The term "conspiracy theory" is part of the lexical armoury deployed against legitimate enquiry and reasoned discourse. It is an epithet, a dysphemism, an obloquy hurled at any who dare challenge the official narrative.
What does the term "conspiracy theory" really mean? Here is the crux of the problem. The term is enigmatic, its meaning depends on the context in which it is used. It could mean "a theory about a conspiracy", but it rarely does. More often it means "questioning the official account", or simply "ridiculous nonsense".
The term "conspiracy theory" is commonly employed as an insult, a contemptuous rebuff, a conversation killer. Its use is an effective barrier to informed debate, denoting a reluctance to engage a subject with intellectual honesty and common sense.