Conspiracy Denial

An Essay on The Ideological Function of a Thought-Terminating Cliché

Source: https://unbekoming.substack.com/p/conspiracy-denial

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In 1837, Abraham Lincoln remarked: “These capitalists generally act harmoniously, and in concert, to fleece the people.”

Today, he would be dismissed as a conspiracy theorist.

That dismissal—reflexive, automatic, requiring no engagement with evidence—is not a mark of sophistication. It is a tell. The question worth asking is not whether conspiracies exist (they are a matter of public record and a recognised concept in law) but why acknowledging their existence provokes such reliable hostility. What work does the label “conspiracy theorist” actually do?

The late political scientist Michael Parenti spent decades answering that question. His conclusion was blunt: “’Conspiracy’ refers to something more than just illegal acts. It serves as a dismissive label applied to any acknowledgment of ruling-class power, both its legal and illegal operations.” The term functions not as a descriptor but as a weapon—a thought-terminating cliché that protects the powerful from scrutiny by pathologising those who scrutinise them.

Conspiracy denial, in Parenti’s analysis, is not skepticism. It is the opposite of skepticism. It is credulity toward power dressed up as critical thinking. As he wrote in Dirty Truths: “Just because some people have fantasies of conspiracies does not mean all conspiracies are imaginary.”

You can read the full article here: https://unbekoming.substack.com/p/conspiracy-denial

Conspiracies are publicity unabashed anymore in the media, governments and corporations. One is either on board and in agreement with their debased agendas or called a fool for citing it out. That’s how effective propaganda is.

26 minutes ago, Red Phoenix said:

Conspiracy Denial

An Essay on The Ideological Function of a Thought-Terminating Cliché

Source: https://unbekoming.substack.com/p/conspiracy-denial

= = =

In 1837, Abraham Lincoln remarked: “These capitalists generally act harmoniously, and in concert, to fleece the people.”

Today, he would be dismissed as a conspiracy theorist.

That dismissal—reflexive, automatic, requiring no engagement with evidence—is not a mark of sophistication. It is a tell. The question worth asking is not whether conspiracies exist (they are a matter of public record and a recognised concept in law) but why acknowledging their existence provokes such reliable hostility. What work does the label “conspiracy theorist” actually do?

The late political scientist Michael Parenti spent decades answering that question. His conclusion was blunt: “’Conspiracy’ refers to something more than just illegal acts. It serves as a dismissive label applied to any acknowledgment of ruling-class power, both its legal and illegal operations.” The term functions not as a descriptor but as a weapon—a thought-terminating cliché that protects the powerful from scrutiny by pathologising those who scrutinise them.

Conspiracy denial, in Parenti’s analysis, is not skepticism. It is the opposite of skepticism. It is credulity toward power dressed up as critical thinking. As he wrote in Dirty Truths: “Just because some people have fantasies of conspiracies does not mean all conspiracies are imaginary.”

You can read the full article here: https://unbekoming.substack.com/p/conspiracy-denial

There is a trend towards quoting a specific group or establishment; The Government, The CDC, The FDA, The State, The Judiciary, The Crown etc. The thing to keep in mind is these are people. Humans! It is so easy to hide, within and behind a 3 letter agency, or establishment, as though that gives it all an air of genuineness or respectability.

Often the agencies are staffed by individuals who have been elevated into positions because they are themselves venerable. In fact many only arrive in their positions because they are venerable or compromised.

Getting to a 'truth' in many of the big 'conspiracies' is often difficult. Evidence is hidden. Mouthpieces spout nonsense. 'Facts' made up. The agenda is always with us in real time. And behind it all seems to be the $$$. But perhaps not always. The assignations of Dr Kelly, Lennon, Kappy and Di could hardly be based on money.

I call them coincidence theorists.

The term 'conspiracy theorist' was coined by the CIA as part of a psychological operation to undermine the credibility of members of the public who challenged the official narrative on JFK's assassination.

Below is the relevant 1967 CIA dispatch:

5 hours ago, rattlesnake said:

The term 'conspiracy theorist' was coined by the CIA as part of a psychological operation to undermine the credibility of members of the public who challenged the official narrative on JFK's assassination.

Below is the relevant 1967 CIA dispatch:

He had a better shot through the trees and not the clear head on shot while they were approaching the turn from main st. 😅