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How about the Wuhan Lab conspiracy theory? Easy for the media to label something a conspiracy if it doesn't align with their worldview. Critical thought made

How about the Wuhan Lab conspiracy theory? Easy for the media to label something a conspiracy if it doesn't align with their worldview. Critical thought made it obvious that this was a distinct possibility, even from the early days. That being said, of course there are conspiracies so radical they're almost certainly untrue. But we should be hesitant to label something a conspiracy outright without compelling counter reasoning. Lack of evidence does not make a conspiracy

orwin 5y ago
The conspiracy theory was "Covid19 is a genetically engineered virus". It was either Bill Gates, the Chineese, or George Soros. A lab breakout should not be labeled a conspiracy theory, unless you add specific component, like "the lab breakout was organized by the CCP/ a dissident part of the CCP/ Falun Gong". I've seen some figure that said the likehood of a lab escap was 10% compared to zoonose, but other figure on twitter were more like 40/60, so i have no opinion. If the CCP hide a lab breakout, good for them. I don't really care, but its not a conspiracy theory, even if the theory is disproven. A conspiracy theory is not just "an accident happened and some government is hiding things". The russian missile that shut down the MH17 could have been fired by ukrainians, or by russian mercenaries. One governement is definitely hiding something, but me saying that it was the Ukrainian that did it, even if this is a minority theory deosn't make it a conspiracy theory. A conspiracy is a theory in which a small group of people or a government either - plan to kill people to take over (take over what? unclear) - is hiding the truth for unclear or bullshit reasons (avoid a panic) - is lying to people for unclear reasons. I might forgot some points, but this is the gist of it. I don't consider "birthers" conspiracy theorists. I do consider them influencable.

orwin 5y ago

The conspiracy theory was "Covid19 is a genetically engineered virus". It was either Bill Gates, the Chineese, or George Soros. A lab breakout should not be labeled a conspiracy theory, unless you add specific component, like "the lab breakout was organized by the CCP/ a dissident part of the CCP/ Falun Gong". I've seen some figure that said the likehood of a lab escap was 10% compared to zoonose, but other figure on twitter were more like 40/60, so i have no opinion. If the CCP hide a lab breakout, good for them. I don't really care, but its not a conspiracy theory, even if the theory is disproven. A conspiracy theory is not just "an accident happened and some government is hiding things". The russian missile that shut down the MH17 could have been fired by ukrainians, or by russian mercenaries. One governement is definitely hiding something, but me saying that it was the Ukrainian that did it, even if this is a minority theory deosn't make it a conspiracy theory. A conspiracy is a theory in which a small group of people or a government either - plan to kill people to take over (take over what? unclear) - is hiding the truth for unclear or bullshit reasons (avoid a panic) - is lying to people for unclear reasons. I might forgot some points, but this is the gist of it. I don't consider "birthers" conspiracy theorists. I do consider them influencable.