| "Conspiracy theory" is merely a label applied by those opposed to a legitimate investigation of whatever the "conspiracy" is challenging. It's a term designed to cause doubts as to the legitimacy of any challenge. When the "official explanation" of any event doesn't match the evidence, or when there are questions raised about it's veracity, adherents of that explanation try to de-legitimize their opponents by labeling them "conspiracy theorists".
A simple google search will get you plenty of conspiracy theories that have eventually been proven to be correct. Since those aren't referred to as theories after being proven, the connotation of conspiracy theory is always negative, a fact capitalized on by those applying that label.
"Everybody knows that the boat is leaking
Everybody knows that the captain lied." - Leonard Cohen |