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Have you ever heard of Delmore Schwartz? Probably not. He was a poet and short story writer who lived in the early and mid twentieth century, winning many accolades, including both a Bollingen Prize for his poetry, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. That, in and of itself, isn't all that important to my remarks, but what is significant is something he said: “Even paranoids have real enemies.” It's been attributed to others as well, however Schwartz seems to have been the first to enunciate it for posterity.

But what's wrong with paranoia? It's really an extension of care and caution. Without that caution, without instinct, animals would find themselves the victims of predators, but with it the same animals can be the predators. Paranoia is simply the assumption that others are plotting – often to get you – and that you have to be on guard to make sure they don't. It can be viewed as a logical consequence of the psychiatric concept of “ideas of reference,” with the subject convinced that whatever he hears somehow relates to him. And those whose hearing is deficient are likely to be certain that others are talking about them. It's normal. Though, as Schwartz said, it often reflects a real problem.

“They,” however, have given paranoia a bad name. They've tried to convince us that it's abnormal, and that those of us who are merely careful – or even cynical – are missing a few marbles. They tell us we're crazy (whatever that means) when their real goal is to get us to lower our guard and not notice the threats that are all around us. They subscribe to the idea that “forewarned is forearmed,” and they want us defenseless.

Paranoia, however, is the rage. Complain that there is a plot against you, or a group of which you are a member, and there will be a rush of “normal” citizens supporting your cause. Thus those who protest that “Black Lives Matter” are certain to attract the attention of other paranoids who believe that there is a conspiracy of racist white police officers against defenseless blacks despite the evidence that far fewer blacks are killed by the police than others, and despite the fact that the vast majority of blacks are killed by other blacks [see the writings of Heather Mac Donald, among others, especially “The War on Cops.”]  Certainly no preventable violence is justified, whether against blacks or whites, whether by police or by civilians. But caution and reaction are both necessary tools in defending our lives and our liberties. A measure of paranoia in the effort to protect ourselves is reasonable, and nature has served us well by instilling it within all of us. As long as that paranoia is based on rational risks, not on political dogma and expediency.

Rational risks. And instinct. That's what keeps all animals, including humans, on their toes. Perhaps it's better to term it “caution” than “paranoia,” however – even though they're quite similar. Sounds better that way. We'd be far worse off without it, irrespective of the blatherings of the psychiatrists and pop-psychologists among us. And we'd be crazy to ignore its warnings.

But, perhaps, the greatest advantage of paranoia exists in a specific group, one that most of us will concede is carrying the idea too far. The group is commonly referred to as “conspiracy theorists,” and consists of those who are convinced that everything they don't like is the result of a plot by “THEM.” There is a group of (generally unnamed and unidentified) people who are withholding information from the rest of us, and who are plotting either to help themselves or to harm others. They maintain that the group they fear has organized to accomplish its goals at their expense or that of others (historically, antisemitism is a prime example of this phenomenon). And their paranoia (or political agenda) is infectious – often the basis of a mass movement. For they have an advantage over those who may take issue with their positions.

The advantage is that conspiracy theorists are always right. Ask them. It's easy for them to prove. If you agree with their position, you've confirmed it. If you disagree, you're part of the conspiracy itself. And your cover-up is further proof that their view is true. Heads they win. Tails you lose. Whether their paranoia is reasonable is open to question. It is undeniable that governments sometimes hide the truth from their citizens, but suspecting such deceit all the time, and questioning the honesty of those who disagree with you, represents a paranoia of overdeveloped dimensions.

Some paranoia is good – in fact it's necessary. But not all. Mae West notwithstanding, you can have too much of a good thing.

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Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden was killed a few days ago by Navy SEALs. It is not a matter of dispute. The government of Pakistan has faulted our government for our action in their country, and al-Qaeda has said it will fight on despite the death of its leader.ⁱ Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas administration in the Gaza Strip, told reporters that the group regards bin Laden's death “as a continuation of the American policy based on oppression and the shedding of Muslim and Arab blood.” In a bid to minimize Muslim reaction, and in line with Muslim traditions, bin Laden was buried hours after his death. The burial took place at sea in order to remove the possibility of a terrestrial monument that would be the focus for the congregation of angry militants, and the site of inspiration of further terrorism.

