Browsing today's newspapers here in Scotland it would seem that there is an anti-Scottish feeling pervading the whole of the USA after the compassionate release of the Pan-Am bomber last week. Question1: Am I right in thinking that this is the case, or is it just right wing neo-con nonsense eminating from the Fox News stable? Question2: If this anti-Scottish feeling does exist, how best can I explain that we the UK/US public have been sold a lie by our Governments and that this guy was merely a patsy? [more inside]
posted by cameronfromedinburgh on Aug 26, 2009 - 60 answers

Stupid question filter : "There is no law that requires U.S. citizens to pay income tax" Is this true? Can anyone site the Law? [more inside]
posted by nola on Apr 27, 2009 - 33 answers

Please suggest books and films in which the antagonists are consistently clever, creating complex and elegant (evil?) plots-within-plots to befuddle the protagonist and audience! [more inside]
posted by metaBugs on Apr 6, 2009 - 28 answers

Why so few varieties of ketchup? [more inside]
posted by ryanrs on Mar 31, 2009 - 47 answers

Am I imagining things or has there lately been a surge of right-wing opinion dominating the forums of popular sites like digg and reddit? [more inside]
posted by drpynchon on Mar 24, 2009 - 23 answers

Is there any factual basis to the idea that FDR knew the Japanese were going to attack Pearl Harbor, and allowed it to happen to get the U.S. citizenry behind the war? [more inside]
posted by tzikeh on Mar 14, 2009 - 42 answers

Looking for the title/artist of a conspiratorial hip-hop track from the mid-90s. [more inside]
posted by FatherDagon on Feb 2, 2009 - 7 answers

A while ago I read about an artist, then recently deceased, whose works consisted of the names of entities in popular conspiracy theories connected with graceful arcs (according as they were held to be in cahoots). Maybe it wasn't only conspiracy theories but also more legitimate political connections. I can't find his name or examples of his work online, and I would like to. Only you can help!
posted by kenko on Dec 27, 2008 - 4 answers

Zeitgeist: the movies versus the movement... objective thoughts? [more inside]
posted by WhaleRider on Dec 4, 2008 - 13 answers

I'm looking for accessible, credible writing about global banking conspiracies that doesn't lapse into anti-semitism or tinfoil haberdashery. Does such a book exist?
posted by mecran01 on Oct 29, 2008 - 13 answers

Did a journalist investigating the 2000 election in Florida die under suspicious circumstances? If you remember this story even slightly, help me find it. [more inside]
posted by damehex on Aug 23, 2008 - 9 answers

We have decided to host a conspiracy-themed party in order to celebrate our new home, and we need more drink/food/activity/decoration ideas! [more inside]
posted by S_Alzis on Jun 9, 2008 - 32 answers

What happens in 50 Perry Street in the West Village of NYC? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 27, 2008 - 7 answers

Dear Hive-Mind, Want to help me brainstorm up a list of strange (pre-existing) theories? [more inside]
posted by Jezztek on May 12, 2008 - 41 answers

A friend of mine, who is highly educated (married with two kids, accomplished medical researcher), is absolutely convinced that September 11 was a huge conspiracy initiated by members of the US government. She has a detailed complex explanation for everything. She takes it deeply personally when I scoff at her, telling me I should read the evidence before forming an opinion. I see her as gullible and she sees me as ignorant. Is there an analysis available comprehensively somewhere addressing the conspiracy theorists to the satisfaction of the leading academics in the relevant areas (material engineering, aerodynamics, media relations, architecture etc)? How do you deal with people like this? [more inside]
posted by vizsla on Mar 19, 2008 - 62 answers

Without sounding conspiratorial... I'm wondering how much arm twisting it took by political/economic elites to get the Fed to adopt its current Liquidity Plan. Will Carlyle Capital directly benefit from it? A couple of days ago I read this story about their recent notice of default on a margin call. [more inside]
posted by purenitrous on Mar 12, 2008 - 8 answers

