Conspiracy theories are a lot like religions, in that they involve starting from the conclusion and then cherry-picking data that can be laid out in a neat path of stones leading to the answer you've already decided on. Facts that don't fit on the path, which are numerous, are dismissed or chalked up to an even bigger conspiracy that is planting fake data with remarkable efficiency. And that, right there, should be a clarion call for all conspiracy theorists to wake up and take a look around: too many of these theories revolve around stunning government competency. One has only to look to the government's recent spectacularly bungled attempt to launch a damned website, and then consider these notions of a supremely slick, rigorous, highly regimented Information Police that masterfully controls all aspects of society, and try not to giggle.