Even Greener Pastures
Language Learning => Questions about the Use of Language => Topic started by: Truman Overby on May 28, 2019, 01:41:44 pm
-
So, what do you suggest, Jerry? Dubitationist? Suspicionist? Me, I'm rather in favor of "sinistrologist". Or how about "spinner"? (You'd just need to ignore the word's German meaning. ;) )
Suspicionist has a rather nice ring to it. Good job. ;) Or maybe just skeptic or sceptic.
Hmm... I wonder whether you'd like to become a member:
https://www.skeptic.com/
:D
-
Yeah, a Spinner would be a good word.
I‘ve never gone in for conspiracy theories. I liked that old Oliver Stone movie from the 90s or so, JFK I think it was called. But, after awhile, I‘ve noticed that conspiracy theories sort of fade away, maybe have a shelf life and then no one cares.
It‘s like the 9/11 conspiracy theorists.
Noam Chomsky gave a good talk on this several times. He doesn’t mention it here, but I heard him say that, as a general rule, secrets are pretty hard to keep, especially on something as large as the 9/11 conspiracy theory, but he goes on to make a couple of pretty valid points:
https://youtu.be/3b_nI6DlZP0
-
Or cynic.
(https://evengreener.createaforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpediaa.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F06%2FDifference-Between-Skepticism-and-Cynicism-infographic.jpg&hash=0b4f81b664af80f766b6d4a58f324e11f83a3e94)
-
So, what do you suggest, Jerry? Dubitationist? Suspicionist? Me, I'm rather in favor of "sinistrologist". Or how about "spinner"? (You'd just need to ignore the word's German meaning. ;) )
Suspicionist has a rather nice ring to it. Good job. ;) Or maybe just skeptic or sceptic.
-
So, what do you suggest, Jerry? Dubitationist? Suspicionist? Me, I'm rather in favor of "sinistrologist". Or how about "spinner"? (You'd just need to ignore the word's German meaning. ;) )
-
I don't quite see what you're getting at, Jerry. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if somebody believes producers of sedans* got together and decided to murder President Kennedy because his preference for convertibles was detrimental to their business - which would qualify as a conspiracy, right? - then that somebody believes in a conspiracy and is therefore a conspiracy theorist, isn't he?
*Oops, I've just found out that "sedan" and "convertible" are not antonyms. Sigh. Well, you know what I mean, don't you?
What I mean is that if you don't swallow the official line, then you're a conspiracy theorist. At least that's how the term is used over here in the New World. ;D
-
I don't quite see what you're getting at, Jerry. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if somebody believes producers of sedans* got together and decided to murder President Kennedy because his preference for convertibles was detrimental to their business - which would qualify as a conspiracy, right? - then that somebody believes in a conspiracy and is therefore a conspiracy theorist, isn't he?
*Oops, I've just found out that "sedan" and "convertible" are not antonyms. Sigh. Well, you know what I mean, don't you?
-
Conspiracy def: An agreement to perform together an illegal, wrongful, or subversive act.
We need a new word. Example: You don't think Kennedy was killed by one guy using an old, worn-out, inaccurate { Italian! [ Junk ] } rifle not suited to the task and you get labeled a 'conspiracy theorist.'