re: What’s the deal with conspiracy theorists?

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Coworkers in here going on and on about a 2nd LV shooter on the 4th floor.

That conversation led to 9/11 all the way up to JFK!

I guess it’s not feasible to think these things actual just happened

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Most information comes from the same sources

Traits

Personalities

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Their proponents can make the theories increasingly elaborate to accommodate new observations; and, ultimately, any information contradicting a conspiracy theory can be answered with, “Well sure, that’s what they want you to think.”

Despite their unfalsifiable nature, conspiracy theories attract significant followings. Not all theorists, it seems, hold their “truths” to the standards of conventional science. And scientists are beginning to understand the types of personalities that buy into more extreme and unlikely theories. Research reveals that conspiracy theorists tend to share a core set of traits, regardless of their conspiracy of choice. Low self-esteem, for example, may characterize both those who believe that Paul McCartney died in 1966 and those who think that Britain’s royal family consists of reptilian aliens.

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Skepticism (the unhealthy kind that borders on paranoia) low self esteem, distrust, anger, etc.

They interpret information how they see fit because it cannot be disproven. This is how elaborate fantasies become their reality. While most people view the known information through a scientific filter, theorists view it through a filter of mustrust, paranoia and fear. So, they see the same thing you do, just interpret it much much differently.