Sunday, September 17, 2006
The One Truth That 9/11 Deniers Won't Face
The 9/11 denial movement has enjoyed a measure of success in recent months in gaining national attention. We have seen them on CNN, heard them on radio shows, and their books and websites abound. These conspiracy theorists are eager to confront and deny any truth about the 9/11 tragedies. All except for one. No 9/11 denier is willing to face or admit this truth: They want 9/11 to have been a government conspiracy rather than a terrorist attack.
I do not make such a statement casually. It is based extensive interactions with many 9/11 deniers over several months. I have participated in several Internet forums that discuss 9/11 conspiracy theories. I have even posed as a 9/11 denier to trade theories and rumors. Conspiracists don't arrive at their conclusions based on a skeptical and dispassionate evaluation of forensic evidence or expert analysis. Instead, they avidly embrace and utilize any circumstantial evidence that appears to support their favorite theory. They ignore logic. They employ logical fallacies in their arguments. It is this lack of objectivity and reasoning that betrays the fact that the 9/11 denier is motivated, not by truth, but by the desire to defend and validate their desired theory, namely that 9/11 was "an inside job".
During these interactions, I offered forensic evidence, scientific analysis, photos, simulations, and expert testimony that disproved the myths that underlie many conspiracy theories. For my temerity, I was rewarded with insults and name-calling, and I was frequently labeled as a "government shill" or a "paid disinformation agent". According to the 9/11 deniers, this information had been manufactured or influenced by "the conspiracy cabal." Thus, rather than evaluating the offered information, 9/11 deniers attacked both the messenger and the source.
For example, during an exchange on the theory that the Twin Towers collapsed due to demolition explosives, I questioned the lack of support of this theory by any demolitions expert or structural engineer. I noted that NIST, as part of its extensive investigation, had enlisted the services of hundreds of professionals including engineers, scientists, architects, and demolitions experts. Wouldn't the findings of these professionals be considered valid expert analysis? The answer according to the conspiracy theorist was "no". Why? Because, to the 9/11 denier, NIST is a government agency controlled by the conspiracy. And, no engineers have come forward because they are being suborned with "lucrative" government contracts.
In Stephen Covey's seminal work, "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People", one habit is "begin with the end in mind". That habit is excellent for organizing projects. However, it is utterly out of place in the search for truth and answers. Scientific rigor and methodical evaluation of possibilities are keys to finding answers and truth. The conspiracy theorists, however, have fully internalized the "begin with the end in mind" habit in regards to 9/11. In their case, the "end" is that our government, in some shape or manner, perpetrated the 9/11 attacks or knowingly allowed them to occur. They start with that goal in mind and work backwards to find any circumstantial evidence that might support that goal.
Recent polls have suggested that this 9/11 denial viewpoint might encompass up to one-third of Americans. For example, an August poll by the Scripps Survey Research Center at Ohio University found that "More than a third of the American public suspects that federal officials assisted in the 9/11 terrorist attacks or took no action to stop them so the United States could go to war in the Middle East." Of course, the same poll also found that 38% believe that the government assassinated President Kennedy and 40% believe that the government is hiding the existence of extra-terrestrial life. Perhaps paranoid conspiracism is simply a mindset of our times.
In investigating the details of this poll, several interesting findings came to light. The detailed results that prompted the conclusion noted in the preceding paragraph show that 16% thought that government involvement was "very likely", 20% thought it "somewhat likely" and 59% thought it "not likely" while 5% didn't care to answer. However, when asked very specific questions on likely conspiracy theories, rather than a general question, the results dropped. Only 6% thought it "very likely" that a missile hit the Pentagon or that the Twin Towers were collapsed by demolition explosives compared to 80% who found those scenarios "not likely".
This poll also identified a rising level of anger against the federal government and concluded that "Widespread resentment and alienation toward the national government appears to be fueling a growing acceptance of conspiracy theories". The poll also noted that those most likely to accept conspiracy theories included young adults, frequent Internet users, Democrats, racial and ethnic minorities, and those with only a high school education.
