Quote Originally Posted by vostro
These are all non-scientific classifications of people. It doesn't mean we don't use them, and because personal conditioning has the potential to be misrepresentative of the results that you would get from a scientific study it doesn't mean we don't use that conditioning to form opinions and conclusions. You do. If you say you don't you're lying to yourself. That's how our brains work whether you like it or not.

If you want some specific statistics I'll give you one - I've never known a single respectable, intelligent, responsible person who started pouring conspiracy fantasies down my throat. None one. If I did maybe I'd be a little more apt to listen. Your average whack job at burning man isn't the type of person I respect or look up to and those, in my experience, are the conspiracy theorists. I hear weird-sounding/far-out theories on Coast-to-Coast AM, and though the conclusions of most of the programs' guests are wild I listen to and consider them because for the most part the guests are articulate and give the impression of being knowledgeable. People who sound intelligent are more likely to be intelligent, at least that's the way it seems. It seems that way to you too, and if you lie to yourself about that fact that's not my problem.

As for the freedom hating terrorists, I think you should watch a movie called Syriana (and understand it). Not that it's an epiphany-in-a-can unto itself, but it demonstrates a very valid point. Which is that all humans, from all cultures, in all times are essentially identical. Social mores sway back and forth and surface-level cultural things change, but that bottom 95% of almost every human is the same. We all want the same things. To feel like we have a purpose, to be loved, to be respected. We all get jealous and angry, we all make mistakes, do stupid things, become confused, yatta yatta yatta. We are built in such a way that we can become mislead sometimes, and do terrible things. You are still responsible for your actions, but you are not fundamentally flawed, at least not more so than we all are. Because there is a sub-culture of people in the Middle East who have been raised in a world which paints the West as an enemy, Bin Laden included, doesn't mean they're all evil. It's extremely convenient to pigeonhole people into groups of good and evil but that rigid classification just doesn't account for the complexities of reality, and specifically not the complexities of human psychology. But I digress.

Conspiracy people, I appreciate that there are people out there looking for cover-ups so they can jump on them like white on rice. That that contingent is out there probably keeps the crooked fogies on their toes to some degree if nothing else. However, and this is a big however - KEEP IT TO YOURSELF. Keep it on your contained forum, or other conspiracy "friendlies" who you know have already bought what you're selling before you even start. If you're the bullhorn type, I will be the first one to dismantle your fantasies for what they really are because you're intruding on my peace-of-mind for ESCAPIST purposes that masquerade as an obligation to the public.

When escapism isn't involved, when you walk by a homeless person who asks for money, or you'd rather buy a new XBox game than donate to charity - where is your vigorous concern for your public then? When escapism is not a fringe benefit? No where to be found, that's where. Because it's all complete bullshit in the first place.

Don't forget - the people in this picture vote Democrat. And that's a promise.
First, who are you to tell anyone where to say anything?

Second, if you are going to attack somone for their beliefs, without due process, then you clearly have issues, that should be dealt with.

Now, i personally try not to follow any stoyline i can't prove, so while my mind may fantasy, grand scheme and plots, I cannot do anything but process ALL the information given to me. I can argue many times for both sides.

I just think it's sad, how society moves away from the greater good, and advancement