has dumb dude_found that room yet?

has dumb dude_found that room yet?

Do you realise you are on a forum with adults, over the age of 18?

Also shrewd I didn't say blood was splattered earlier (stop reading the sun) it was around the place where the scent of dead body came..what a coincidence.

You are on the wrong thread dude..and

Wish i could smell the death of this thread....

silly comment, but to be expected i suppose. I am not the only one to mention you are both repeating old arguments. Many people are just sick of the repeat episodes. Take time to read other peoples views on here instead of pushing your own theory

Also shrewd I didn't say blood was splattered earlier (stop reading the sun) it was around the place where the scent of dead body came..what a coincidence.


Are you drunk Allin? You said "splattered blood everywhere". That is a direct quote.

David Ludden Ph.D.

Why Do People Believe in Conspiracy Theories?
The need to find order in a confusing world
Posted Jan 06, 2018

It seems that every family has an Uncle Joe—the guy who goes on and on about conspiracy theories at the holiday dinner table. The 9/11 attack was orchestrated by the government. The moon landing was filmed in Hollywood. Oswald did not act alone in the Kennedy assassination. And don’t get me started on global warming. Record low temperatures this Christmas, and you expect me to believe the world is actually getting warmer? Give me a break.

Maybe we should give Uncle Joe a break, or at least try to understand where he’s coming from. Why do some people believe in conspiracy theories anyway? This is exactly the question posed by British psychologist Karen Douglas and her colleagues in a recent article in the journal Current Directions in Psychological Science.

The researchers found that reasons for believing in conspiracy theories can be grouped into three categories:

The desire for understanding and certainty
The desire for control and security
The desire to maintain a positive self-image
Let’s look at each of these motives in turn.

The desire for understanding and certainty. Seeking explanations for events is a natural human desire. We’re constantly asking why things happen the way they do. Why does it have to rain the day I want to go out? Why did she give me the cold shoulder like that? Why can’t you understand what I’m trying to tell you?

And we don’t just ask questions. We also quickly find answers to those questions—not necessarily the true answers, but rather answers that comfort us or that fit into our worldview. It’s raining because I always have the worst luck. She gave me the cold shoulder because she can’t stand it when she doesn’t get her way. You can’t understand what I’m saying because you’re just not listening.

We all harbor false beliefs, that is, things we believe to be true but in fact are not. For example, if you believe Sydney is the capital of Australia, you’re the victim of a false belief. But once you’re confronted with the fact Canberra is the capital of Australia, you’ll readily change your mind. After all, you were simply misinformed, and you’re not emotionally invested in it.

Conspiracy theories are also false beliefs, by definition. But people who believe in them have a vested interest in maintaining them. First, they’ve put some effort into understanding the conspiracy-theory explanation for the event, whether by reading books, going to web sites, or watching TV programs that support their beliefs. Uncertainty is an unpleasant state, and conspiracy theories provide a sense of understanding and certainty that is comforting.

The desire for control and security. People need to feel they’re in control of their lives. For instance, many people feel safer when they’re the driver in the car rather than a passenger. Of course, even the best drivers can get into accidents for reasons beyond their control.

Likewise, conspiracy theories can give their believers a sense of control and security. This is especially true when the alternative account feels threatening. For example, if global temperatures are rising catastrophically due to human activity, then I’ll have to make painful changes to my comfortable lifestyle. But if pundits and politicians assure me that global warming is a hoax, then I can maintain my current way of living. This kind of motivated reasoning is an important component in conspiracy theory beliefs.

The desire to maintain a positive self-image. Research shows that people who feel socially marginalized are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories. We all have a desire to maintain a positive self-image, which usually comes from the roles we play in life—our jobs and our relationships with family and friends. When we know we make a positive difference in the lives of others—as parent, spouse, friend, teacher or mentor—we see our own lives as worthwhile, and we feel good about ourselves.

But say Uncle Joe is on disability and hasn’t worked in years. He feels socially excluded. However, he does have plenty of time to surf the internet for information about conspiracy theories, and he can chat online with others who hold similar beliefs. Thus, belief in conspiracy theories gives Uncle Joe a sense of community.

Furthermore, his research into conspiracy theories has given him a sense that he is the holder of privileged knowledge. Most people who believe global warming is real or that vaccines are safe don’t do so because they understand the science. Rather, they trust the experts. And so, when Uncle Joe starts trotting out all the “evidence” against global warming, it can be difficult to make a reasonable counterargument. All you’ve got is the feeling that the conspiracy theory seems too complicated to be true, but from Uncle Joe’s perspective, it’s clear he knows more about the subject than you do.

In sum, we have a good understanding of what motivates people to believe in conspiracy theories. That is, they do so because of three basic needs we all have: to understand the world around us, to feel secure and in control, and to maintain a positive self-image. But do conspiracy-theory beliefs actually help people satisfy these needs?

Studies have found that when college students are exposed to conspiracy theories, they show an increased sense of insecurity. This has led some researchers to conclude that conspiracy-theory belief is self-defeating. However, as Douglas and her colleagues point out, most college students have little motivation to believe in conspiracy theories in the first place. What’s really needed, they argue, are some carefully designed studies that directly examine those who already believe in conspiracy theories.

Regardless of the outcome of these future studies, the real question for us now is how to deal with the Uncle Joe in our life. You may offer counterevidence in an attempt convince him to give up his conspiracy theories, but you’re unlikely to succeed. This is because you’re arguing facts, while Uncle Joe is defending his sense of security and his positive feelings about himself. And for all of us, self-image trumps facts every time.

References

Douglas, K. M., Sutton, R. M., & Cichocka, A. (2017). The psychology of conspiracy theories. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 26, 538-542.

Baphornet, you seem to think you have some authority in this forum. Until Betfair tell me otherwise, you won't be getting your arse kissed from my end.

Alin: i think you are getting "authority" mixed up with concern. You are both egotists who will still be arguing with each other along with beetles when everyone else is dust

this may help; start a new topic up for just you & dumb dude to continue your uninformed bickering. We will all be happy then

Allin not only did you use the word "blood splattered everywhere" you then said you should retract it, then said you you never said it then said said you should be more careful when using your words.

Anyway this is pointless. This thread like the others before will likely be removed. My position remains the same as my first post that they are terrible parents and there has been a tremendous amount of money wasted on this but there is unfortunately no evidence to conclusively prove what happened to the child.

If I retracted it, why are you quoting it?

Because you then denied ever saying it. Then said you should be more careful about what you say. I think that's very pertinent to your credebility so I mentioned it.

Clearly I will be wrong on some points and can accept that, however you have offered nothing except hit me with questions when you could do your own research.

Just to clarify I made my position quite clear in my first post and reiterated it in my one of last posts. You called me stupid and naive in response to my first post.

I won't use the word stupid and naive but it's quite apparent that you don't know what you are talking about.

Doesn't really make sense that you say I don't know what I'm talking about yet bombard me with questions rather than doing your own research.

You have said or done nothing do get away from the evidence.

How is this possibly true if you have tried to assert things as fact then when I have responded you have either retracted your facts or said you were mistaken and should be more careful with your words?

Is there anything you say that a person can rely on?

That aside, you seemed to have missed my explanation that because I couldn't provide a source (been a while since 8 read orwatched), it was better to retract it(though I stick By it)

Further, there was blood found where Eddie alerted to cadaver and John W Henry posted the DNA report explaining the odds.

Anyway i look forward to your other examples.