Why do I mention this poll and note these results? Because they again demonstrate that 9/11 deniers are motivated, not by a desire to find an objective and scientifically demonstrable truth, but rather because they want 9/11 to have been a conspiracy rather than a terrorist attack. A government conspiracy validates their anger at the federal government, it helps their political and/or societal agenda. An "inside job" suits the goals of these people far more than the reality of the worldwide terrorist threat.
The 9/11 deniers refer to themselves as "truth activists". That is a half-truth. They are certainly activists. But they are not pursuing truth.
I do not make such a statement casually. It is based extensive interactions with many 9/11 deniers over several months. I have participated in several Internet forums that discuss 9/11 conspiracy theories. I have even posed as a 9/11 denier to trade theories and rumors. Conspiracists don't arrive at their conclusions based on a skeptical and dispassionate evaluation of forensic evidence or expert analysis. Instead, they avidly embrace and utilize any circumstantial evidence that appears to support their favorite theory. They ignore logic. They employ logical fallacies in their arguments. It is this lack of objectivity and reasoning that betrays the fact that the 9/11 denier is motivated, not by truth, but by the desire to defend and validate their desired theory, namely that 9/11 was "an inside job".
During these interactions, I offered forensic evidence, scientific analysis, photos, simulations, and expert testimony that disproved the myths that underlie many conspiracy theories. For my temerity, I was rewarded with insults and name-calling, and I was frequently labeled as a "government shill" or a "paid disinformation agent". According to the 9/11 deniers, this information had been manufactured or influenced by "the conspiracy cabal." Thus, rather than evaluating the offered information, 9/11 deniers attacked both the messenger and the source.
For example, during an exchange on the theory that the Twin Towers collapsed due to demolition explosives, I questioned the lack of support of this theory by any demolitions expert or structural engineer. I noted that NIST, as part of its extensive investigation, had enlisted the services of hundreds of professionals including engineers, scientists, architects, and demolitions experts. Wouldn't the findings of these professionals be considered valid expert analysis? The answer according to the conspiracy theorist was "no". Why? Because, to the 9/11 denier, NIST is a government agency controlled by the conspiracy. And, no engineers have come forward because they are being suborned with "lucrative" government contracts.
In Stephen Covey's seminal work, "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People", one habit is "begin with the end in mind". That habit is excellent for organizing projects. However, it is utterly out of place in the search for truth and answers. Scientific rigor and methodical evaluation of possibilities are keys to finding answers and truth. The conspiracy theorists, however, have fully internalized the "begin with the end in mind" habit in regards to 9/11. In their case, the "end" is that our government, in some shape or manner, perpetrated the 9/11 attacks or knowingly allowed them to occur. They start with that goal in mind and work backwards to find any circumstantial evidence that might support that goal.
Recent polls have suggested that this 9/11 denial viewpoint might encompass up to one-third of Americans. For example, an August poll by the Scripps Survey Research Center at Ohio University found that "More than a third of the American public suspects that federal officials assisted in the 9/11 terrorist attacks or took no action to stop them so the United States could go to war in the Middle East." Of course, the same poll also found that 38% believe that the government assassinated President Kennedy and 40% believe that the government is hiding the existence of extra-terrestrial life. Perhaps paranoid conspiracism is simply a mindset of our times.
In investigating the details of this poll, several interesting findings came to light. The detailed results that prompted the conclusion noted in the preceding paragraph show that 16% thought that government involvement was "very likely", 20% thought it "somewhat likely" and 59% thought it "not likely" while 5% didn't care to answer. However, when asked very specific questions on likely conspiracy theories, rather than a general question, the results dropped. Only 6% thought it "very likely" that a missile hit the Pentagon or that the Twin Towers were collapsed by demolition explosives compared to 80% who found those scenarios "not likely".
This poll also identified a rising level of anger against the federal government and concluded that "Widespread resentment and alienation toward the national government appears to be fueling a growing acceptance of conspiracy theories". The poll also noted that those most likely to accept conspiracy theories included young adults, frequent Internet users, Democrats, racial and ethnic minorities, and those with only a high school education.
