Conspiracies and conspiracy theories are two very different things. The reason people scoff at conspiracy theories is because they are often times wrong and/or vague. How many *verified conspiracies actually started as a 'conspiracy theory'.
Edit: * added for clarification
As a gay man who passes as straight, you can get a lot of gal pals just by treating women as friends instead of potential partners. A lot of women don't really need a relationship, they just want a friendship.
The more I learn about the Frank Herbert novels, the more I realize how prescient and relevant they are to this day.
Let me see your face... You are the one from my dreams... Then the stars were right, and this is the day. Gods give me strength!