[ceejayoz]

Hilariously, this is a conspiracy theory.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_theory#Origin_and_U...

> The earliest known usage was by the American author Charles Astor Bristed, in a letter to the editor published in The New York Times on January 11, 1863.

> The term "conspiracy theory" is itself the subject of a conspiracy theory, which posits that the term was popularized by the CIA in order to discredit conspiratorial believers, particularly critics of the Warren Commission, by making them a target of ridicule.

[testTED]

> the term was popularized by the CIA in order to discredit conspiratorial believers, particularly critics of the Warren Commission, by making them a target of ridicule.

Who popularized it is subjective.

What isn't subjective: the CIA indeed sent out a memo about this. It marked an increase in the use of the term in popular media publications. You can find it and read it.

[ceejayoz]

I just love that you lopped off half a sentence to invert its meaning to support your conspiracy theory. That's just beautiful.

> the CIA indeed sent out a memo about this

Wow, the CIA noticed something and sent a memo?

[testTED]

It noticed people questioning an official story, and it referred to them as conspiracy theorists.