Citizens for Debunking 9/11 Myths

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.