Why do I mention this poll and note these results? Because they again demonstrate that 9/11 deniers are motivated, not by a desire to find an objective and scientifically demonstrable truth, but rather because they want 9/11 to have been a conspiracy rather than a terrorist attack. A government conspiracy validates their anger at the federal government, it helps their political and/or societal agenda. An "inside job" suits the goals of these people far more than the reality of the worldwide terrorist threat.
The 9/11 deniers refer to themselves as "truth activists". That is a half-truth. They are certainly activists. But they are not pursuing truth.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
The Groundwork is Complete
I hope that everyone had a great Labor Day weekend!
I have posted the following:
1) An article on the "14 common features" of conspiracy theories
2) A page of links to good websites that have great information (and further links!)
3) A page of links to various articles
4) Another links page, this one devoted to "official reports"
5) A links page devoted to science and research papers
6) And a page of links to photographs of the WTC, Pentagon, and Flight 93
I will be updating the links pages as I find other information. So that you don't have to track down these pages in the "archives", I have posted on the sidebar (right side of screen) links that will take you directly to them.
Take care!
I have posted the following:
1) An article on the "14 common features" of conspiracy theories
2) A page of links to good websites that have great information (and further links!)
3) A page of links to various articles
4) Another links page, this one devoted to "official reports"
5) A links page devoted to science and research papers
6) And a page of links to photographs of the WTC, Pentagon, and Flight 93
I will be updating the links pages as I find other information. So that you don't have to track down these pages in the "archives", I have posted on the sidebar (right side of screen) links that will take you directly to them.
Take care!
Monday, September 04, 2006
Photos
Many, many photos before, during, and after the WTC collapses:
http://hereisnewyork.org/gallery/
A TIME Magazine site:
http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/shattered/index.html
Photo Evidence in Moussaoui trial:
http://www.rcfp.org/moussaoui/index.php?sortby=datedesc
(Note: You'll have to search through the image section)
US Attack Media Archive:
http://www.niftythings.org/usattack/index.html
World Trade Center Photographs
http://www.parrhesia.com/wtc/wtc-photos.htm
More WTC Photos:
http://www.w3.org/People/Jacobs/2001/10/wtc/
National Guard Bureau "Comprehensive Reference Resource"
http://www.911da.org/crr/images/
Pentagon by Steve Riskus
http://www.criticalthrash.com/terror/crashthumbnails.html
(Note: I link these because Steve was a eyewitness)
Pentagon
http://www.defenselink.mil/photos/Other/Pentagon/page7.html
National Geographic: Seconds from Disaster (Pentagon)http://questionsquestions.net/pentagon/sfdpentagon.html
http://hereisnewyork.org/gallery/
A TIME Magazine site:
http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/shattered/index.html
Photo Evidence in Moussaoui trial:
http://www.rcfp.org/moussaoui/index.php?sortby=datedesc
(Note: You'll have to search through the image section)
US Attack Media Archive:
http://www.niftythings.org/usattack/index.html
World Trade Center Photographs
http://www.parrhesia.com/wtc/wtc-photos.htm
More WTC Photos:
http://www.w3.org/People/Jacobs/2001/10/wtc/
National Guard Bureau "Comprehensive Reference Resource"
http://www.911da.org/crr/images/
Pentagon by Steve Riskus
http://www.criticalthrash.com/terror/crashthumbnails.html
(Note: I link these because Steve was a eyewitness)
Pentagon
http://www.defenselink.mil/photos/Other/Pentagon/page7.html
National Geographic: Seconds from Disaster (Pentagon)http://questionsquestions.net/pentagon/sfdpentagon.html
