I don't feel "odd" about 16th December - but I do worry about anyone who is completely wrapped up conspiracy theories like this.
The Guardian newspaper (quality national daily paper in the UK) recently published a short article on Conspiracy Theories to co-incide with the 50th anniversary of JFKs assassination:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/nov/22/john-kennedy-conspiracy-theories
I know everyone always wants short answers but this subject is not the kind that lends itself to one word replies - and I am sure that no one wants to "jump to conclusions" and shout "Conspiracy!" or "Bah Humbug!"
In real life, information about major events is often complex and includes errors and anomalies, meaning that such contradictory interpretations are all too easy.
The last two paragraphs of that article are the most telling I think.
It's right that we question official versions up to a point - so that world leaders can be held to account for their actions - IF NECESSARY.
But doing that is not the same as questioning and disbelieving every single official version. Believing that all official information is untrue can be dangerous:
- unfounded beliefs in the alleged dangers of treatment for Aids has cost hundreds of thousands of lives
- terrorist groups use conspiracy theories to recruit and motivate their followers
- belief in conspiracy theories is associated with disengagement from democratic processes making believers less likely to vote, for example.
So I am left wondering what will happen on 16th that will enable those who believe in conspiracies to "prove" the theories? It worries me that those same people believe in the theory so strongly that they will just take action themselves and do something so that they can point the finger and say, "See, we were right!" -
self-fulfilling prophesies ... in all, I think that it is not a healthy mindset - but that is just my opinion - based on the different pieces of information - both for and against the idea, that I have read through - and some of the published scientific psychological articles.
Some people conspire because they think other people would conspire too. The reverse is also true.
Based on my own reading of information I have simply come to a different conclusion that dismisses conspiracy theories
