And hardcore believers are adept at rationalizing away evidence that contradicts their beliefs. Eyewitnesses who dispute the conclusions of even the biggest conspiracy theories are mistaken, according to believers — or part of the conspiracy. A conspiracy theory is an explanation of an event or situation that invokes a conspiracy by sinister and powerful actors, often political in motivation, when other explanations are more probable. The term has a pejorative connotation, implying that the appeal to a conspiracy is based on prejudice or insufficient evidence. Conspiracy theories resist falsification and are reinforced by circular reasoning: both evidence against the conspiracy and an absence of evidence for it, are re-interpreted as evidence of its truth, and the conspiracy becomes a matter of faith rather than proof. Roy Moore is fueling a crazy conspiracy theory about George Soros". HuffPost. 5 December 2017. Archived from the original on 13 December 2017 . Retrieved 12 December 2017.

These days, it seems like conspiracy theories are banded around like never before. And unfortunately, many of our family and friends have fallen victim to them. But West explains how we can help others break out of a cycle of misguided and often completely false information without judgment, condemnation, or shame. Obama the antichrist? Global warming a myth? Lizard people controlling the world? Conspiracy theory research reveals bizarre beliefs prevalent in US". The Independent. 4 April 2013. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017 . Retrieved 20 December 2017. Nevermind that there were announcements of Obama's birth in the Honolulu newspaper, or that friends of Obama's mother remembered the day she went into labor. To combat the conspiracies, Obama not only had to release a copy of his birth certificate in 2008, he had to follow up with a release of the original "long form" document in 2011, contrary to the hospital's usual policy of issuing computer copies of birth certificates as acceptable identification. To combat climate change, experts recommend eating less meat and more plants. In some circles, this advice for a warming planet has transformed into something more sinister: The "ruling class" wants everyone (else) to eat bugs.Akyol, Mustafa (9 January 2017). "Why Turkish government pushes 'global conspiracy' narrative". Al-Monitor. Archived from the original on 10 January 2017 . Retrieved 10 January 2017. Such ideas have always had a particular attraction for me. They exist at a curious intersection between fictional and historical interpretations of events, highlighting how much of what we understand as “history” is a partial narrative, a story based on a selective interpretation of facts. In a way, each conspiracy theory – like a story – attempts to simplify the complexity of an event into a stable, unified narrative, with a clearly traceable agency and explicable motive. As a result, the conspiracy theory tends to assert itself with a stronger sense of truth and falsehood, of right and wrong. The writer of fiction does something a little similar, but with no pretence to revealing the truth. The best novelists, it seems to me, use conspiracy theories to show complexity and explore the doubts, confusions and uncertainties that haunt every official account of “what really happened”. The disappearance, and often presumed death, of an individual may also become a cause for conspiracy theorists. Theories of a cover-up surrounding the 1974 disappearance of Lord Lucan following the murder of his family's nanny include, for example, allegations of a suicide plot whereby his body was fed to tigers at Howletts Zoo. [64] [65] [66] Numerous conspiracy theories have also attended the 2007 disappearance of English girl Madeleine McCann. [67] The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country.”

Lord Lucan: the strangest theories about his disappearance". The Week. 4 February 2016. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017 . Retrieved 29 June 2017. a b "History's greatest conspiracy theories". The Daily Telegraph. 19 November 2008. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018.

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These novels explore conspiracy theories both “real” and fictional, showing how history blends with fiction and speculation can supplement fact. Not all conspiracy theories are political — or even that consequential. The world of internet fandoms can be wild, with true believers on social media spinning dramatic tales about their favorite celebrities' real lives.

Ray, Ashis (10 February 2018). "It's time to end the many conspiracy theories over Subhash Chandra Bose's death". The Print. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021 . Retrieved 22 July 2021. Sykes, Leslie (17 May 2009). "Angels & Demons Causing Serious Controversy". KFSN-TV/ ABC News. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011 . Retrieved 27 January 2011. The Birds Aren't Real conspiracy is a movement developed by Peter McIndoe, 23, who started spreading the idea in 2017. Until a December 2021 interview in the New York Times, McIndoe stayed in-character as a true believer, insisting in media interviews and online that birds aren't real, but rather they are surveillance drones made by the U.S. government. Birds Aren't Real has a staff; it has organized real-life protests; it bought real-life billboards; and it emblazoned vans with their claim. The goal, says McIndoe, is to parody the misinformation that Gen Z finds itself stewing in.Hare, Ivan; Weinstein, James (2010). Extreme Speech and Democracy. Oxford University Press. p.553. ISBN 978-0199601790. a b "Bring out the cranks and conspiracy theorists". Financial Times. 7 August 2009. Archived from the original on 31 December 2017 . Retrieved 18 December 2017.

The Denver International Airport is a quirky place, known for its offbeat art: Gargoyles overlook the baggage claims, murals depict scenes of war and horror, and there's a 32-foot (9.75 meter) blue horse with red eyes presiding over the road leading in and out of the terminal. Flat-Earth conspiracy theories first arose in the 1950s and have been given new life in the Internet age. They’re bizarre, almost quaint. After all, even ancient people knew the Earth was round. The Greeks even figured out the planet’s circumference in the 3rd century. Since then, astronauts have launched into space and seen the “Blue Marble” with their own eyes. Mahanta, Siddhartha (5 September 2014). "India's Fake 'Love Jihad' ". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 24 November 2015 . Retrieved 24 November 2015. May, Andrew (14 September 2016). "Conspiracy Theories". Pseudoscience and Science Fiction. Science and Fiction. Springer. pp.155–177. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-42605-1_8. ISBN 978-3-319-42605-1 . Retrieved 11 November 2022.

Ghanea, Nazila (2003). Human Rights, the UN and the Bahá'ís in Iran. Martinus Nijhoff. p.294. ISBN 978-90-411-1953-7. This is where MH370 crashed': Fisherman claims he saw Malaysian Airlines plane go down". NZ Herald. 16 January 2019. Event occurs at 6:43am. Roy, Ashis (2018). Laid to Rest: The Controversy over Subhas Chandra Bose's Death. India: Roli Books. ISBN 9788193626030. Is 2017 a Bumper Year for Conspiracy Theories?". Yahoo News. 11 October 2017. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017 . Retrieved 24 November 2017. a b c d Grabbe, Lester L. (1997). Mein, Andrew; Camp, Claudia V. (eds.). Can a 'History of Israel' Be Written?. London, England: Continuum International Publishing Group. pp.27–28. ISBN 978-0567043207.