Conspiracy theorist targets Sandy Hook family

[TomCADem]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Rhiannon12866 (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Tampa Bay Times

Jillian Soto remembers the day she stumbled across a website that showed photos of her at her sister's funeral — and was horrified to read accusations that she had faked grief as part of an elaborate government hoax.

Only a month earlier, Victoria Soto, 27, had been shot down while sheltering her first-grade students at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The Dec. 14 massacre in Newtown, Conn., left 20 children and seven adults dead.

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Conspiracy theorists have thrived on the Internet, producing hundreds of such websites that challenge official reports and claim nefarious plots behind emotionally charged events — despite evidence to the contrary. Some are wildly speculative, casting doubt on whether man really took steps on the moon.

Others, like the website Soto discovered, which espouses antigovernment and anti-Semitic opinions, are viewed by some watchdog groups as malicious hate speech.


Read more: http://www.tampabay.com/news/nation/conspiracy-theorist-targets-sandy-hook-family/2123880

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Interesting news story that actually tracks down one of these conspiracy theorists and finds, perhaps to no one's surprise, that he is a right wing, anti-semetic, and tax dodge.

[PennsylvaniaMatt]

1. Of all of the conspiracy theories, the Sandy Hook ones are the most disgusting

It is repulsive to not only think that people will propagate such false information about the tragic deaths of 20 children, but also that other people believe them. I'm 18 years old, and every time I see members of my generation believing such ridiculous theories, it worries me about the future of society.

[davidthegnome]

3. Some will do anything...

absolutely anything at all, to further their political agenda. In some cases, it means outright lying - and some people are ignorant enough, suspicious enough, or simply stupid enough to fall for it. This is, in part, what separates the radical elements from the more traditional elements of both conservatism and liberalism. Both sides have a wide range of conspiracy theories - and some times they both hold to the same ones.

The shitty thing is that it's really, very difficult to determine when or if the government and their media lap dogs really ARE lying. The election of 2000 was obviously a scam - as anyone who has seriously researched the issue is aware. There are many questions about 9/11 that remain unanswered, and way too much money to be made for me to really, honestly believe that the likes of George Bush and Dick Cheney wanted to... "spread the burning light of freedom" (or some such bull shit) in the middle east. Not all conspiracy theories are without weight.

In this particular case though, it would require a pretty damn big tinfoil hat to conclude that what happened was a hoax. The problem with this particular conspiracy theory is that it has absolutely - no - evidence to support it. What it does do though, is demonstrate just how deeply zealous, how amazingly fanatical some of our conservative Americans really are. It is pretty damn scary, really - especially when you consider that a large number of people believing this (likely many of the same that believe Obama's birth certificate is a fake) conspiracy theory are members of the voting public. They are, essentially... the best argument against democracy.

The deaths of those children is profoundly terrible, profoundly sad... it is the strongest argument I have ever heard of in favor of a stronger effort for gun control - yet even though something like 90% of Americans support stronger background checks, our government "representatives" will not support legislation for it - and, thanks to fanatic conservatives, tea party members and ignorant shits like Rush Limbaugh... they get away with it.

It is good to be aware of what's going on - but my advice is not to take shit too seriously - especially when you're young. Premature gray hair, weight gain, depression, stress... our political climate promotes such things even better than a weak economy.

[caseymoz]

2. It's time to sue for liable and defamation

Considering how vitriolic these conspiratorists can get, it should be easy to demonstrate "actual malice," and one look at how they ignore facts to reach their theories should prove a criminal disregard for the truth.

[freshwest]

4. They'll scream 'freedom of speech' at full volume if anyone does.

And between Fox and the rest of those attacking government and law, for purposes of supporting - even if they don't know it - the Koch family's libertarian plan, words such as you have just used properly don't have much meaning in the courts now.

No one has been able to stop the biggest purveyor of lies and incitement to violence like Fox News and these guys are small fry next to them. The guy caught here may be inconvenienced, that's about all a good internet drubbing does.

Those who advocate murder, rape and assault are hiding behind by the First Amendment, which has also lost its original intent. And Citizens United rewarded them. JMHO.

[Behind the Aegis]

5. This doesn't surprise me in any form or fashion.

I feel for those families, and the ones in Boston, and Moore because the conspiracy theorists, like the one in the story, are disgusting creatures who suckle at the thought of others misery and being able to blame the government and the Jews. Many CT'ers are renowned for their anti-Semitism, and it is no wonder anti-Semitism in this country is rising and often found in all parts of the political spectrum!

[Pragdem]

6. The 1st amendment should not protect disgusting garbage like this... nt

[Cha]

7. There's some Fucked up people in the world and this slob is one

of them.

[Rhiannon12866]

8. Locking, sorry, but this is a feature, not breaking news

Interesting article, please consider reposting in GD or Good Reads. Thanks!