As I am watching some things regarding 9/11 this evening I've come across many conspiracy theories regarding that event. Which got me thinking about conspiracy theories in general, the moon landings, JFK, etc. Do you believe in any? Why?

My favorite one, being someone who works in the steel industry, regarding 9/11 is "Steel doesn't melt at the temperature jet fuel burns at." While that is true, it does anneal (becomes softer) at that temperature which explains the collapses.

Seems like a lot of arguments are based on some facts...but only selectively.

The real kicker for conspiracy theories is the effect they have on human behavior. Studies have shown that in South Africa, women who believe in conspiracy theories related to the AID's virus are http://www.aidsmap.com/South-African-women-with-AIDS-conspiracy-beliefs-half-as-likely-to-use-condems/page/1797893/. In the U.S. we have a serious issue with people not vaccinating their children, putting little kids at risk just so parents can satisfy their own delusional beliefs. Global warming conspiracy theories cause people to conserve less, and medical conspiracy theories make people http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/03/19/291405689/half-of-americans-believe-in-medical-conspiracy-theories. Steve Jobs put off cancer treatment for nine months http://gawker.com/5849543/harvard-cancer-expert-steve-jobs-probably-doomed-himself-with-alternative-medicine, and a lot of medical professionals think that's the reason he died, because his cancer, although rare, is extremely easy to treat.

I used to be a strong advocate for Freedom of Speech, but in recent years I've started to notice the consequences of free speech. When large chunks of the U.S. population think the president is a foreign citizen, that vaccines are a hoax, that herbal remedies are any good at dealing with cancer, or that pseudo-science from whole foods is better for their health than seeing an actual doctor, it causes real harm to large numbers of people. Anyone talking about 'freedom of the press' or 'freedom of speech' really needs to address that, because a lot of people are dying from this. Yes, allowing people to say stupid [censored] actually causes death, injury, and suffering - often extending far beyond the stupid people themselves. How many children are getting preventable diseases because their mom or dad mistakenly believed that vaccines cause autism?

The towers are very controversial but the Pentagon on the other hand... not much sense there in my opinion. Then theres JFK with the official report, the grassy knoll and the accidental discharge by a secret service agent. I personally do not subscribe to any official report or theory. Why? Simple, i wasn't there. It's best to look at everything openly within reason and ask questions but just following a theory like gospel is daft.

Case in point.

I think anyone who thinks herbal remedies for cancer will work get what they deserve. That may seem morbid, but my brother is fighting leukemia and modern medicine has it pinned down. He got good care at a good hospital, is in remission and with a bone marrow transplant coming up will hopefully be cured. Herbal remedies instead of that? He'd already be dead.

I agree with the "I wasn't there point", however for the moon landings, well, hard to use that particular defense (as someone who denies that it happened, I am not saying you believe that it didn't).

The bolded part is the key - these people only accept facts that fit their pre-conceived notion that some sinister hidden motive is at work, and just hand-wave away anything that doesn't fit.

I have no patience for conspiracy theories or the people who promulgate them. Buzz Aldrin had the perfect response to some hokerr who got in his face to claim that the Apollo moon landings were faked - he punched the guy in the face.