Insider-status claims outweigh lack of evidence for believers.

Evidence

Although Lear did not employ the term New World Order, he managed to bring together a number of elements compatible with New World Order theory, including mind-control implants, a government within the government, and the kidnapping of hundreds of thousands of Americans. Lear’s claim of having been a CIA pilot only added to the sense that this was an insider’s view, notwithstanding the paucity of evidence. — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 451

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Disconfirming evidence rarely topples deeply held doctrines and worldviews. — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 94; Circumstantial evidence must support a reasonable inference rather than mere speculation — Ruggero J. Aldisert, Agatha D. Aldisert, Logic for Lawyers- A Guide to Clear…, 222; Even disconfirmation evidence often fails to break a person’s confirmation bias — Lee McIntyre, Post-Truth, 94 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Circumstantial evidence must support a reasonable inference rather than mere speculation #contradicts (0.80) — Ruggero J. Aldisert, Agatha D. Aldisert, Logic for Lawyers- A Guide to Clear…, 222
• The more sweeping a conspiracy theory’s claims, the less relevant evidence becomes. #expands (0.80) — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 93
• When evidence is absent, reputation claims are settled only by stronger reputation claims #corroborates (0.78)
• Disconfirming evidence rarely topples deeply held doctrines and worldviews. #complicates (0.75) — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 94
• Even disconfirmation evidence often fails to break a person’s confirmation bias #corroborates (0.72) — Lee McIntyre, Post-Truth, 94