Regrettably there are some who call for the release of photographs of the dead bin Laden. They suggest that he is not dead and that what has happened is another plot to placate those who have called for his end, and a ploy to dispirit his supporters. It is all a conspiracy, and it must be proved with photographs demonstrating that he is dead.

Of course photographs, even if they are demanded now, won't be satisfactory. If produced there will be accusations of doctoring.ⁱⁱ Conspiracy theorists didn't accept photographic and video proof of the moon landing so it's difficult to understand why any documentation offered now would be convincing for them. It will only be viewed as another part of the conspiracy.

Conspiracy theories have always existed, but in recent years they are multiplying.ⁱⁱⁱ The flying saucer that crashed at Roswell was hushed up, the “Elders of Zion” are planning on taking over the world, President Kennedy was assassinated by the CIA (or Mafia or Russians – your choice), the moon landing was faked, the United States or Israel was responsible for the attack on the World Trade Center, the medical profession is hiding the cures to many diseases from us, gasoline prices are raised or lowered to help favored political parties win elections: you've heard these and many more. Like the murder of Princess Di by British intelligence and the cover-up of the fact that Jesus survived the crucifixion. And we all know that Elvis is still alive (as are Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster). Those who create and foster these myths are legion, even if their ideas are illegitimate.

It's difficult to find a single cause for these theories, but some possibilities come to mind. One is the recent emphasis on the warning against trusting authority.^iv More and more people are inclined to doubt everything they hear from anyone with power,^v and eager to believe anything told them about the involvement of some individuals or groups in every controversial subject. For them, every explanation is a cover-up of the involvement of some group, “them,” in that incident. There are evil forces who are imposing their will on the powerless.^vi We have to stick it to them. It's paranoia. So no demonstration of its fallaciousness will be believed. The same evil forces are trying to misdirect those who, like us, seek the truth.

That reality should be obvious to everyone. In fact, everything that deviates from what you want is caused by someone else. You're not responsible for anything. It is always someone else's fault.^vii And, of course, you should sue that person.^viii There is always someone to blame – someone^ix who should be held accountable. And often that “someone” is a corporation or other large organization – like the government, a drug company or an insurance company – that is working to hide some important information to the detriment of everyone else. They are conspiring against all us “little people.”^x And the lawyer so eager to help you isn't looking for any payment unless he can get some money from the conspirator. So why not. It's worth a try. If he's so sure that you have been injured by a conspiracy you should be sure as well.^xi And it's time to pay back the corrupt society in which we live.

What results is a society that always believes the worst, one that trusts no one – especially its own leaders. And mythology sells. It's a sure path to your fifteen minutes. Sadly, there is no solution to the problem. Paranoids will not bury their fears; irrational people will not bow to logic. I'm from Missouri and they haven't proved anything to me. So all we can do is not to take them too seriously. The problem is theirs and we cannot let it become ours.

Next episode: “Sex And The Single Cell” – Plus ça change, plus ça change.

i     A statement from the group included the following: “We will remain … a curse chasing the Americans and their agents, following them outside and inside their countries … their happiness will be turned to sadness … their blood will be mingled with their tears.”

ii    Anyone with a computer can “fix” a photograph. And, of course, anyone with a computer can publicize his theory about how we are all being manipulated.

iii   They're quite common in the United States. I don't know about their frequency in other countries. The Wall Street Journal, though, reports that UFO sightings are becoming more frequent in Asia.

iv    Ideas of this type have always existed but they seem to be more frequent now than in the past.

v    Including their parents and teachers. No. Especially their parents and teachers.

vi    It's them versus us. We may not know who “they” are (that's part of their plan) but we must always be on guard for them. They're out to get us. Whoever they are.

vii   You're good. You could never do anything wrong. It must be someone else. Your mother told you that. It's one of the few things she said that you can believe, even if she didn't believe it. After all, if you did something wrong it would reflect on her.

viii  Your lawyer told you that. He agrees with your mother. How can they both be wrong?

ix    Ideally someone with a lot of money.

x    No one ever raises the issue of the conspiracy of the class action law suit designed to make as much for everyone as possible, irrespective of any loss we may have suffered. We only see greediness and venality in others. They conspire. We exercise our legal rights.

xi   Would your lawyer lie to you?