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Nine Persistent Conspiracy Theories
By Baselinemag on 2009-05-14


Do techies have a weakness for conspiracy theories? A certain suspicion of authority is a hallmark of tech culture, along with the belief that better answers may be out there for almost any problem. On the other hand, the job demands a logical approach.

The Internet, meanwhile, is a hotbed of both mythology and myth-busting. And for whatever it’s worth, a lot of conspiracy theories today involve information technology. One recent example of web-fueled, tech-tinged fantasy: stories and blog posts claiming that Google Earth showed the location of the lost continent of Atlantis.

Here’s our list of persistent stories, some related to tech and some from the broader culture.
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Chips AhoyChips in your brain to control you. Chips in your body to track you. Chips in consumer products to monitor your habits. Reality check: The technology is there for at least some of it, but that doesn’t mean it’s happening to you.

Big Brother is Watching You.Your personal information is visible to the government and businesses, not to mention crooks. Satellites and street cameras see all. Reality check: Yeah, that sounds about right.

Mock the VoteElectronic voting machines have – or will be – programmed to rig elections.Reality check: So far, errors rather than chicanery seem to be the problem. But paper ballots might not be a bad idea.

Close EncountersThe government is concealing evidence of intelligent life from other planets.Reality check: Like many government-related theories, seems to greatly overstate the competence of the government.

Grassy KnollVarious explanations of the assassination of JFK and its motives.Reality Check: No version, including the official one, seems air-tight.

The Truthers Shall Set You Free9/11 was an inside job, and it was a missile that hit the Pentagon.Reality Check: So, where is the plane that didn’t hit the Pentagon?

Control FreaksOur affairs are secretly controlled by the Illuminati, and/or the New World Order, and/or the Freemasons.Reality Check: A counter-conspiracy theory might be that this one is perpetuated by the banks and oil companies who really do run things.

Death by DesignAIDS is a man-made virus used to target particular groups.Reality Check: Does not account for horrible diseases that predate modern science.

Not to the Moon, AliceWe faked the moon landings.Reality Check: Overstates difficulty of rocket flight.

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