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I think we're long past trying to be prescriptive about the phrase "conspiracy theory".
There are real conspiracies, but conspiracy theories tend to start from a place of "X must have been at fault" and work backwards from there. Which leads to endless loops of whataboutisms and excuses to try and excuse the existence of the theory at all costs instead of being interested in what actually happened.
It sounds like you're suggesting "lab leak implies China is to blame" should be seen as evidence against it being a lab leak? Or that any theory which implies blame must be suspect. This just sounds like an excuse to disregard any evidence that it's a lab leak, since surely anyone who is arguing that it's a lab-leak must be motivated to do so.
The converse is also true though -- surely you must see that there is similarly motivation to argue in reverse. Why don't we just set aside assuming that we're all arguing in bad faith.
It's possible there was a lab leak, and relevant labs should be investigated for the same reason we investigate all plane crashes, it either leads to finding gaps in processes or confirms whether or not a systemic issue was a factor. The probability has decreased as COVID has been further researched and shows more markers of a 'natural' development, but it's generally beneficial to have a comprehensive audit when processes are in question.
That's not what these people are arguing. They're arguing that it's China's fault and not Trump's. That's it. For that to be the case it 'must' be a lab leak, and so they're retroactively finding justification for how that is possible. That they're running parallel to a reasonable line of logic for a portion of their argument does not validate their argument.
As you are responding to one of my posts I should clarify my position.
Zoonotic or lab origin, the outbreak still occurred in China. Fault is only important to reduce further occurrences. Better wet market policies and tighter lab rules can be implemented simultaneously, worldwide without any blame being assigned.
The appalling US response to covid is fully Trumps fault.
The change in the .gov address is designed to compliment the tariffs and anger China.
The reason to highlight the possible lab origin was because original investigations and papers erroneously claimed that a lab origin was not plausible and any discussion about lab origins was censored as being a conspiracy theory.
That censorship is still occurring.
Yeah I mean I agree. Actually in the top-level comment of this thread, I said the website was BS. I'm not sure what you're trying to tell me.