Conspiracies

Re Jim Mann’s article, “Dealing With Conspiracy Theories and Rumors Is No Walk in the Park,” Sept. 2:

Regarding the German Air Force training in Arizona: The whole reason they train in Arizona is because of the weather and the wide open spaces. They have so many more “flying days” available than in Germany (the weather is often terrible for flight training), and the population density is far lower, allowing land-based supersonic flight, etc.

I have a theory of my own: Most of the people that take these weird theories to heart subscribe to the “secret knowledge” syndrome (I know what’s “really” going on). They feel empowered (wrongly, of course) by thinking they have discovered knowledge that explains the problems of the world, but more to the point, why their own lives are such dismal failures.

GARY GOLDMAN

Los Angeles