Because the internet is vast, information is readily available at our fingertips, thus more and more conspiracy theories seem to have surfaced and spread over the last couple of decades. Today we use "conspiracy theory" in a loose, broad sense, basically defining it as a theory pertaining to some underlying/sketchy plan/explanation for some phenomenon. Conspiracy theories and urban legends are my favorite subjects to delve into– aside from true crime cases. All I have to say is thank God for Wikipedia. Without this barely-credible source that we all know and love, I wouldn't be filled to the brim with so much completely useless information. I'm also a fan of horror short stories, mainly Creepypastas– all of which fuel my paranoia. Because I love spending hours reading about conspiracy theories and urban legends, I've compiled a list of some of my all-time favorite. Please note, these are conspiracy theories, nothing more.
1. Stanley Kubrick Moon Landing Conspiracy
There are a ton of conspiracy theories about the moon, like it being hollow, as well as the moon landings, such as it never happening. My personal favorite is the theory which suspects Stanley Kubrick, director of films "2001: A Space Odyssey," "The Shining," and more critically acclaimed pieces, of assisting in the faking of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing. This theory is explained in "Room 237," a documentary which dissects Kubrick's "The Shining." The documentary is hilarious if watched rationally, but intense if you let yourself indulge in the conspiracies presented. This faked moon landing theory sounds far-fetched, but not necessarily if you're someone who is skeptical of the legitimacy of the moon landings.
2. FEMA Camps
I honestly don't even know where to start with this mess of a conspiracy theory. There are so many details intertwined, so forgive me if this sounds totally bizarre. In simplest terms, the FEMA camp conspiracy is that the government has designated certain public buildings, such as Walmart, as the site of future human concentration camps (flashback to the Holocaust) for when a huge disaster strikes. FEMA is the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the organization that prepares and acts when a national disaster occurs. The conspiracy is that the government is using FEMA as an excuse to eventually imprison citizens via martial law, which is horrifying in itself. I urge you to research this theory for your own sake, just in case.
3. Stull Cemetery
I first heard of Stull Cemetery when reading an article about the alleged "7 gates to hell." One version of the legend is that a crumbled concrete staircase in the cemetery in Stull, Kansas is, in fact, one of the earthly gates to hell. According to one website, "legends asserted that the cemetery was one of the two places on earth where the devil appears in person two times each year ." Of course, this is nothing more than an urban legend, but still, it's fun to research and read people's accounts of their experiences in Stull Cemetery. There's something about cemeteries, perhaps the buried corpses, that is so interesting curiosity prevails over fear.
4. Chemtrails
Ah, chemtrails. They're the criss-cross lines in the sky seemingly left behind by an aircraft of some kind. The lines are referred to as chemtrails, short for chemical trails because of the theory that the government is releasing chemicals into our atmosphere. There are many supposed reasons behind chemtrails, one of which is that the government uses the chemicals to achieve mind control over us. Is this true? Eh. I'm not sure, but it makes you think. Some conspiracists make compelling arguments based mainly on the fact that some planes leave trails while others don't. Also because no one is actually certain about why there are always lines in the sky.5. JonBenét Ramsey Murder Conspiracy
December 25, 2016, marked the 20th anniversary of 6-year-old JonBenét Ramsey's murder. The case is so very tragic, and even after 20 years, justice for JonBenét has not been served because the case has yet to be solved. The circumstances of the night of her murder are peculiar, being that many details were either overlooked or purposefully avoided by professionals working the scene. I've read many articles, watched many documentaries, and listened to many podcasts regarding this case. There are tons, literally tons, of theories as to who exactly killed JonBenét as well as the motive for the murder. The theory I tend to side with is that JonBenét's father, John Ramsey, killed her, whether intentionally or not, after years of sexual abuse, forcing his son and wife to aid him in fabricating a lie to cover up the murder. John Ramsey destroyed crucial evidence by picking up his daughter's body after the police told the family to "help search for evidence." This whole case is so fishy, but John definitely takes the cake for completely screwing up the most crucial evidence– JonBenét's body. In a perfect world, the murder of an innocent child wouldn't go unsolved and unjustified, but that's sadly not the case. As much as I find this case interesting, I am overcome with sadness for the loss of an innocent and beautiful life.6. Black-eyed Children
If you're looking for a spooky urban legend to make you not want to open the door when someone knocks, here it is. I first learned about black-eyed children from a Creepypasta, but after researching further, I've found many interesting accounts and testimonies pertaining to the legend. As the legend goes, anyone who encounters a black-eyed child, usually by answering the door when one knocks, are never seen again. Black-eyed children are exactly what you think they are– children with soulless black eyes. This urban legend doesn't get much attention, but the stories linked to it will definitely creep you the heck out.