Over-elaborating a conspiracy produces an undefeatable adversary

Evidence

Conspiracists fi nd themselves in much the same dilemma as the apocalyptic authors. The logic of their narrative carries them to the edge of despair even as they yearn for a millennial outcome. Their problem is exacerbated by the fact that they often become so intent on elaborating descriptions of the conspiracy that they end up with an adversary who cannot be defeated. — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 1070

Categorization

• XREF: Ties to the internal-logic dilemma Hofstadter diagnosed in the paranoid style. — connects to: Conspiracy theories evolve toward complex multi-organization superconspiracies — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic…, 349; Conspiracy theories become unfalsifiable by dismissing skeptic evidence as planted; Conspiracy symbols succeed by combining concrete specificity with vagueness (+10 more)