Another Conspiracy Theory That Was Really a Spoiler Alert

 

Has anyone, or everyone, noticed that it’s the official policy of corporate media to label any information at odds with the narrative of the ruling party as a “conspiracy theory?” Case in point:

Trump Jr. also took some time Thursday and Friday to promote a widely spread theory about the reported hate crime attack against “Empire” actor and LGBTQ activist Jussie Smollett. Trump Jr. liked and retweeted posts by people who have suggested that the reported attack early Tuesday in Chicago could be a left-wing hoax, perpetrated by a Hollywood celebrity who has been outspoken in his opposition to Trump’s presidency.

I have some defenders of the corporate media claim that they were taken in because it was “so hard to believe a successful actor would do such a thing.” Because, apparently, it’s absolutely unheard of for actors to engage in stunts in order to get publicity.

Speaking of the corporate media, it’s fascinating that just last week, a story broke about how the Biden White House was reaching out to its media allies to put a more positive spin on the dreadful Biden economy. And wouldn’t you know, NBC’s Joe Scarborough and Jim Cramer were happy to oblige.

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  1. Vance Richards Inactive
    Vance Richards
    @VanceRichards

    That Trump Jr. guy is pretty thorough with his conspiracy theories. I mean he even got Smollett convicted.

    • #1
  2. DrewInWisconsin, Oaf Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Perhaps a better question is whether the people who promoted the Smollet hoax will ever apologize for helping spread it.

    Those people include a lot of members of Congress, the President, various media figures, all of whom spread the lies without question because it was a too-perfect narrative for them.

    Of course, you have to be really stupid — Joe-Biden-level stupid — to believe that Chicago was MAGA country.

    But . . .

    • #2
  3. Nohaaj Coolidge
    Nohaaj
    @Nohaaj

    Even Fox puts a positive spin on the highest inflation in 40 years with the following comment: 

    “Consumer prices surged at the fastest pace in nearly four decades in November as Americans paid more for practically everything from groceries to cars to gasoline, solidifying hot inflation as a key trait of the economic recovery.”

    A key trait of economic recovery?  You are instructed to feel good about your retirement funds becoming worthless.  It’s hot! 

    • #3
  4. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf (View Comment):

    Perhaps a better question is whether the people who promoted the Smollet hoax will ever apologize for helping spread it.

    Those people include a lot of members of Congress, the President, various media figures, all of whom spread the lies without question because it was a too-perfect narrative for them.

    Of course, you have to be really stupid — Joe-Biden-level stupid — to believe that Chicago was MAGA country.

    But . . .

    Swalwell is right.  Hate crimes just like this one are increasing.  One fake after another.

    • #4
  5. Nohaaj Coolidge
    Nohaaj
    @Nohaaj

    Judge Mental (View Comment):
    Swalwell is right.  Hate crimes just like this one are increasing.  One fake after another.

    If I hadn’t deleted my FB account over a year ago, I could’ve pointed to my post on the day this fake news hit, where I stated this seemed totally unbelievable and an obvious set-up hoax. You could’ve also seen the subsequent posts from “friends” condemning me for that observation.  So good to be out of the sewer previously known as FB. 

    • #5
  6. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    A fascinating observation, VTK! You don’t like the news, just call it a conspiracy theory!

    • #6
  7. Vince Guerra Inactive
    Vince Guerra
    @VinceGuerra

    Nohaaj (View Comment):

    Judge Mental (View Comment):
    Swalwell is right. Hate crimes just like this one are increasing. One fake after another.

    If I hadn’t deleted my FB account over a year ago, I could’ve pointed to my post on the day this fake news hit, where I stated this seemed totally unbelievable and an obvious set-up hoax. You could’ve also seen the subsequent posts from “friends” condemning me for that observation. So good to be out of the sewer previously known as FB.

    But without Facebook how will you possibly manage to have vapid, meaningless discussions with pseudo friends about twaddle, and show people what your evening meal looks like?

