The conspiracy theories are flowing on social media

[Dragonbreathp9d]

Not only have I seen the usual suspects spouting conspiracy theories surrounding the Boston bombings, but a few good friends that previously have never been the type have been questioning me specifically and social media as a whole to see what we think. I don't know why but Alex Jones and his ilk seem to be gaining more traction in mainstream society.
Why is this?
I have a theory: normal people have a hard time accepting that there are just crazy fuckers out there that do crazy things. It's almost easier to process that it is a part of a larger more coordinated effort at an actual end goal of control an distortion for these folks.
Now, these people are not convinced of a conspiracy, but with the wealth of nonsense easily accessible on the web, they are almost certain to come across loads of shit in their search for the truth.
The answer to this?
Reliable sources.
This poses a slight problem with these people as they don't trust the MSM. Easy enough to understand with sources like Fox News out there, but seeing partisan slant in reporting is an essential part of understanding media in today's age of 24 hour news networks and the million sources online. Separating nonsense from partisanship in reporting I concede can be difficult.
My answer- try to find sources you for the most part trust an share them with your friends that are uneasy about the conflicting information. Also, try to have them answer the questions the conspiracy theories bring up- why? Why would this be beneficial to Obama? Is the Patriot Act due up in congress? They may often find this to be more puzzling than the simple awful truth that sometimes crazy happens.

On edit: I also ask them "let's suppose Alex Jones is right- why isn't he dead? Wouldn't the supreme powers that be silence him immediately?

[graham4anything]

1. They should make conspiracy theorists illegal. Like they did propagandaists in WW2

[ZombieHorde]

2. Thought crime. nt

[graham4anything]

3. Has there ever been a conspiracy theorist that was based on love, not hate?

If so, I must have missed it.

Every single conspiracy theory is one of hate.
Like Orly Taitz, and the birthers.

hate, hate, hate.

[Gravitycollapse]

6. So you want to create thought crimes?

[ZombieHorde]

7. OK. Thought crime and emotion crime. nt

[truth2power]

4. Then no one could discuss the official 9/11 narrative, which presupposes a conspiracy. Maybe you

could narrow your terms, somewhat.

On edit> If both brothers are guilty, then the Boston bombing was a conspiracy.

[graham4anything]

8. Yeah, the government that the conspiracy theories put down as inept...

could keep quiet for 11 years??? That is funny.

The brooks brother rioteers bragged about what they did immediately.

Perps always talk. (like the perps this week wanting to watch, like Bernie Madoff sticking around).

Conspiracy theories are breadcrumbs. Whoever tosses the breadcrumbs get those who believe that person to see the breadcrumbs the person wants to be seen.

[truth2power]

11. That's not responsive to my statement. n/t

[Fumesucker]

16. Pick a person on the street at random and ask them about the Brooks Bros riot

I bet you dollars to cheerios that not one in a hundred would have a fucking clue what you were talking about.

Basically the BB riot is unknown except to a very few conspiracy theorists on sites like DU.

[graham4anything]

18. Same with 99.9% of any other conspiracy theory and people beliving them

Ask and they will roll their eyes

Some will say "they see dead people".and giggle about the cute kid in the Bruce Willis movie.

Perps talk. No way perps can keep quiet.
That is why most perps end up in jail. Because they have big mouths and tell someone.

In this day and age, there are no secrets. Just conspiracy theories.

[Fumesucker]

19. Completely wrong

Do you have even a passing relationship with facts and logic?

http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2010/may/24/unsolved-homicides/

Every year in America, 6,000 killers get away with murder.

The percentage of homicides that go unsolved in the United States has risen alarmingly even as the homicide rate has fallen to levels last seen in the 1960s.

Despite dramatic improvements in DNA analysis and forensic science, police fail to make an arrest in more than one-third of all homicides. National clearance rates for murder and manslaughter have fallen from about 90 percent in the 1960s to below 65 percent in recent years.

The majority of homicides now go unsolved at dozens of big-city police departments, according to a Scripps Howard News Service study of crime records provided by the FBI.

[Dragonbreathp9d]

5. As unfortunate as it is to say, I believe they play

An important part in helping to control government overreach and are an integral part of our freedom of speech that is less harmful than racism. I read all their shit just to see if perhaps one of those polished turds is actually a nugget of knowledge- although I have yet to find one. Who knows though, one day Alex jones might actually say something with a basis in reality. I just wish they didn't carry so much weight, especially with younger generations.

[Fumesucker]

12. You mean like not believing the government when they said Iraq had WMDs?

Yeah, they should have arrested everyone who didn't believe Dubya, Ctheney and Rumsferatu.

[longship]

9. Cui bono fallacy!

Obama benefits, therefore it was his false flag. We've had to deal with the same bullshit from the 9-11 conspiracy crowd for over a decade.

I can hardly wait.

3... 2... 1...

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

10. On Monday morning. Limbaugh will step up to the EIB toilet and make it a double

He surely will not be able to stand even the slightest sliver of a possibility that the Obama administration is seen in a good light for capturing this guy. I will be curious to hear his theory on why Obama is to blame. Limbaugh can't propose that we send this guy to Guantanamo for a military tribunal because anyone inspected and admitted by U.S. immigration is a "person" under the Constitution and this guy, furthermore, is a U.S. citizen, I believe.

[Archae]

13. You're exactly right.

People don't like the fact that shit happens.

A Confederate sympathizer shoots and kills a president.
A certified nutcase shoots and kills another.
A guy so far-left he hated Russia kills the president.
A guy who hates Israel kills a presidential candidate.
A racist kills a black leader.
A certified nutcase almost kills a president.
Fundy Muslims pilot 4 jetliners into 3 buildings and one into the ground.

And now two punks set off bombs at the Boston Marathon.

We don't need any big Illuminati/Jewish/communist/Nazi/New World Order/whatever "grand conspiracy."

People do stupid and deadly things. And many times for the most asinine of reasons.

[zappaman]

14. +100! n/t

[Dragonbreathp9d]

15. And for a normal thinking person (whatever that is)

It is a difficult, harsh reality. Thank you or understanding me

[Amonester]

17. Yep. Sometimes I dream of a BIG bookface acc. that would spread...

#STOPALLTHESENSELESSVIOLENCEPEOPLE

or the like, since I happen to know phuckall about these new things (and not interested).

[alcibiades_mystery]

20. And they haven't mentioned the April 3 high rise fire in Grozny? Amateurs...

[Skip Intro]

21. I kind of understand where they're coming from. We all do,

if we're honest with ourselves.

The glaring question for me is: why would anyone be expected to believe, without question, what they are told by two entities - media and government - which are both proven liars?

That question aside, I think it is the inconsistencies in the "official" story, and the unanswered questions, that give rise to conspiracy theories.

You know, DU was full of conspiracy theories after 9*11.

Hell, DU was born of a conspiracy theory (that bush really didn't win in 2000, despite what the media and the government told us).

I hope the people who bombed the marathon are the ones we've been told they are, and that that's all there is to it. Move along.

But I'm not convinced.

I'm waiting to see how this is used in the near future by the powers that be, waiting for what's next.

No one is crazy or needs to be shamed for thinking for themselves, be it this instance, 9*11, 2000 election, 2004 election, etc.

PS: My hat is and always has been off to law enforcement and first responders, and the thankless and life-on-the-line job they do everyday. I just want to make that clear.