Science/Research Papers
Why Did the world Trade Center Collapse? Bazant's initial analysis:
http://www-math.mit.edu/~bazant/WTC/WTC-asce.pdf
Why Did the World Trade Center Collapse? Bazant's updated analysis:
http://www.civil.northwestern.edu/people/bazant/PDFs/Papers/405.pdf
Professor Z.P. Bazant's credentials and scientific publications:
http://www.civil.northwestern.edu/people/bazant.html
http://www.civil.northwestern.edu/people/bazant/PDFs/publicat.pdf
Simulation for the Collapse of WTC after Aeroplane Impact
http://www.luxinzheng.net/publications/english_WTC.htm
(just hit cancel on installing Chinese language packs)
The Towers Lost and BeyondA Collection of Essays on the WTC by researchers from MIT:
http://web.mit.edu/civenv/wtc/
From ImplosionWorld, a journal on controlled demolitions:
http://www.implosionworld.com/WTC%20COLLAPSE%20STUDY%20BBlanchard%208-8-06.pdf
Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research:
http://mceer.buffalo.edu/publications/wtc/02-SP02Screen.pdf
Dr. Frank R. Greening:
WTC Collapses: http://911myths.com/WTCREPORT.pdf
Thermite: http://911myths.com/WTCTHERM.pdf
The Collapse of the World Trade Centre Towers - Clifton
http://www.hera.org.nz/PDF%20Files/World%20Trade%20Centre.pdf
http://www.hera.org.nz/PDF%20Files/Elaboration%20on%20WTC%20Paper.PDF
JOM: Why Did the World Trade Center Collapse? Science, Engineering and Speculation:
http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/0112/Eagar/Eagar-0112.html
University of Sydney: World Trade Center - Some Engineering Aspects
http://www.civil.usyd.edu.au/wtc.shtml
http://www-math.mit.edu/~bazant/WTC/WTC-asce.pdf
Why Did the World Trade Center Collapse? Bazant's updated analysis:
http://www.civil.northwestern.edu/people/bazant/PDFs/Papers/405.pdf
Professor Z.P. Bazant's credentials and scientific publications:
http://www.civil.northwestern.edu/people/bazant.html
http://www.civil.northwestern.edu/people/bazant/PDFs/publicat.pdf
Simulation for the Collapse of WTC after Aeroplane Impact
http://www.luxinzheng.net/publications/english_WTC.htm
(just hit cancel on installing Chinese language packs)
The Towers Lost and BeyondA Collection of Essays on the WTC by researchers from MIT:
http://web.mit.edu/civenv/wtc/
From ImplosionWorld, a journal on controlled demolitions:
http://www.implosionworld.com/WTC%20COLLAPSE%20STUDY%20BBlanchard%208-8-06.pdf
Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research:
http://mceer.buffalo.edu/publications/wtc/02-SP02Screen.pdf
Dr. Frank R. Greening:
WTC Collapses: http://911myths.com/WTCREPORT.pdf
Thermite: http://911myths.com/WTCTHERM.pdf
The Collapse of the World Trade Centre Towers - Clifton
http://www.hera.org.nz/PDF%20Files/World%20Trade%20Centre.pdf
http://www.hera.org.nz/PDF%20Files/Elaboration%20on%20WTC%20Paper.PDF
JOM: Why Did the World Trade Center Collapse? Science, Engineering and Speculation:
http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/0112/Eagar/Eagar-0112.html
University of Sydney: World Trade Center - Some Engineering Aspects
http://www.civil.usyd.edu.au/wtc.shtml
Official Reports
The "first" official WTC account:World Trade Center Building Performance Study:
http://www.house.gov/science/hot/wtc/wtcreport.htm
The 9/11 Commission Report
http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/index.htm
FEMA
http://www.fema.gov/pdf/library/fema403_execsum.pdf
http://wtc.nist.gov/media/Structural_Fire_Response_and_Collapse_Analysis.pdf
NIST
"Learning from 9/11: Understanding the Collapse of the World Trade Center"Statement of Dr. Arden L. Bement, Jr., Director of NIST
http://www.nist.gov/testimony/2002/abwtc.html
Response to FAQ
http://wtc.nist.gov/pubs/factsheets/faqs_8_2006.htm
Progress Report on Investigating WTC7:
http://wtc.nist.gov/progress_report_june04/appendixl.pdf
FAA & TSA Documents:
National Security ArchiveSeven FAA Documents, One TSA Document, and Chronologies:
