Aren't conspiracy nonsense in Astronomy & Space just rants?

Some are rants - you can usually identify these by the additional details becoming an ongoing conversation.

But some are legitimate questions. We don't get to dictate what information is deemed to be common knowledge.

If we want intelligent and interesting questions, we have to apply our intelligence on the answer side, which means weeding through the nonsense on a case-by-case basis.

There are many conspiracy theories that are rants and some that aren't. The problem is that since at least the 1960's there has been in place a formula for neutralising anyone who speaks against anything that the establishment does that may be iffy. Example is the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmment in the 1960's. It was opposed by organised groups who worked by dirty tricks and misinformation. There had been a movement of young people in that time period who were labeled "hippies" and the CND movement who were actually just mainly concerned people especially mothers, became synonomous with "dirty hippies" . The actual "hippies" never called themselves by that name and as a movement didn't exist. The label was coined to create aversion, it was just the emerging scene of fashion, art, and music among young people, who got together and spoke against war - particularly in Vietnam.

Many other catch phrases have been employed to use social identity psychology to turn public opinion away from things that are preferred to be kept from public awareness. The words "conspiracy theory" are a label used to negate anything that any group of people object to or want to bring attention to that would be uncomfortable for the established "norm"..

On the other hand there are always opportunists who will take advantage of any public fear and they promote false ideas and use this to make money. It's up to the individual to do their own homework about what is true and what isn't, and to avoid being told what to believe by any kind of media.

In response to the comment above about NASA, they are under obligation to promote only the "truths" that are useful to their sponsers. To find neutral "scientists" (another label) you do have to look quite deeply. In December 15th to 16th, of 2011, a sundiving comet called Lovejoy - it's size was 2x football fields - survived for over an hour inside the corona of the Sun. NASA told us the comet was made of ice and grit, they also tell us the Sun is millions of degrees hot! Its quite easy to see what happens to ice in an oven at only 200 degrees centigrade. The original descriptions are still available and the comments by NASA afterwards, where "scientists" were puzzled, surprised and said it may have been bigger than first thought. For a long time, many people who are not of the main stream, have said that the Universe we live in is electric, the Sun is not hot, and the heat we feel from it is caused by our magnetic shield. This is classed as "conspiracy" theory about NASA, but honestly, it's fairly obvious and logical that as the 15th and 16th December 2011 were the Only two days of the year that there was no Activity of the Sun, that it isn't temperature that melts comets but the solar activity.

A rant is a long "monologue" by someone who is upset about something.

Most conspiracy nonsense are close to being rants when they are obviously written with a tone that the poster "knows the truth" while we, having sold our souls to the establishments, are trying to prevent them from convincing others.

However, some of them are not.

The Lunar Landing Hoax hoax (yes, since the Hoax is a hoax, the word must be used twice) serves the "purpose" of eating away at people's confidence in science, in government and in the institutions that represent either one (NASA, for example, happens to be both).

There are many people (mostly inside the USA) who profit a lot from keeping people ignorant or even feeding them false information. For example, there are a bunch of newly-created fake religions who are tired of seeing their "beliefs" destroyed by very basic junior high-school science. That is why, for example, they are trying desperately to have some types of science banned in schools or, at least, "brought back down" to the same level as the teachings of their "beliefs".

These people don't care about proving that the Lunar Landing was a hoax. All they want is to have enough people convinced that "something is just not right" so that their confidence in science (and scientists) will be shaken.

It is a bit like Donald Trump going on about Obama's birth certificate, even though Trump himself already knows that the birth certificate is legit. Trump does not care about the truth. He only cares that if he keeps repeating the lie long enough, some people will actually believe him, and that will shake their confidence in the President.

And this trick is extensively used in America for other issues as well, including economics (how else can you convince people about the "trickle down economy" that allows the rich from escaping paying taxes) and environmental issues.

Simply having these types of questions removed might only serve to convince some people that "something is just not right". Instead, I prefer to provide the info showing that the conspiracy theory is ludicrous. If the poster is really a troll (or a convinced believer) it does not matter -- their minds are usually not affected by facts. You could take one of these to the Moon and rub their faceplates into Neil's footsteps, and they would continue to deny... because for them, life is all about denial.

However, the answers we provide can keep others from actually being caught by the troll.

Plus, some of the people who do ask, are asking out of a genuine desire to find out the truth. If we cut them off, then we will really have convinced them that there is something to hide.

No, I disagree. I think of this forum as a place of learning. More than once I have been googling a question and it led me here to answer my question. Most of the questions in this forum fall into three categories.

1-Kids trying to do their homework.

2-Serious and thought provoking questions that usually don't have answers, but give rise to more deeper questions.

3-The uninformed, who have been hearing all kinds of 'garbage' their whole lives and came here to get the low down.

I have answered the same question umpteen times even though it was asked differently. I give the same answer and the person asking learns something. The best people to answer questions in this forum are teachers who love to help people learn. Just like you are doing right now. I may have not told you anything you don't know, but I have you thinking about the uninformed who ask the questions here and how we, even you, are helping them. Reporting them doesn't help anybody but yourself.

Personal opinion is, it's an adolescent cry for attention. When I was in high school, a guy wearing his jock strap as a hat achieved the same end, albeit a bit more physically soiled. Also believe some are merely attempting to steer web traffic to a particular site.

I think they should possibly be ignored. I tend just to post a link to clavius.org when i see one. If they're reported, the asker would probably interpret that as part of the conspiracy, and the important thing is that they need to stop believing it. It's a bit like the astronomical version of creationism.

I have to say this: i understand and share your annoyance but please, don't report them because i think that will feed their paranoia. These people probably have mental health problems some of the time and they need help. Reporting them is not help in my opinion.

John are you sure YOU have not been brain washed by NASA over the moon landings. surly I am entitled to say so if I think NASA are telling lies

Ps I am not a troll and this is an open forum for people with an opinion not just something you have read in a book or seen on tv.

I agree. It's a misuse of the Y!A platform. Ignorance is not a problem - I'm here because I love sharing my knowledge. However, I am sick of being screamed at and abused by trolls and people who refuse to accept there are things they don't know or understand.

I report blatant trolls, but ignore any I'm not sure of unless I fancy getting the 2 points for repeating the same information again.

Of course they are just rants.

If we all start reporting them, then they will clear up rather quickly. Many questions are removed within minutes of posting.

A lot of the UFO, astrology, and lunar landing questions are simply attempts to convince others of their iodiotic ideas.