Theory and deprecation of the term conspiracy theory
Theory is a conclusion based on evidence.
It is not a maybe, but a how.
The term for a maybe is hypothesis.
Here is an idea or "for example" definition of Conspiracy Theory.
1.There was a conspiracy. Someone Did It.
Two planes hit two of 7 buildings in New York, and 3 buildings just went poof like magic, and the remaining 4 turned into piles of rubble.
Yellow Truckloads of cow poop sometimes blow up some buildings.
2.How was it done, and who did it?
did Kennedy get shot, and who did it?
How did 2 planes cause a third most distant building to vanish?
What kind of
Rube Goldberg contraption enabled a distant caveman to blow things up on the other side of the world?
Reasonable conclusions:
Little Green Men in flying saucers didn't Do It.
Conspiracy:an evil plan to do an evil act
Evidence:an evil act was done
Theory:how it was done
Here is another concept of "Conspiracy Theory".
1.Let's do some evil.
2.Let's not get caught.
3.How can we Do It without getting caught?
4.Now we have a Conspiracy. Now we need to design it.
5.You do this funny business over here while we do the plan.
6.Let's get some actors to pretend they are doing evil things.
"Hey you. Put on this beard and sit in that cave and read these lines. Lights. Camcorder. Action."
7.Let's plant some diversions and fake evidence.
8.Let's cover up this stinky mess with bull poop.
9.Awesome as Hell! Let's rub each other's horns now.
Now for just a little weird stuff.
Allegedly there are these people who wear tinfoil hats.
Kenneth, What is the Frequency?
They hear voices and Tinfoil Hat theory is that they are transmitted by radio waves which can be blocked by an Aluminum Faraday Cage.
I'd like to know if such people exist and whether the tinfoil keeps the voices out. If so, why. If not, why do they wear those hats?
A Hypothesis:
Radio Teeth. It has happened that two different metals or metal oxide in dental fillings has formed a radio detector crystal similar to what was used in primitive crystal radios. That can actually demodulate a broadcast band radio signal and convert it into sound. Dan Rather's voice was broadcasted via radio waves, so someone could have heard him that way.
Think about what you would do if you had observed the use of the 9 step Conspiracy Theory I outlined above. Would anyone believe your report?