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB165/index.htm
National Security ArchiveEight NTSB Documents:
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB196/index.htm
Other:
The Pentagon Building Performance Report:
http://fire.nist.gov/bfrlpubs/build03/PDF/b03017.pdf
Arlington County: After-Action Report on the Response to the September 11 Terrorist Attack On the Pentagon:
http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/Fire/edu/about/docs/after_report.pdf
http://www.house.gov/science/hot/wtc/wtcreport.htm
The 9/11 Commission Report
http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/index.htm
FEMA
http://www.fema.gov/pdf/library/fema403_execsum.pdf
http://wtc.nist.gov/media/Structural_Fire_Response_and_Collapse_Analysis.pdf
NIST
"Learning from 9/11: Understanding the Collapse of the World Trade Center"Statement of Dr. Arden L. Bement, Jr., Director of NIST
http://www.nist.gov/testimony/2002/abwtc.html
Response to FAQ
http://wtc.nist.gov/pubs/factsheets/faqs_8_2006.htm
Progress Report on Investigating WTC7:
http://wtc.nist.gov/progress_report_june04/appendixl.pdf
FAA & TSA Documents:
National Security ArchiveSeven FAA Documents, One TSA Document, and Chronologies:
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB165/index.htm
National Security ArchiveEight NTSB Documents:
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB196/index.htm
Other:
The Pentagon Building Performance Report:
http://fire.nist.gov/bfrlpubs/build03/PDF/b03017.pdf
Arlington County: After-Action Report on the Response to the September 11 Terrorist Attack On the Pentagon:
http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/Fire/edu/about/docs/after_report.pdf
Good Articles
Popular Mechanics
The majority of CT's try to impugn this article by "association", slamming Hearst Publications and trying to assert that one of the authors is a cousin of Michael Chertoff, the Homeland Security chief (false). However, few try to directly counter the science.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/defense/1227842.html
An older article on Michael Ruppert and Delmart "Mike" Vreeland:
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/capitalgames?bid=3&pid=66
Fahrenheit 2777:
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=000DA0E2-1E15-128A-9E1583414B7F0000
The Ground Zero Grassy Knoll: An interesting article:
http://newyorkmetro.com/news/features/16464/index.html
An article on Prof. Jonathan Barnett's work at the WTC:
http://www.wpi.edu/News/Transformations/2002Spring/fall.html
Article in ArchitectureWeek:
http://www.architectureweek.com/2002/0529/news_3-1.html
New York Times Personal Accounts:
http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/nyregion/20050812_WTC_GRAPHIC/met_WTC_histories_01.html
The Memory Hole: Port Authority and LaGuarida Transcripts
http://www.thememoryhole.org/911/pa-transcripts/
U.S. Department of State: Debunk "9/11 Revealed"
http://usinfo.state.gov/media/Archive/2005/Sep/16-241966.html
U.S. Department of State: AlQaeda Says It Carried Out 9/11 Attacks
http://usinfo.state.gov/media/Archive/2005/Jan/14-610042.html
U.S. Department of State: The "4000 Jews" Rumorhttp://usinfo.state.gov/media/Archive/2005/Jan/14-260933.html
U.S. Department of State: The Top September 11th Conspiracy Theories
http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=pubs-english&y=2006&m=August&x=20060828133846esnamfuaK0.2676355
U.S. Department of State: Did A Plane Hit the Pentagon?http://usinfo.state.gov/media/Archive/2005/Jun/28-581634.html
WTC Pre-Collapse Bowing Debunks 9/11 "Controlled Demolition" Theory
http://www.representativepress.org/BowingDebunksExplosives.html
(Note: I don't support the anti-Israel opinions, just the science)
Who Are the 100 Prominent Americans Who Signed the 2004 "9/11 Truth" Petition?http://questionsquestions.net/docs04/911truthstatement.html
911Truth.org and Urantia?