Does anyone know of any books or articles that look at conspiracy theories from an anthropology of religion or psychology point of view? [more inside]
posted by Sangermaine on Nov 22, 2007 - 6 answers

Best 9-11 'Conspiracy Theory' book for the skeptic? [more inside]
posted by jjsonp on Aug 14, 2007 - 21 answers

What are these hoofprints in Turkmenistan? [more inside]
posted by fish tick on Jun 14, 2007 - 7 answers

[ObviousFilter?] Why haven't potato chip bags adopted Ziploc-type seals? Chip-clips are just "ok," and yet I see every other fresh product adopting the Ziploc-type seals. Is this a conspiracy to make my chips go stale (aka inedible) sooner?
posted by tdabbott on May 8, 2007 - 15 answers

i think there is a term--rhetorical or otherwise-- for the way "conspiracy theory" can serve to cloud the environment of ideas thereby rendering politically unpopular notions inert regardless of their veracity. anybody know what im struggling to effin describe and label?
posted by oigocosas on Apr 18, 2007 - 27 answers

How do I respond to a friends who's advocating 9/11 conspiracy theories (specifically the " Loose Change" video). [more inside]
posted by aggienfo on Apr 14, 2007 - 39 answers

Know any books that treat conspiracy theory as mythology? [more inside]
posted by Bookhouse on Jan 6, 2007 - 21 answers

What's the significance of having a front license plate with a black background and a single, wide, horizontal blue stripe? [more inside]
posted by santry on Nov 6, 2006 - 7 answers

Conspiracy filter: Has anyone ever experienced this strange, suspicious phenomenon on TV before? [more inside]
posted by wsg on Jul 6, 2006 - 19 answers

ShadyDealingsFilter: Since I've read some how-to's on cyberstalking and murder and such here lately, I have a hypothetical question about criminal fund-raising... [more inside]
posted by chudmonkey on Mar 26, 2006 - 19 answers

Help me deprogram a friend. [more inside]
posted by kyrademon on Mar 24, 2006 - 39 answers

Is there any truth to the 9/11 conspiracy theories? [more inside]
posted by petsounds on Mar 18, 2006 - 80 answers

Why should I believe Armstrong? [more inside]
posted by Manjusri on Aug 30, 2005 - 24 answers

This is the third in a series of ranting Beatles conspiracy emails I've recieved, roughly one every six months for the past year and a half. Where are they coming from? [more inside]
posted by nonemoreblack on Aug 4, 2005 - 13 answers

JewishHistoryFilter : Can anybody recommend a good book that dissects the common Jewish conspiracy theories and discusses their history? Extra points for readability. [more inside]
posted by afroblanca on Jul 16, 2005 - 21 answers

After finding some good answers on a previous "scary movie" question, I'd like some recommendations for great Conspiracy movies. [more inside]
posted by gsb on Jun 25, 2005 - 36 answers

What is the origin of the often-used phrase "conspiracy theory?"
posted by sonofsamiam on Mar 16, 2005 - 14 answers

as an 80s child, i grew up with the whole tin-foil hat stereotype (or should i say, at this point, archetype?) i've never been able, however, to find the origin of the puzzle. any clues?
posted by yonation on Feb 22, 2005 - 17 answers

I remember reading a while back, possibly in Cosmic Trigger or some other such book, that the pyramid shape is naturally conducive to the sharpening of blades. According to this source, if you put dull blades inside a pyramid-shaped object, they will naturally sharpen over time. I don't think it matters what material the pyramid is made from, or how big it is. Anyway, as implausible as this idea seems, I know that I've heard it at least a few times, and cannot find anything about it on Snopes. So my question to the MeFi Mythbusters- real or urban legend?
posted by afroblanca on Feb 20, 2005 - 24 answers

Not to cry "conspiracy" or nothin', but is there a reason that Google image searches for Fahrenheit 9/11 and Team America yield almost no relevant results? I thought maybe it was just a copyright thing, but there seems to be no problem with other movie titles. [more inside]
posted by Robot Johnny on Jan 2, 2005 - 12 answers