I generally get a good chuckle from conspiracy theories. I see them in a similar light to all the UFO and faith healer folks. But every once in a while, I’m given cause to raise an eyebrow in curiosity.Most people on the internet who propose conspiracy theories have “issues” in my opinion (like many improbable event beleivers or magical thinkers). That does not mean however, that that a very small number, perhaps in rare cases, are not true.

If you get a chance I would recommend watching the following documentary (it may take several sessions if you are a busy multi-tasker like me, as this video is like 1.5 hrs long): http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1336167662031629480 (called “Painful Deception”). If you pay close attention and listen intensely, there is some very good logic and evidence presented. Interestingly, there are also some rather sound-minded people who seem to support similar views… see here: http://patriotsquestion911.com/ The other side of the story is equally strong through, and best represented by the primary source here: http://wtc.nist.gov/ At first, I when I saw the documentary above (“Painful Deception”), I was curious. It seemed calm, logical, and more rational than I had expected. That of course faded quickly after I started reading the materials at the NIST site, by the folks who did the actual investigation. At that point, I was just perplexed. There was still a somewhat weird question in the back of my head as to how anyone could examine all the reports and evidence by NIST, and still remain to unwavering in their position that there was massive government cover-up or complicity.

A few days later, I watched this interview with Noam Chomsky: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoDqDvbgeXM Let me just say that Noam Chomsky is one of the people who has had a lot of influence on me as someone I admire in certain ways. He is a very famous conspiracy theoriest, and yet, he is a true universally recognized scholar (and probably a genius). The problem with Chomsky is that he is not radical enough to satisfy crazy people, but he is just enough anti-establishment and libertarian to piss off most of the conservatives. In fact, given enough time listening to him, he’s likely to eventually say something that is insulting to almost everyone (I’ve seen and read A LOT by and of him).Anyhow, after the Chomsky’s response to the 911 Conspiracy Theorists, I was definitely moved to begin suspecting a strange and sufficiently widespread phenomenon of paranoia. With such a high prevalence among the public, this trend might deserve more serious study on it’s own (the tendency, capacity for, and sophistication with which the human nature tends to invent theories to satisfy it’s own agenda, without regard to the actual empiracle world). Although it can be quite humorous and a target for even angry rebuttal (for example, see this Penn & Teller clip:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcrF346sS_I).I think that we should not look at this as another opportunity to deride the ignorance of the masses. We should merely seek to understand this as a human frailty and vulnerability we all share to some extent (some more than others, for various reasons). I think we should approach this phenomenon with empathy and sensitivity given that often it afflicts those with high moral intentions and great courage — who tend not to be so quick to to general public opinion but rather tend to be independent thinkers and critical thinkers (or try to be).