http://questionsquestions.net/docs04/belitsos-urantia.html
The Creepy Sides of the 9/11 "Truth" Movement:
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze25x9n/id24.html
The New American: 9/11 Fact and Fiction:
http://www.thenewamerican.com/artman/publish/article_1253.shtml
Anti-Defamation League: Unraveling Anti-Semitic 9/11 Conspiracy Theories
http://www.adl.org/anti_semitism/9-11conspiracytheories.pdf
Viewer Guide to "Loose Change":
http://www.ccdominoes.com/lc/911_loose_change_2_guide_1.doc
Second Edition Viewer Guide "Loose Change":
http://www.loosechangeguide.com/LooseChangeGuide.html
The majority of CT's try to impugn this article by "association", slamming Hearst Publications and trying to assert that one of the authors is a cousin of Michael Chertoff, the Homeland Security chief (false). However, few try to directly counter the science.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/defense/1227842.html
An older article on Michael Ruppert and Delmart "Mike" Vreeland:
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/capitalgames?bid=3&pid=66
Fahrenheit 2777:
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=000DA0E2-1E15-128A-9E1583414B7F0000
The Ground Zero Grassy Knoll: An interesting article:
http://newyorkmetro.com/news/features/16464/index.html
An article on Prof. Jonathan Barnett's work at the WTC:
http://www.wpi.edu/News/Transformations/2002Spring/fall.html
Article in ArchitectureWeek:
http://www.architectureweek.com/2002/0529/news_3-1.html
New York Times Personal Accounts:
http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/nyregion/20050812_WTC_GRAPHIC/met_WTC_histories_01.html
The Memory Hole: Port Authority and LaGuarida Transcripts
http://www.thememoryhole.org/911/pa-transcripts/
U.S. Department of State: Debunk "9/11 Revealed"
http://usinfo.state.gov/media/Archive/2005/Sep/16-241966.html
U.S. Department of State: AlQaeda Says It Carried Out 9/11 Attacks
http://usinfo.state.gov/media/Archive/2005/Jan/14-610042.html
U.S. Department of State: The "4000 Jews" Rumorhttp://usinfo.state.gov/media/Archive/2005/Jan/14-260933.html
U.S. Department of State: The Top September 11th Conspiracy Theories
http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=pubs-english&y=2006&m=August&x=20060828133846esnamfuaK0.2676355
U.S. Department of State: Did A Plane Hit the Pentagon?http://usinfo.state.gov/media/Archive/2005/Jun/28-581634.html
WTC Pre-Collapse Bowing Debunks 9/11 "Controlled Demolition" Theory
http://www.representativepress.org/BowingDebunksExplosives.html
(Note: I don't support the anti-Israel opinions, just the science)
Who Are the 100 Prominent Americans Who Signed the 2004 "9/11 Truth" Petition?http://questionsquestions.net/docs04/911truthstatement.html
911Truth.org and Urantia?
http://questionsquestions.net/docs04/belitsos-urantia.html
The Creepy Sides of the 9/11 "Truth" Movement:
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze25x9n/id24.html
The New American: 9/11 Fact and Fiction:
http://www.thenewamerican.com/artman/publish/article_1253.shtml
Anti-Defamation League: Unraveling Anti-Semitic 9/11 Conspiracy Theories
http://www.adl.org/anti_semitism/9-11conspiracytheories.pdf
Viewer Guide to "Loose Change":
http://www.ccdominoes.com/lc/911_loose_change_2_guide_1.doc
Second Edition Viewer Guide "Loose Change":
http://www.loosechangeguide.com/LooseChangeGuide.html
Links to Web Sites
Official
9/11 Commission
http://www.9-11commission.gov/
NIST and the World Trade Center
http://wtc.nist.gov/
U.S. Department of State: International Information Programs
http://usinfo.state.gov/media/misinformation.html
Individual
My personal favorite on the WTC:
http://www.debunking911.com/
An excellent, all-around site:
http://www.911myths.com/
Good site that focuses on the Pentagon/Flight 77:
http://www.geocities.com/someguyyoudontknow33/
PRA PublicEye.org: A great site with really good links to info:
http://www.publiceye.org/conspire/Post911/demnowfaq.html
Somewhat rambling, but worth a look:
http://www.geocities.com/factsnotfantasy/
Good Science and 9-11 Demolition Theories
http://www.jnani.org/mrking/writings/911/king911.htm
Good stuff, especially on Dr. Jones' paper
Interesting Reading at QuestionsQuestions.net
http://questionsquestions.net/infowar.html
(Note: Take with grain of salt)
Annotated Timeline
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/683026/posts
(Note: Not easy to read, but whoa nelly! Lots of info!)
