Conspiracy Theories – Proven or Not, They Never Die

Conspiracy theories reject the official record of suspicious or tragic events, or sometimes suggest that the events did not happen at all. Those who believe or advocate conspiracy theories often conclude that some powerful group has covered up the facts for a nefarious reason, typically for political gain.

The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories

Groups of people who have similar ideas about the world create conspiracy theories. These groups share common philosophies and preconceived ideas of how the world is and how it should be. Any situation or event that clashes with these beliefs must be wrong and, therefore, ill-conceived. They must find alternative explanations for what happened to justify something that doesn’t fit their belief system.

Conspiracy theorists recite minor facts and build upon them in an attempt to lend credibility to the entire theory. The theory grows from there, adding more embellishments and “proof” as it spreads. That’s not to say that no conspiracy theory has ever been proven; however, it is rare. We’ll look at a couple of theories later that turned out to be true.

Conspiracy theories are not new; they have been around for a long time. Two factors make them more prevalent than ever: 1) the extreme political ideologies in the world today, and 2) social media. First, let’s look at the ideologies. A middle ground in politics no longer exists. There is nothing that both sides can agree upon. Second, social media is not a reliable source of truth. Anyone can say anything they want. They can portray opinions as facts or vice versa, making it impossible to distinguish between the two. Sometimes, the facts are as bizarre as the opinions or made-up stories.

Famous Conspiracy Theories Proven False

Moon Landing Hoax

NASA launched Apollo 11 from Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida, U.S.A., on July 16, 1969. (I remember the day well. Thinking they might be of value someday, I bought five of the local Vancouver Sun newspapers as souvenirs of the event. I don’t know where they are now, but that’s a story for another time.) On July 20, 1969, the Lunar Module Eagle, commanded by Neil Armstrong and piloted by Buzz Aldrin, landed on the moon. Six hours and 39 minutes later, on July 21st, Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon’s surface, becoming the first person to do so, and Buzz Aldrin was soon to follow. These are the official facts of record.

Is there a conspiracy theory doubting the facts of the first moon landing? You betcha! The most common argument against the first moon landing is that it didn’t happen, period. The technology wasn’t advanced enough at the time to make it happen. Some suggest that NASA staged the whole thing with help from Disney Studios.

Discrediting the theory:

• Moon rocks brought back by astronauts contain unique geological properties confirmed by independent analysis.
• Satellites and telescopes from multiple countries have since captured images of lunar landing sites.
• The Soviet Union, America’s primary rival in the space race, never contested the legitimacy of the landing despite having the means to do so.

Flat Earth Theory

Since the 2010s, the Flat Earth Theory has again resurfaced. Membership in modern flat-earth societies has increased, and the topic is discussed on social media. This theory originated almost 3,000 years ago, but it still has followers. Protestants recreated this myth in the 17th century as a counter to the teachings of Catholics.

Followers of the Flat Earth Theory consider the Earth to be a flat disc. In the Internet age, social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and especially X (formerly and forevermore known as Twitter) have made spreading disinformation easy without proof or context. For some reason, many view whatever appears on the Internet as fact. It’s hard to believe that this particular conspiracy theory still has believers. Yet, there is no accounting for the gullibility of some people.

Discrediting the theory:

• Gravity, satellite imagery, and direct observations by astronauts confirm that the Earth is spherical.
• Airline flight paths and long-distance photography clearly show the Earth’s curvature.
• Mathematical calculations involving Earth’s rotation, seasons, and eclipses reject a flat-earth model.

Area 51 and Extraterrestrial Cover-Up

Area 51 is a military base in southern Nevada, about 83 miles (about 134 km) north-northwest of Las Vegas. It is not a traditional military base in the United States. It is a top-security facility for testing experimental aircraft and weapon systems. However, conspiracy theorists believe that extraterrestrials inhabit Area 51. And why would they think that? The area is off-limits to commercial and regular military air traffic. It is a highly secure space. Theorists see this as proof of a cover-up.

Citizens have witnessed many incidents of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) over the Nevada desert. They assume that the government is testing non-terrestrial technology. The unprecedented secrecy surrounding Area 51 adds fuel to this theory. The perceived crash of a UFO in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947 also contributes to this theory. Conspirators believe that recovered bodies or even survivors of that crash were moved to Area 51. Remembering the meaning of UFO, “unidentified flying object”, is essential. Unidentified does not necessarily mean extraterrestrial.

Discrediting the theory:

• Declassified documents and research have proven that Area 51’s primary purpose has been developing and testing secret military aircraft and technologies.
• Independent research and interviews with former employees have not produced evidence of aliens or their spaceships.
• The idea that there might be aliens and spaceships has an aura of mystery, but no proof.

