Comment by lcnPylGDnU4H9OF

The idea of the conspiracy theorist is a hyperbole fabricated in the public mind by the "almost certain" activity of "groups of people trying to manipulate situations and lie to the public for their own gain". It's not that a reasonably plausible theory being discussed will logically lend credence to less plausible and unrelated ones, it's that the public is conditioned to believe that it does. That way, public discussion of any conspiracy in theory is verboten by the "conspiracy theory" thought-stopper, regardless of the theory's plausibility. Because, as you say yourself, it makes it easier for conspiracy in practice to go unnoticed in the public sphere. From a Bayesian perspective, the problem is less likely caused by the crazy people who have a poor grasp on reality than the people who not only have a reason to emphasize the crazy people (because it de-emphasizes themselves), but also the means.