Organizations/Publications
CAD Digest
A well-designed site full of information:
http://www.caddigest.com/subjects/wtc/
iCivilEngineer: The Internet for Civil Engineers
http://www.icivilengineer.com/News/wtc.php
PBS/Nova World Trade Center website:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/wtc/
9/11 Digital Archive
http://www.911da.org/
Journal of Debunking 9/11
http://www.jod911.com/
Blogs
Nytcohylophobia
http://nyctohylophobia.blogspot.com/
(The term refers to phobia of darkness or night...nicely done)
"Dedicated to exposing the lies, distortions, and myths in the move, "Loose Change":
http://screwloosechange.blogspot.com/
9/11 Conspiracy Smasher
http://911conspiracysmasher.blogspot.com/
Loose Trains: A satirical look at the damning evidence based on the "sounds of the WTC":
http://loosetrains911.blogspot.com/
9/11 Commission
http://www.9-11commission.gov/
NIST and the World Trade Center
http://wtc.nist.gov/
U.S. Department of State: International Information Programs
http://usinfo.state.gov/media/misinformation.html
Individual
My personal favorite on the WTC:
http://www.debunking911.com/
An excellent, all-around site:
http://www.911myths.com/
Good site that focuses on the Pentagon/Flight 77:
http://www.geocities.com/someguyyoudontknow33/
PRA PublicEye.org: A great site with really good links to info:
http://www.publiceye.org/conspire/Post911/demnowfaq.html
Somewhat rambling, but worth a look:
http://www.geocities.com/factsnotfantasy/
Good Science and 9-11 Demolition Theories
http://www.jnani.org/mrking/writings/911/king911.htm
Good stuff, especially on Dr. Jones' paper
Interesting Reading at QuestionsQuestions.net
http://questionsquestions.net/infowar.html
(Note: Take with grain of salt)
Annotated Timeline
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/683026/posts
(Note: Not easy to read, but whoa nelly! Lots of info!)
Organizations/Publications
CAD Digest
A well-designed site full of information:
http://www.caddigest.com/subjects/wtc/
iCivilEngineer: The Internet for Civil Engineers
http://www.icivilengineer.com/News/wtc.php
PBS/Nova World Trade Center website:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/wtc/
9/11 Digital Archive
http://www.911da.org/
Journal of Debunking 9/11
http://www.jod911.com/
Blogs
Nytcohylophobia
http://nyctohylophobia.blogspot.com/
(The term refers to phobia of darkness or night...nicely done)
"Dedicated to exposing the lies, distortions, and myths in the move, "Loose Change":
http://screwloosechange.blogspot.com/
9/11 Conspiracy Smasher
http://911conspiracysmasher.blogspot.com/
Loose Trains: A satirical look at the damning evidence based on the "sounds of the WTC":
http://loosetrains911.blogspot.com/
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Common Features of Conspiracy Theories
A conspiracy theory generally exhibits several of the following features:
1) Constructed on limited, partial or circumstantial evidence
For example, the theories are in response to media reports and images, rather than the relevant forensic evidence. Or, a piece of evidence is isolated and generalized, rather than taken in context.
2) Focuses on an event of significant historical or societal importance
Alleges to shed the truth on an event of wide, nearly universal, interest and significance, i.e. a story that will play to a wide audience.
3) Reduces complex phenomena to simple, "evil" individual actions
Institutional processes, especially errors and oversights, are reduced to malign, intentional actions by individuals.
4) Personifies complex phenomena as powerful, individual conspirators
"Deduces" the existence of powerful conspirators from the "impossibility" that a chain of events lacked direction by a person.
5) Allots superhuman talents or resources to conspirators
Conspirators must possess unique discipline and resolve, advanced or unknown technology, uncommon psychological insight, unlimited resources, etc.
6) Key steps in the "conspiracy" argument rely on inductive, not deductive reasoning
Inductive steps are mistaken to bear as much confidence as deductive ones.
7) Appeals to "common sense"
Insists on common sense as a substitute for robust, scientifically rigorous methodologies available for investigating phenomena.
8) Exhibits well-established logical and methodological fallacies
Logical fallacies are readily identifiable among the key steps of the argument.
