The irrationality I read in GD is pushing me toward a crisis of faith.

[Writer]

I hate questioning the thoughts of other liberals/progressives, but I get tired of the scurrilous "illuminati" conspiracies I read in GD, especially those related to media issues.

Is there some type of liberal preacher I can speak with? Maybe incense I can burn for St. McGovern of Hippiehood? I'm having an internal struggle here, MAN.

[supernova]

1. It helps to remember

why we have conspiracy theories.

There are unanswered questions about these topics (at least in the public arena). In the absence of clear, definitive information, people will fill in the blanks with whatever is available to them.

[Writer]

2. Ain't that the truth.

Or the available information doesn't fit their previously held views, so they assume immediately that "something" is amiss.

[Critters2]

3. I'm a liberal preacher

but GD is beyond any help I can offer, I'm afraid.

[Writer]

18. LOL...

will you help me find my liberal faith again, critters? ;)

[Critters2]

43. Step one...stay away from GD!! nt

[brentspeak]

4. Email the admins about the conspiracy theory posters

Ask them to do something about them.

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. The admins are part of the conspiracy. They won't do anything.

:tinfoilhat:






:hide:

[supernova]

6. You think Skinner is, you know,

Illuminati? Shhhh, keep your voice down!

:hide: :tinfoilhat:

[Rabrrrrrr]

7. I won't say anything publicly, because I fear retribution.

I've had my apartment searched before, and I know because I found an extra DU bumpersticker under the couch.

:tinfoilhat:

[supernova]

8. You got one of those too!

OMG!!

That's it. I'm searching my house for bugs.. the electronic kind.

Then, I'm gonna go meet that guy in that park. It's all worked out. The bank in Zurich knows my passcode.

:tinfoilhat:

[WhollyHeretic]

11. I think they've been searching my mail

I opened a letter yesterday and there was just a little slip of paper that said "Message removed by Moderator" :scared:

[Rabrrrrrr]

14. I got one that said "Sender deleted"

:scared:

[Writer]

19. I think people, by nature, are irrational.

I'm sure - no, I KNOW - that I've also been guilty of posting pap like that in GD.

Alerting the mods is useless. It's just human nature, I think.

[Heidi]

9. You probably should alert on them

if you think they break the rules. Complaining in the Lounge isn't a very effective means of combatting :tinfoilhat: stuff. :hi:

[Writer]

17. I don't think they're breaking the rules.

I just can't believe sometimes what I read in there.

[Boojatta]

10. Start a poll in GD to get an idea of the actual distribution

of views with respect to media conspiracy theories. Ask a specific question that doesn't use the word "conspiracy" and provide a variety of answer options spanning a range of different views.

[Writer]

20. The problem is with some it's not a theory - it's become irrefutable BELIEF for some.

I come from the school of thought that says that Chomsky and Bagdikian were wrong, in some respects, about the relationship between the news media and the government (not exactly a popular opinion among liberals, ya know?) But I also don't buy the line that the media "are liberal" either. I have done a lot of academic research into bias/politicization issues in media and it's nearly impossible to confront what I think is an illogic about these institutional dynamics... without sounding like a know-it-all twerp, that is. :(

[cobalt1999]

12. That's been the biggest disappointment I've faced when finding this site.

Until then, I really thought liberals were more educated, able to scientifically review data, and able to come to logical conclusions. Now, I reluctantly have to admit that there are a ton of liberals without any ability to discern "shit from shinola".

Sometimes they act like a bunch of creationists using the exact same tactics and thought processes (and that is without venturing into the 9/11 fantasy world).

[TZ]

15. Yep

and not just GD..have you read anything in health? Talk about not being able to scientifically review data. There is definitely a streak of double standards in terms of what science is "accepted" here.

[Fire Walk With Me]

13. Keep your standards. It isn't worth getting upset about people.

[Writer]

16. I'm a big girl. I'll be okay.

;)

:hi:

[Fire Walk With Me]

25. I've seen your posts and understand that. Just supporting your serenity :-)

[Writer]

26. That should be the motto for GD: Serenity NOW!

:P

:hi:

[WCGreen]

21. Conspiracies depend on the unanswered questions....

But what most people seem to forget is that to put something as complex as they say, for instance, tower 7, requires a massive amount of secrecy, intelligence and loyalty that I don't believe the right actually has...

