This has been on my mind for some time, and I feel it should be addressed. Often I see people asking skeptics why they even care and telling them if they don't believe the theories, then just leave the CTists alone. Other times they're accused of being on payroll, which is simply ludicrous. If the government offered to pay you to go post on an internet forum that was trying to expose a government conspiracy, you'd have to be braindead not to be a teensy bit suspicious.
Anyway, I thought I'd explain why skeptics do care; why they hang around and try to convince people in the same way truthers do, but on the other side of the argument. For the next few sentences, I ask you to put your opinion to the side and let yourself see through other people's eyes.
From a truther's perspective: You believe that the government had something to do with 9/11. It varies from person to person, but that seems to be the lowest common denominator. You want to prove that involvement, and you want to convince people to fight the good fight, because you believe you are doing the right thing and want others to do the same.
From a skeptic's perspective: You believe that the government was not involved in 9/11. You don't believe that the government is nice and kind and could do no harm, nor do you faithfully believe everything they tell you, including their account of 9/11. You see people searching for a government conspiracy and, in your eyes, you believe them to be wrong. Everyone has their own reasons, but most often it is because you have looked at the same things the CTists have, and you have decided that the government conspiracy did not happen.
For the truthers: I want you to imagine, just for a minute, that you're wrong. If you ended up rallying the troops and doing something drastic, (let's say you overthrew the government) but it turned out there actually was no government conspiracy? That's what skeptics are trying to prevent. It's their belief, and they may be wrong, but this is the reason skeptics are fighting; like the truthers, skeptics believe they are doing the right thing.
Who's right? We may never know. If an absolute truth comes out that is not arguable in any way, there is no doubt in my mind that whichever side was wrong will admit their errors and join the ranks of the other side. But for now, we're all arguing. Just keep in mind that the other side has the same motivation as you: doing what's right.
I like where you were going with your post, but i think the Skeptics perspective is different then what you stated.
The Skeptics are just skeptical of some of the points the truthers bring up, just as truthers are skeptical of any official story. It doesnt really have anything to do with beliefs of the governments involvment.
The truthers claim to have "seen the truth" as some magical veil was lifted so they can see things that werent there before. The problem with this, is that sometimes when you see things that werent there before, maybe thats because they really werent there to begin with.
There is no one, absolute truth that can explain 9/11. Simply saying "the government did it" or "al-queda did it" isnt enough. Theres always more to the story. And as such, a smart skeptic (any skeptic, not just truth movement skeptics) will realize that there is going to be some give an take. You have to decide for yourself what is true, and what isnt and try to make the best of all the information available to you.
There seems to be this great divide and everyone is seperating into one of the two sides, and then they just dismiss anything that comes from the other side, simply because they believe that they are right and the other side is wrong. And this wont change. People are too close minded to do the smart thing and actually think for themselves, they rather have other people do it for them so they can just latch on and act like theyve been there the whole time. And it helps to have an opposing viewpoint so you have a target to throw your insults to and to get into arguments with.
And yes, that applies to BOTH sides of this subject, truthers, and the skeptics.
But, i agree with your final point-if people started putting themselves in the shoes of those who believe the opposite as they do, that would be a good start, but it wont happen. Everyone has to believe they are right, and everyone else is wrong, and the lengths they go to try and prove this is simply ridiculous.
I'm not sure I understand what you guys are arguing about.
Personally, I believe the vast majority of the arguments advanced by the 9-11 Conspiracy theorists are hogwash. They fail to stand against serious investigation.
That being said, I think this government lies to me compulsively. They can't stop. I'm not sure they even understand what truth is.
Everything they have done in these 6+ wonderful years has shown levels of ineptitude that frankly terrify me. Which is why, incedentally, that they couldn't have done most of what the creators of Loose Change give them credit for.
Honestly, I think I would be less afraid of them if they were so infinitely skilled. At least then I wouldn't need to fear acts of nature, like hurricanes...