One other thing - I hate the term "conspiracy theory". It was literally coined by the CIA to discredit discussion of actual conspiracies. But that's just another crazy conspiracy theory for another HN thread.
> The Oxford English Dictionary defines conspiracy theory as "the theory that an event or phenomenon occurs as a result of a conspiracy between interested parties; spec. a belief that some covert but influential agency (typically political in motivation and oppressive in intent) is responsible for an unexplained event". It cites a 1909 article in The American Historical Review as the earliest usage example,[37][38] although it also appeared in print as early as April 1870.[39]
Sorry, popularized would have been more accurate. Or perhaps weaponized. The term did exist before then, but the usage wasn't prevalent, and more directed at actual "conspiracies" - multiple entities, such as businesses or political rivals, working together illicitly
And it seems they even used time travel to do it.