    • #7
  8. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    Vince Guerra (View Comment):

    Nohaaj (View Comment):

    Judge Mental (View Comment):
    Swalwell is right. Hate crimes just like this one are increasing. One fake after another.

    If I hadn’t deleted my FB account over a year ago, I could’ve pointed to my post on the day this fake news hit, where I stated this seemed totally unbelievable and an obvious set-up hoax. You could’ve also seen the subsequent posts from “friends” condemning me for that observation. So good to be out of the sewer previously known as FB.

    But without Facebook how will you possibly manage to have vapid, meaningless discussions with pseudo friends about twaddle, and show people what your evening meal looks like?

    We call it the PIT.

    • #8
  9. DrewInWisconsin, Oaf Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Vince Guerra (View Comment):

    But without Facebook how will you possibly manage to have vapid, meaningless discussions with pseudo friends about twaddle, and show people what your evening meal looks like?

    Aw now . . . I use it to keep in touch with family. I never post anything political (at least, to my own timeline) and avoid all subjects guaranteed to get people riled up.

    Those who force their political views into my timeline get blocked immediately. (For example, one old friend and neighbor who decided to use one of my lighthearted posts as a platform for COVID-shaming. Instantly blocked and disappeared. I got no use for that.)

    I like it for what I use it for. I can’t be responsible for how others use it.

    • #9
  10. Vince Guerra Inactive
    Vince Guerra
    @VinceGuerra

    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf (View Comment):

    Vince Guerra (View Comment):

    But without Facebook how will you possibly manage to have vapid, meaningless discussions with pseudo friends about twaddle, and show people what your evening meal looks like?

    Aw now . . . I use it to keep in touch with family. I never post anything political (at least, to my own timeline) and avoid all subjects guaranteed to get people riled up.

    Those who force their political views into my timeline get blocked immediately. (For example, one old friend and neighbor who decided to use one of my lighthearted posts as a platform for COVID-shaming. Instantly blocked and disappeared. I got no use for that.)

    I like it for what I use it for. I can’t be responsible for how others use it.

    I cancelled my Facebook accounts a few months back because it’s run by Communists and they don’t get to read my mail. Also, they hate America so there’s that. I haven’t felt so free in years and I keep in touch with family through email and text, which means that my sisters and I (both HUGE lefties) can have real conversations about things that matter, but only if we deem them necessary. Also I don’t have to see my mom (an easily duped Covid true-believer) posting eye-rolling nonsense that makes me sad.

    • #10
  11. DrewInWisconsin, Oaf Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Vince Guerra (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf (View Comment):

    Vince Guerra (View Comment):

    But without Facebook how will you possibly manage to have vapid, meaningless discussions with pseudo friends about twaddle, and show people what your evening meal looks like?

    Aw now . . . I use it to keep in touch with family. I never post anything political (at least, to my own timeline) and avoid all subjects guaranteed to get people riled up.

    Those who force their political views into my timeline get blocked immediately. (For example, one old friend and neighbor who decided to use one of my lighthearted posts as a platform for COVID-shaming. Instantly blocked and disappeared. I got no use for that.)

    I like it for what I use it for. I can’t be responsible for how others use it.

    I cancelled my Facebook accounts a few months back because it’s run by Communists and they don’t get to read my mail. Also, they hate America so there’s that. I haven’t felt so free in years and I keep in touch with family through email and text, which means that my sisters and I (both HUGE lefties) can have real conversations about things that matter, but only if we deem them necessary. Also I don’t have to see my mom (an easily duped Covid true-believer) posting eye-rolling nonsense that makes me sad.

    Well, I kind of have to have a Facebook account for work, because I post stuff to our church page with it. But so much of our family posts things to Facebook with the assumption that we’re all on it. And if we weren’t we’d miss things like announcements of babies or weddings or funerals. Which is, itself, a problem. But there it is.

    • #11
  12. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    I knew Juicey Smulliet’s story was completely nullified when Dave Chappelle roasted him: The LGBT community said that the Black community was not being supportive of Juicy.  But we were, with our silence!