9) Is produced and circulated by 'outsiders'
The conspiracy is propagated by a person who lacks any insider contact or expert knowledge (or lacks peer review). It enjoys popularity among persons who lack critical and/or technical knowledge.
10) Is "upheld" by demonstrably false conceptions of relevant science;
Some or all of the conspiracy's believers base their belief on a mistaken grasp of scientific principles and facts.
11) Enjoys zero credibility in expert communities
Academics and professionals ignore the story, treating it as too frivolous to invest their time or reputation in "disproving".
12) Rebuttals provided by experts are ignored or answered by elaborate new twists
When experts do rebut the conspiracy theory with evidence, the conspiracy is elaborated, often spectacularly, to discount the evidence, often incorporating the rebuttal as a part of the conspiracy.
13) The conspiracy is claimed to involve just about anybody and everybody
Conspiracy theories grow in the telling. As adherents attempt to explain counter-arguments, the scope of the conspiracy grows even more (see preceding item). Conspiracy theories that have been around for a few decades typically encompass the whole world and huge portions of history.
14) The conspiracy centers on the "usual suspects"
Conspiracy theories often feature people, groups or organizations that are discriminated against in the culture where the conspiracy originates. Jews and "foreigners" are common targets. Organizations with a "bad" or "colorful" reputation are also frequent targets, e.g. the Templars, the Nazis, secret services, governments.
Note: Information primarily derived from www.answer.com with editing and additional commentary by The Masked Protester.
1) Constructed on limited, partial or circumstantial evidence
For example, the theories are in response to media reports and images, rather than the relevant forensic evidence. Or, a piece of evidence is isolated and generalized, rather than taken in context.
2) Focuses on an event of significant historical or societal importance
Alleges to shed the truth on an event of wide, nearly universal, interest and significance, i.e. a story that will play to a wide audience.
3) Reduces complex phenomena to simple, "evil" individual actions
Institutional processes, especially errors and oversights, are reduced to malign, intentional actions by individuals.
4) Personifies complex phenomena as powerful, individual conspirators
"Deduces" the existence of powerful conspirators from the "impossibility" that a chain of events lacked direction by a person.
5) Allots superhuman talents or resources to conspirators
Conspirators must possess unique discipline and resolve, advanced or unknown technology, uncommon psychological insight, unlimited resources, etc.
6) Key steps in the "conspiracy" argument rely on inductive, not deductive reasoning
Inductive steps are mistaken to bear as much confidence as deductive ones.
7) Appeals to "common sense"
Insists on common sense as a substitute for robust, scientifically rigorous methodologies available for investigating phenomena.
8) Exhibits well-established logical and methodological fallacies
Logical fallacies are readily identifiable among the key steps of the argument.
9) Is produced and circulated by 'outsiders'
The conspiracy is propagated by a person who lacks any insider contact or expert knowledge (or lacks peer review). It enjoys popularity among persons who lack critical and/or technical knowledge.
10) Is "upheld" by demonstrably false conceptions of relevant science;
Some or all of the conspiracy's believers base their belief on a mistaken grasp of scientific principles and facts.
11) Enjoys zero credibility in expert communities
Academics and professionals ignore the story, treating it as too frivolous to invest their time or reputation in "disproving".
12) Rebuttals provided by experts are ignored or answered by elaborate new twists
When experts do rebut the conspiracy theory with evidence, the conspiracy is elaborated, often spectacularly, to discount the evidence, often incorporating the rebuttal as a part of the conspiracy.
13) The conspiracy is claimed to involve just about anybody and everybody
Conspiracy theories grow in the telling. As adherents attempt to explain counter-arguments, the scope of the conspiracy grows even more (see preceding item). Conspiracy theories that have been around for a few decades typically encompass the whole world and huge portions of history.
14) The conspiracy centers on the "usual suspects"
Conspiracy theories often feature people, groups or organizations that are discriminated against in the culture where the conspiracy originates. Jews and "foreigners" are common targets. Organizations with a "bad" or "colorful" reputation are also frequent targets, e.g. the Templars, the Nazis, secret services, governments.
Note: Information primarily derived from www.answer.com with editing and additional commentary by The Masked Protester.
