News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Statement by FTC Regarding Reported Concerns about Facebook Privacy Practices. Parent comment

Re:Statement by FTC Regarding Reported Concerns about Facebo... by losteric on Monday March 26, 2018 @05:20PM (#16682713)
America has three types of "conspiracy theorists"

* Logically consistent in niche fields that could be verified if more information was public (Room 641A); these should really just be called "theories"

* Harmless garbage ideas perpetuated by dumb people (flat earthers); these theories deserve open ridicule

* Propaganda created by intelligent people with the intent of causing harm (Uranium One); these should simply be illegal as libel

Those are important distinctions. Some conspiracy theories are straight up garbage, they do not deserve any modicum of respect... legitimate theories are in the minority.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Statement by FTC Regarding Reported Concerns about Facebo... by CaptainZapp on Tuesday March 27, 2018 @03:00AM (#16685970) 

  * Harmless garbage ideas perpetuated by dumb people (flat earthers); these theories deserve open ridicule
Antivaxxers certainly fall into what you call "garbage ideas perpetuated by dumb people"

Those theories are anything but harmless, actually kill people and sabotage decades of medicinal breakthroughts, which saved millions of lifes.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Statement by FTC Regarding Reported Concerns about Facebo... by losteric on Tuesday March 27, 2018 @03:15PM (#16691831)
True.... though I bucket that under my last grouping, because I think there's a conspiracy attacking the legitimacy and experience of scientists. If the public mistrusts doctors and vaccines, they're more likely to distrust climate change and anti-refined-sugar research.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Statement by FTC Regarding Reported Concerns about Facebo... by em3rgent0rdr on Tuesday March 27, 2018 @05:45AM (#16686776)
Yes, they are important distinctions. But the problem is how to not mistake one for the others?
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Statement by FTC Regarding Reported Concerns about Facebo... by losteric on Tuesday March 27, 2018 @03:13PM (#16691813)
Think?
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Statement by FTC Regarding Reported Concerns about Facebo... by prolikewhoa on Monday March 26, 2018 @05:29PM (#16682799)
Can you elaborate on Uranium One being 'libel'? As far as I know from reading the Wiki, this went to a Congressional Investigation.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Statement by FTC Regarding Reported Concerns about Facebo... by losteric on Monday March 26, 2018 @10:51PM (#16684789)
Libel: a written or oral defamatory statement or representation that conveys an unjustly unfavorable impression

The "Uranium One conspiracy theory" was a libelous attack on a political candidate. That attack is a prime example of legitimate conspiracies.

[ Parent | on HN ]