Rational People Buy Into Conspiracy Theories By Maggie Koerth-Baker

Conspiracy theories exist in the world all around us today, but some theories may not be totally true. Maggie Koerth-Baker speaks of many different well-known conspiracy theories in her essay, “Why Rational People Buy Into Conspiracy Theories,” including the September 11 attacks. On September 11, 2001, a group of Muslims hijacked a few planes and flew them into the Twin Towers in New York as well as the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., because they thought this would please their god. The event left America with much destruction and grief. However, over the years different people began to suggest that the event was an inside job and that the U.S. government helped arrange the awful massacre. These people are known as “truthers,” and a “poll taken

government was to blame. Even though the Muslims were assumed to have orchestrated the terrorist attack, the American people knew that the Bush administration wanted to go to war in the Middle East, which led to the assumption that the government and Bush himself had something to do with the tragic event (Norman). Society felt that in order to feel safe, someone or something else needed to take responsibility for the catastrophe. Many people blamed the American government for the attacks because it was “…a way of reacting to uncertainty and powerlessness (Koerth-Baker). Feeling helpless, the American people questioned the true events of the September 11 attacks. People wondered how a steel building could blow up from airplane gasoline alone. This question validated the theory that bombs were strategically placed throughout the building by the government. Others wondered how a plane hit the Pentagon but only left minor holes in the building (Norman). All these questions about 9/11 were answered for people by theories posted on the Internet. Articles on the internet spread doubts in the minds of the American people as to why the actual story proved false (Koerth-Baker). Blaming the U.S. government gave a cause for the American people to deal with this tragic event, but the cause also had

government was involved in the September 11 attacks, a number of effects took place in the lives of people. Many people decided to adapt to the idea that the American government was involved so blame could be placed on someone. This was a way for them to handle the tragic event and make sense out of what took place (Norman). Americans did not feel in control of the situation and although “…believing George W. Bush helped plan the September 11 attacks might make you feel in control, it doesn’t make you so” (Koerth-Baker). Other fearful citizens no longer trusted the government. Because they could not trust the government any longer, they began to question if the government had anything else they were hiding from them. As time went on, people also started to question their safety thinking that the government could possibly be planning more attacks (Stallworth). With this conspiracy theory floating around, American citizens continue to question the real story and wonder where the truth can be