Famous Conspiracy Theories Proven True

Most conspiracy theories are ultimately proven to be just that: theories. They can’t be proven because they have false justifications, or it didn’t happen that way. However, some conspiracy theories have proven to be true, with the facts being even worse than initially suggested. Let’s take a look at two of those.

Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment (United States)

The U.S. Public Health Service conducted a study from 1932 to 1972 on African American men with syphilis, intentionally withholding treatment even after penicillin became available.

Unfortunately, this is not just a theory; it actually happened. For 40 years, researchers used and abused these men of colour. In the name of medical science, they withheld treatment from actual patients. Shame on the researchers!

Proven to be true:

• Declassified documents have since revealed that participants were misled and received inadequate treatment, thereby violating ethical standards.
• Government officials finally admitted to wrongdoing, leading to lawsuits and reforms in medical ethics.
• The experiment’s exposure led to stricter research guidelines worldwide.

MKUltra (United States & Canada)

The CIA secretly conducted mind-control experiments using LSD and other drugs on unwitting subjects, including Canadian citizens. Project MKUltra existed from 1953 to 1973. The purpose was to identify drugs which would be effective in forcing confessions through brainwashing and psychological torture. They administered high doses of drugs such as morphine, mescaline, and LSD without the patients’ permission.

There were several goals to these drug experiments. They were trying to develop a truth serum. Mind control was a goal. They even experimented with the idea of influencing a patient to commit an assassination willingly and then not having any memory of it. Many lawsuits resulted from these illegal activities.

Proven to be true:

• Declassified documents proved the existence of the MKUltra program.
• Survivors testified about the psychological and physical damage caused.
• Public outrage led to increased scrutiny of intelligence agencies and the implementation of ethical reforms in psychological research.

Two That Are Uniquely Canadian

Canadians don’t seem as open to superstitions or conspiracy theories as some cultures. However, Canada is not without. With the ease of encountering disinformation on social media, we, too, have become susceptible to conspiracy theories.

Tim Hortons Coffee Conspiracy

For those not familiar with it, Tim Horton’s is a multinational coffeehouse restaurant chain. Tim Horton (1930-1974) and some other guy founded the chain in 1964. Tim was a professional hockey player (only Americans say “ice hockey”) who helped the Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup four times a long, long, long time ago. So, of course, he gets a chain of over 5,700 coffeehouse restaurants named after him. Tim Horton’s is most famous for the phrase “double, double”, meaning two pouches of cream and two teaspoons of sugar.

You’ll notice from this example that Canadian conspiracy theories tend to be more lighthearted. Many (qualifying it as a conspiracy theory) Tim Horton’s customers have strongly suggested that Tim, or his representatives, add an addictive substance, other than caffeine, to their coffee. They say that is why they return to Tim Horton’s again and again. Now, they could go to Starbucks, which is known for its great variety of expensive concoctions, or McDonald’s for a simple, reasonably priced cup of coffee. But for some reason, they return to Timmy’s. So, of course, there must be foul play afoot.

Discrediting the theory:

• No scientific evidence supports this claim—Tim Horton’s coffee contains standard ingredients found in other brands.
• The theory suggests that brand loyalty is more important than anything else.
• Coffee addiction is real, but it applies to caffeine in general, not specifically Tim Horton’s.

The NHL Bias Against Canadian Teams

I’m not sure how seriously to take this conspiracy theory, but I find it amusing. Sports fans are an odd bunch, and not just in Canada. They are very supportive of their teams. They will make statements like, “We really did well tonight,” when it’s apparent that the closest they got to the game was their seat up in the rafters. Anyway, here is the theory for whatever it’s worth.

Many Canadian hockey fans believe that the NHL deliberately prevents Canadian teams from winning the Stanley Cup. A Canadian team hasn’t won a Stanley Cup since 1993, when the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Los Angeles Kings. There are currently 32 NHL teams, with only 7 in Canada and the other 25 in the U.S. With more than three and a half times as many teams, the odds of winning the Stanley Cup are with the U.S. However, a 31-year dry spell is undoubtedly concerning.

I was a hockey fan in the early 1960s when the NHL had only six teams (Canada: Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs; U.S.: Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers). Now, with 32 teams, there are too many players to follow, at least for me.

Discrediting the theory:

• There is no proof that the NHL favours American teams over Canadian teams.
• The lack of Canadian wins may be due to competitive dynamics rather than institutional bias.
• Statistical analysis reveals that Canadian teams are equally capable, but they have faced stronger opponents in critical moments.

