016 - Conspiracy Theories - Steven Novella and Jesse Walker by You Are Not So Smart published on 2014-01-16T23:32:36Z Who is pulling the strings? Who is behind the coverup? Who holds the real power, and what do they want? How deep does the conspiracy to control your mind go? In this episode we discuss the history, social impact, neuroscience, and psychology behind conspiracy theories and paranoid thinking. Our guests are Steven Novella and Jesse Walker. Steven is a leader in the skeptic community, host of The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe, and a neurologist at Yale University's School of Medicine. Walker is the books editor for Reason Magazine and author of the new book, The United States of Paranoia, a Conspiracy Theory. Listen as they explain why we love conspiracy theories, how they flourish, how they harm, and what they say about a culture. Genre Conspiracy Theories Comment by Seth Rosen 2 The fun thing about having friends into conspiracy theories is they'll watch some fictional TV like the X-Files and say to me, "See even the X-Files knows the truth." I just laugh and shake my head. I've been plaugued by these ideas, and it helps to understand the difference between the grand and mundane. There seems to be a human desire for closure, a sense that if I don't have the answer I'm somehow stupid or an outsider. It's taken me some maturing to get over the idea that not knowing something is ok. It's far more important for me to know what I assert is acurate than asserting what is popular. There was an X-Files episode in the mid '90's that asserted the plastic strip in US bills was a tracking device. This gained traction with Rush Limbaugh fans because he said the same thing on his radio show. 2016-02-09T18:06:35Z Comment by Nada TekneKat my least podcast so far , two scientists confirming their biases and arguing that they are absolutely correct. Booooring. 2015-03-31T01:06:15Z Comment by Esco Marian I find this podcasts great and inspiring. What do you think about this? Are they all crazy or biased? http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/03/18/new_ad_campaign_in_ttc_stations_presents_alternative_911_theory.html 2014-03-20T00:22:47Z Comment by MikeG_Beats haha 2014-03-04T05:41:05Z Comment by NeuOrigins self inception 2014-02-01T16:52:55Z Comment by NeuOrigins very well said 2014-02-01T16:52:45Z Comment by cpnfjj martin luther king? 2014-01-23T17:35:23Z Comment by David Michael Doré what a great show. and topic 2014-01-23T04:39:10Z