    • #12
  13. Victor Tango Kilo Member
    Victor Tango Kilo
    @VtheK

    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf (View Comment):
    But so much of our family posts things to Facebook with the assumption that we’re all on it. And if we weren’t we’d miss things like announcements of babies or weddings or funerals.

    That’s the only reason I stayed on it as long as I did before quitting over a year ago.  Maybe there’s an entrepreneurial opportunity there. Fambook. Like Facebook, but limited to within the family. 

    • #13
  14. Full Size Tabby Member
    Full Size Tabby
    @FullSizeTabby

    The tendency of people of the left to project their own desires and thinking onto others likely contributes to media falling for so much fakery. “We would commit a racial hate crime in order to prove a political point, so we assume Trump supporters would do so.” “If we had a gun we would absolutely use it to kill those idiots who disagree with us, so we assume all those people who actually have guns have no greater desire than to kill as many people as possible.” 

    The people of the left do not see their own position as a “conspiracy theory” because it’s just the natural “rational” way to think about the situation. It’s how everyone (they know) thinks. No formal conspiracy needed. But to go against that natural “rational” thinking that everybody (they know) thinks, a “conspiracy” must be involved. 

    • #14
  15. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Vince Guerra (View Comment):

    Nohaaj (View Comment):

    Judge Mental (View Comment):
    Swalwell is right. Hate crimes just like this one are increasing. One fake after another.

    If I hadn’t deleted my FB account over a year ago, I could’ve pointed to my post on the day this fake news hit, where I stated this seemed totally unbelievable and an obvious set-up hoax. You could’ve also seen the subsequent posts from “friends” condemning me for that observation. So good to be out of the sewer previously known as FB.

    But without Facebook how will you possibly manage to have vapid, meaningless discussions with pseudo friends about twaddle, and show people what your evening meal looks like?

    We call it the PIT.

    You haven’t lived until you’ve seen a picture of a KW evening meal. 

    • #15
  16. Vince Guerra Inactive
    Vince Guerra
    @VinceGuerra

    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf (View Comment):
    Well, I kind of have to have a Facebook account for work, because I post stuff to our church page with it. But so much of our family posts things to Facebook with the assumption that we’re all on it. And if we weren’t we’d miss things like announcements of babies or weddings or funerals. Which is, itself, a problem. But there it is.

    My church does Facebook notifications too but ever since one of the pastors realized he needs to text me or find me in the lobby to tell me what the potluck theme of the week is he’s started questioning why the church uses Facebook at all. It’s led to some good conversations about genuine community. Likewise, our youth pastor set up a website to post events and communications so that other families who don’t social media aren’t left in the lurch.

    Family? Meh, they can text me. 

    • #16
  17. DrewInWisconsin, Oaf Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oaf
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Vince Guerra (View Comment):
    My church does Facebook notifications too but ever since one of the pastors realized he needs to text me or find me in the lobby to tell me what the potluck theme of the week is he’s started questioning why the church uses Facebook at all. It’s led to some good conversations about genuine community. Likewise, our youth pastor set up a website to post events and communications so that other families who don’t social media aren’t left in the lurch.

    Oh, believe me, we’ve had those kinds of conversations. Like, “We really don’t want people spending so much time on their devices, but we have to somehow connect with the people who spend all their time on their devices.” There’s a terrible tension there. I’m on the “Throw your smart phones in the trash!” side of things.

    • #17
  18. GlennAmurgis Coolidge
    GlennAmurgis
    @GlennAmurgis

    How many times have we heard from sanctimonious talking heads about the “big lie” (e.g. Jake Tapper…) How many big lies have been pushed by corporate media for the last 20 years

    • #18
  19. Ansonia Member
    Ansonia
    @Ansonia

    They were implying, if not outright saying,  that anyone who publicly expressed skepticism about Smollett’s story was doing so out of racist malevolence. Now they’re saying that anyone who expresses skepticism about the belief in the story that they professed at the time, and anyone who calls attention to the large number of hoax hate crimes we’ve had in the past 5 years, is claiming there’s  a conspiracy.

    You have to admire the way the left attacks to silence opponents.

    • #19
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