there ever been a really good conspiracy that was proven?

Probably not, which is precisely why people love them - they're almost impossible to prove or disprove.

Taking the skeptics position is great because you can almost always be seen as right and rarely seen as wrong if you phrase things correctly.

[hooskins]

Originally Posted by mheisig

Probably not, which is precisely why people love them - they're almost impossible to prove or disprove.

Taking the skeptics position is great because you can almost always be seen as right and rarely seen as wrong if you phrase things correctly.

hmm sounds like this administration got some lessons in that...cough...Iraq..cough..cough...sorry I'm running a cold.