Why are there so many conspiracy theorists around these days?

Everywhere I turn there seems to be a conspiracy theorist. They all go on about the moon landing hoax (I believe we did land on the moon), that 9/11 was an inside job (sadly two of my relatives believe this) and the New World Order (I have done some research, and have drawn my own conclusions; a lot of it is just pure paranoia). Why are there so many conspiracy theorists these days?

In some cases it’s just a matter of too much free time. I others its the belief that if they can get enough people curious about their theory they can make money off of it.

It has gotten ridiculous. When Michael Kennedy died in that skiing accident a few years ago I was half expecting to hear a conspiracy theory. After all there must have been another tree in a snowy knoll nearby.