Talk:SARS conspiracy theory

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I know that it is very hard to avoid using the term "conspiracy theory" because its surface meaning - a hypothesis that a group of people have been making and executing plans in secret - does get to the point fairly neatly. However in practice the term is a pejorative one that is often successfully used to imply that the theory is poorly reasoned and unsupported by evidence, and that those who entertain such theories are simple-minded, malicious and/or unhinged. In other words the article heading "SARS conspiracy theory" is in itself a value judgement and could do with being replaced.

What it should be replaced with I don't honestly know. Although I find "SARS conspiracy theory" to be highly problematic, I have to admit that it is very very concise and I can't think of anything better. So for the moment I have just added "Conspiracy theory" to the internal links because that article covers the issues I am addressing here very well, I think.

[edit] Page Incorrect

Even though every major country in the world has accused the other of creating this virus, it has been pretty much proven that it crossed the xenographic barrier from civet cats to humans naturally. PETN 13:16, 19 March 2006 (UTC)

not that I doubt the truth of that statement, but i'd like to see a link to that study or conclusion. 68.225.26.210 02:23, 4 May 2006 (UTC)