General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Nov. 22, 1963: 50 years, and still no conspiracy|Op Ed LA Times [View all]OnyxCollie
(9,958 posts)2. Rumors and speculation. Of course it is necessary to specify how, exactly,
conspiracy theories begin.. Some such theories seem to bubble up spontaneously,
appearing roughly simultaneously in many different social networks; others are initiated
and spread, quite intentionally, by conspiracy entrepreneurs who profit directly or
indirectly from propagating their theories. An example in the latter category is the
French author Thierry Meyssan, whose book 9/11: The Big Lie became a bestseller and
a sensation for its claims that the Pentagon explosion on 9/11 was caused by a missile,
fired as the opening salvo of a coup detat by the military-industrial complex, rather than
by American Airlines Flight 77. Some conspiracy entrepreneurs are entirely sincere;
others are interested in money or power, or in achieving some general social goal. Still,
even for conspiracy theories put about by conspiracy entrepreneurs, the key question is
why some theories take hold while many more do not, and vanish into obscurity.
Sunstein, C. R. & Vermeule, A. (2008). Conspiracy theories. Harvard Public Law Working Paper No.
08-03; U of Chicago, Public Law Working Paper No. 199; U of Chicago Law & Economics, Olin
Working Paper No. 387, pp. 9, 10.
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1084585