pitenius

You're dead right with the promotion of "I want to believe" (with the implication that the topic is unbelievable, but seductive).

It's handled in the show, but the idea of "Lone Gunmen" in oxymoronic. Also, conspiritards are not the "Lone Gunmen" -- we're the victims of those shadowy forces, not their willing agents.

Conspirologist

Your second paragraph doesn't make sense. The Lone Gunmen is a clever name, it's how is handled that is wrong and misleading. Conspiratards means those who believe conspiracy doesn't exist, against logic and factual proofs, by claiming it's all coincidences based paranoia. What is your point?

pitenius

Meh, I'd call myself a conspiritard. The other construction would be conspirator, which I am not.

The original "lone gunman" was Oswald, who was an insider and a patsy. I don't think most conspiracy theorists fit that bill.

Atarian

X-Files started a huge movement in the '90s and the general population started to warm towards conspiracy theory in general, and distrust of the government reached an all time high.

Then 9/11 happened and they all fled and hid behind Mother's skirts again.

Tree_Snake

Wasn't the pilot for The Lone Gunmen about a government plot to blow up the world trade center?

Conspirologist

That's right. They are obviously fucking with the sheeple, who believe in supernatural coincidences.