posted on Jan, 8 2012 @ 11:39 PM
Chiefly, I would suggest that semantics are less important than decorum and the spirit of what you articulate.
Becoming offended (which is of course everyone's prerogative) and reacting by asking them not to label you - which they will do in some respects no
matter how much you protest - will not convince them to be more tolerant of your views in my experience. (People label each other in society, sadly,
for this among myriad other reasons, as I have learned the hard way. There are more of them than you so they feel validated, their instinct to attack
and belittle is well ingrained, and in my experience cannot be overturned by responding defensively, no matter how appropriate that response may be or
feel.)
Instead, my advice would be to calmly, politely, and rationally explain your reasons for the views and interests you hold. And also listen to them. No
one knows everything, and there will no doubt eventually be times when you are wrong and they are right. Be humble and willing to learn from
any potential source, even those who hold enmity for you. You don't benefit from ignoring potential knowledge on the basis of their attitude toward
you. In time, if you do this habitually, they will (hopefully) recognize that you are not a threat to their worldview or paradigm, because you are
tolerant of it. At that point they may likewise stop feeling the need to threaten or attack you for yours. The ultimate goal being that you both learn
from one another and find a way to coexist.
That's just my, admittedly extremely accommodating and diplomatic, advice. That isn't for everyone. I know some people need to take a more
aggressive tact which, as I said, is everyone's prerogative.
As for the aforementioned semantics, if it really bothers you and you feel the need for them to not call you a conspiracy theorist, I would first
suggest that you politely request that they not call you that, perhaps by explaining that you feel it minimizes your opinion and the importance you
place on it. Failing that, perhaps you could suggest an alternative like, "Open-minded hypothesizer."