Conclusion

Conspiracy theories have existed forever. They will continue because people believe what they want to believe—to hell with the truth. The facts just get in the way of a good story. And now, in this age of easy information, facts and opinions are intermingled as one.

Seek out your information from well-known, reliable sources if those still exist. Don’t repeat something unless you know it’s true, and especially don’t repeat it if you know it isn’t true. Unfortunately, some people want to believe the worst, regardless of whether it is true or not. Don’t be one of those people.

The above essay is for entertainment and English language study only. For suggestions on how to use this post to improve your English reading and listening comprehension, click here.

Vocabulary

• advocate – transitive verb; recommend or support by argument (a cause, policy, etc.); to speak in favour of
• nefarious – adjective; wicked; corrupt or evil
• preconceived – adjective; (an idea or opinion, etc.) beforehand; decided before
• clash – intransitive verb; come into conflict or be at variance; strongly disagree
• ill-conceived – adjective; badly planned or conceived; poorly understood; wrong (in this context)
• embellishments – noun; interesting additions; exaggerations or misrepresentations (in this context)
• prevalent – adjective; predominant; more common
• portray – transitive verb; represent, esp. dramatically; represent as something different
• bizarre – adjective; strange in appearance or effect; strange or unbelievable
• gullibility – noun; easily persuaded or deceived; easily influenced or tricked
• extraterrestrials – noun; (in science fiction) beings, esp. intelligent beings from outer space; intelligent life from outer space
• perceived – adjective; interpreted or looked on (someone or something) in a particular way; the way something appears to be (in this context)
• ultimately – adjective; last, final; in the end
• assassination – noun; a killing (esp. of a political or religious leader) for political or religious motives; a killing of a famous person
• scrutiny – noun; a close investigation or examination of details; a close monitoring of an agency (in this context)
• ethical – adjective; relating to morals, esp. as concerning human conduct; the morally correct way of doing something
• concoction – noun; made by combining elements not usually mixed together; unusual drink combinations (in this context)

Comprehension Questions

1. Who was the first person to set foot on the moon’s surface?
2. Who was the second person to set foot on the moon’s surface?
3. In what year was the first manned moon landing?
   (a) 1959, (b) 1969, (c) 1979, or (d) 1989
4. In what American state is Area 51?
   (a) Washington, (b) Oregon, (c) California, or (d) Nevada
5. In what year is it said that a UFO crashed in Roswell, New Mexico?
   (a) 1927, (b) 1937, (c) 1947, or (d) 1957
6. In what country is New Mexico?
   (a) Mexico, (b) the United States, (c) Canada, or (d) Brazil
7. Are there any conspiracy theories that have been proven to be true?
   Yes or No
8. In what professional sport was Tim Horton’s job?
   (a) hockey, (b) baseball, (c) football, or (d) tennis
9. Where do you get your favourite coffee?
   (a) Starbucks, (b) Tim Horton’s, (c) McDonald’s, or (d) I don’t drink coffee
10. How many NHL hockey teams are there currently in Canada?
    (a) 3, (b) 5, (c) 7, or (d) 9

Resources

• Wikipedia

And Now For Your Listening Enjoyment

The Dead Milkmen are an American punk rock band celebrated for their offbeat humour and satirical take on societal norms. Although this is not my kind of music, the song pokes fun at the paranoia prevalent in North American culture. It is a perfect example of conspiracy theories. You may not understand or even hear the lyrics when you listen to the song, but they are provided below. Here is “The Conspiracy Song” by The Dead Milkmen.

Lyrics

"The Conspiracy Song"
performed by The Dead Milkmen (1992)
written by The Dead Milkmen

Please let me tell you
They own our homes, they own our banks
We take out loans to buy them tanks
They own our children, they own our pets
The owned Elvis and Bernhard Goetz
They own our rugs and our flower pots
There ain't nothin' they haven't got
They own the papers and the TV's
The water works, record companies

Let me remind you
They own the talk shows
They make the rules
They own Geraldo and Donahue
They own the state, they own the church
They pick the winners on Star Search
They own the Christians, they own the Jews
They own the Moslems, Mormons, too
They put the holes in our socks
They put that snake in my mail box

From the halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli
We are all tools of the conspiracy
From the littlest baby to the biggest V.I.P.
We are all tools of the conspiracy

Run to the window, they're coming to get you
Hide in the basement, they're coming to get you
Flee to the rooftop, they're coming to get you
Don't go outside, no don't let them get you

Someone should tell you,
They own the CIA and the IRS
They tell us where to shop and how to dress
They own the workers, they own the boss
They know what's in the secret sauce
They own the drugs, they own the narcs
We all know they own Dick Clark
They own it all, they own everything
They write the songs that make the whole world sing