Are corners cut, are questions not answered satisfactorily, are people lying...

Well, yea...

But I have complete faith in the utter incompetence of people to think that any of these conspiracies are real...

Secret societies, yea...

But the value in those are the networking and having an "in" for cushy jobs...

[Writer]

23. If the GOP hadn't been so quick to score political points from the terror attacks...

I don't think there would be as many conspiracies, imho. But some liberals HAVE to find something sinister about it because it ultimately benefited the GOP politically.

[WCGreen]

38. Of course they conspired to make it politically advantageous for

them...

They are very good at that...

[WindRavenX]

22. Idiots come of all political colors.

Unfortunately, seems to me that more liberals are easily suckered into conspiracy theories...

[Writer]

24. That's very true, and I think that says a lot about how liberals deal with...

issues of power. And again I blame the logic (illogic) that say that power only rests with the moneyed (MLK would disagree, I think), that the moneyed are connected (because money can be exchanged), and (and I think this is the most f'd up logic of all), the moneyed all strive for a conservative fiscal agenda, and therefore, also strive for a conservative social agenda.

Although in my mind that still up to a lot of debate. :P

[WindRavenX]

27. well you are talking to a communist...

...the concentration of wealth in a cut-throat capitalistic society like we've become is basically the same as who has the power, imo.

That isn't to say it *has* to be the case; socialism tempers the cruelty of capitalism which is why I think it is the only realistic option facing our country.

[Writer]

29. I think eventually we will be forced to adopt a mixed economic system...

because I do believe that wealth has become too concentrated at the top and eventually it's going to be nearly impossible to pay for our standard of living.

But that immediately translating to conservative media bias is, in my opinion, a fallacy, especially in today's digital media environment.

[WindRavenX]

31. Oh absolutely

I would say the Conservative media bias is a result of having air time being able to be 'bought' rather than earned, and the whole Fairness Doctrine thing was kinda important to having a balanced news.

The other thing is that the 24/7 "news" channels have become nothing more than continuous loops of the gossip du joir...

[Writer]

34. Actually I disagree that the media are biased either way.

I do think that deregulation has brought a focus on profit as opposed to doing good news (the closing of international bureaus in the 1980's is one example.) However, if you look at the media as a whole, to say that they ALL lean one way or another is a far-fetched concept. There are too many of them with too many shades of political leanings that counter each other. And some of them (Fox News, ahem) literally puts on a show to cater to an audience of a particular politic.

[MaryBear]

28. Hi there

Unofficially, if I remember correctly, complaining about a forum in another forum is against the rules.

If I am correct, then this is an official "don't do that".

mb

[Writer]

30. Oh! Then let's just say that this is about posters in general, then.

:)

Because I no longer can edit the OP, anyway. :)

[LaurenG]

32. It;s a state of mind with some people

and I've found irrational "others" posting right here in the lounge as well. Just interact with those who you are comfortable with. :hi:

[Writer]

35. Yes indeedy.

Hey... what's up with the soap avatar?

[LaurenG]

37. I haven't seen anyone else with it so I picked it, plus just between you and me

I love soap. I love to see those big bars in the store next to the bubble bath, soap fetish maybe?

Just don't tell anyone ok. :D :hi:

[Capn Sunshine]

33. Try pastordan at Daily Kos

He's always got a handle on such travails as yours
check it out

[Writer]

36. I will.

Thank you. :)

[rug]

39. Your comment has been noted.

[Writer]

40. The Eye of Sauron.

Amazing how ubiquitous Tolkien has become. ;) ;) ;)

[Fredda Weinberg]

41. Let it be

Aren't those words of wisdom?

Peace

[Writer]

42. Yar. I'll remember that as I shred this entire drawer of documents...

oh, Saturdays. (sigh)