Sifting Through the Rubble: The Value of Conspiracy Theories

I have a vague love for conspiracy theories that doesn't really go beyond my typing of sentences like this, but what the hell, let's go with this. Whenever I'm in Borders or Barnes and Noble, I always peruse the conspiracy theory part of the magazine section (Borders has a better one in case you're wondering), and one of these times I got to wondering: Why do all these mainstream book outlets, these chains of inoffensive commerce, sell all these seemingly underground and venomous publications?

I didn't have an answer. I also don't really have an answer for the rhetorical question that is "what do we make of conspiracy theories?" The crap, the downright incriminating vomit that these magazines put forth will literally blow your mind…if you take them seriously. I am not surprised at all when I hear about some conspiracy theory nut who goes crazy and pulls off some really strange and brainless antic, like the dude who lit himself on fire at Ground Zero.

The biggest problem with conspiracy theories, and conspiracy theorists for that matter, is the vast and uncontrollable amount of them. There is a conspiracy theory for everything and there is no greater place them for them to thrive than right here on the internet. Forget Borders or even your local, ultra-liberal bookstore, those outlets don't hold a candle to the flammable shit that gets spread on the web. There are literally thousands of agendas, groups and factions who all have something kooky to say. These websites and organizations have one common thread though, they want your readership.

Not you specifically, but as many people as they can muster up, because the more people who sympathize with their cause or, better yet, back it the better. Soon I will be writing an article that specifically deals with the phenomenon of collegiate professors supporting 9/11 conspiracy theories, and that's exactly what I mean.