- Joined
- Jul 13, 2009
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I think some conspiracy theories are bred out of mistrust. Like who shot JFK, the fake moon landing or 9-11 was an inside job. Mistrust though, doesn't have anything to do with conspiring to such things as the college admission policies or even on taxes and the like. That could fall under greed or just trying to get ahead. Then again it may be due to the distrust in the system. The desire to get ahead can also lead to cheating or worst.
Myself, I tend to believe it is primarily a mental disorder. And individuals with paranoia and psychosis have been shown to be much more likely to believe in conspiracy theories than most others.
Yes, there are indeed conspiracies. Drug cartels are conspiracies, and most are driven simply by greed and abusing or avoiding the system to get what they want. The one about college admission is a classic example, people trying to avoid the system to gain something they want. Be it wealth, access to something illegal, or to get their kids into a better school.
But as is the case of many other conspiracy theories, this did not last. In fact, it seems to date back about 10 years, where an individual in 2011 involved in a stock fraud conspiracy had been caught, and offered information on a college admissions one in exchange for leniency. And that is what turned into the College Admissions Scandal.
But like the vast majority of others, it was hardly a secret. The 33 involved had been under investigation since 2011, as well as those collecting the bribes. But overall, this is simply a case of bribery and corruption more than an actual "conspiracy" in the conventional sense. And these kinds of things have stretched back for decades (even including one former President who got a military deferment through similar manipulation).
Did people "conspire"? Undoubtedly. But for personal gain, not some kind of nefarious purpose that most such conspiracy theories tend to be going after. Manipulating the population by introducing chemicals, faking world changing events, assassination of prominent individuals, or even manipulating the past itself.