How do I respond to 9/11 Conspiracy theorist friend?
Honestly, you can’t. You can refute their arguments with actual hard evidence and peer-reviewed science all you like: the minute you come up with an explanation of anything they can’t refute without turning to the stock phrases and “evidence” of the “truth movement”, you will either be accused of a) being a puppet for the government or b) a sheep, blind to the truth. The BBC made an edition of their series The Conspiracy Files focusing on this issue which very calmly answered the claims of the “truthers”, who did not come well out of it. It’s floating around the internet in various forms. The programme-makers were accused of being part of the conspiracy, of course. There’s a good article on the programme pages about the psychology of conspiracy theories. There’s a few psychologists investigating the phenomenon, but they’re gen
There was a guy in my squadron who believed the moon landings were faked. I’m the one who was always asking about WTC building #7. Questioning your government does not make you any less of a soldier – it makes you a better one. Having the ability to recognize and understand the ‘big picture’ of what’s going on around you leads to better decision-making, and in the long run makes you a better leader. Your friend has a quirk. I think if he put any serious soul-searching into his beliefs he may change his stance on military service, but it sounds like he just likes the drama of conspiracy theories. Make fun of him and leave it at that. My squadron-mate who is convinced the moon-landings were faked is still very much my friend, and he still manages to serve his country quite honorably.
