Board Thread:Game Discussion/@comment-31526827-20190514081652/@comment-38518555-20190519222537

It's rather pathetic to watch how some make statements that were not even made or implied. It is equally pathetic the "conspiracy theory" mantra is used the way it is being used in this thread by a few.

I play in many sandboxes where content is far more serious. Yet, what is being done by shills and apologists/sycophants in this thread is not unusual. The "paint them crazy" tactics is textbook psycho-politics.

Whenever we use the terms “conspiracy theory”, “conspiracism” or “conspiracist ideation”, we’re implying, even if we don’t mean to, there is something wrong with believing, wanting to investigate, or giving any credence at all to the possibility people are engaged in secretive or deceptive behaviour.

''One bad effect of these terms is they contribute to a political environment in which it’s easier for conspiracy to thrive at the expense of openness. Another bad effect is their use is an injustice to the people who are characterised as conspiracy theorists.''

''Following the philosopher Miranda Fricker, we may call this a form of “testimonial injustice”. When someone asserts that a conspiracy has taken place (especially when it is a conspiracy by powerful people or institutions) that person’s word is automatically given less credence than it should because of an irrational prejudice associated with the pejorative connotations of these terms.''

When professional psychologists imply these terms it can constitute a form of gaslighting; that is, a manipulation of people into doubting their own sanity.

http://theconversation.com/in-defence-of-conspiracy-theories-and-why-the-term-is-a-misnomer-101678