Conspiracy theories are fascinating memes because they are designed with the specific intention of killing other memes. As Chomsky points out: “conspiracy theory” is a phrase that is consistently brought to discourage institutional analysis.
And why wouldn’t we raise an eyebrow in scepticism when those theories always seem to be coming out of the same (odd) people? Curiosity is one thing, but paranoia and schizophrenia aren’t the best agents of reason. Additionally, as it gets quite competitive in those David versus Goliath battles, David may easily lose his cool, while it’s precisely the opposite (composure, argumentation and patience) which is needed to build a base support. In any event, it is good policy to remain suspicious: Was a theory built in order to support a specific worldview or is it really logical? Is it backed by evidence that is not purely circumstantial? Could it have remained hidden from the mass public and would the alledged conspirors have taken such a risk in the first place?
On the flip side, if you are too suspicious, you may fail to recognize reality even when you’re staring at it. I personally cherish the opportunity to hear and challenge ideas that run against conventional wisdom, because dismissing them is purely fascist and ignorant and shows a complete lack of mental curiosity. Anyway, please let me know which one of those conspiracy theories you think MIGHT be true. Select your answer(s) straight away, without googling, so we can keep the biases to a minimum.
Taken from: http://www.aleph.se/Trans/Cultural/Memetics/meme_lex.html
This definition seems to apply well to those who mock these people that get downright angry when these theories are presented to them.
MEME-ALLERGY: A form of intolerance; a condition which causes a person to react in an unusually extreme manner when exposed to a specific semiotic stimulus, or `meme-allergen.’ Exo-toxic meme-complexes typically confer dangerous meme-allergies on their hosts. Often, the actual meme-allergens need not be present, but merely perceived to be present, to trigger a reaction. Common meme-allergies include homophobia, paranoid anti-Communism, and porno phobia. Common forms of meme-allergic reaction are censorship, vandalism, belligerent verbal abuse, and physical violence.
brilliant article that explains the perception issues around conspiracy theories and goes on to give a few good examples of conspiracy theories that proved correct:
http://www.newworldorderreport.com/Articles/tabid/266/ID/980/33-Conspiracy-Theories-That-Turned-Out-To-Be-True-What-Every-Person-Should-Know.aspx
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On the virtues of trust in society, an excerpt from the Rational Optimist, by Matt Ridley:
“Exchange breeds trust as much as vice versa. You may think you are living in a suspicious and dishonest world, but you are actually the beneficiary of immense draughts of trust. Without that trust the swapping of fractions of labour that goes to make people richer could not happen.”