You are threatening to "proclaim that the tin foil hat brigade has now thorougly infiltrated HN." based on one single post made by one person in a community of thousands? Did you go to a school specifically to learn how to create logic this poor?
In a community where skepticism is valued there will exist the lazy quota who will look at popular opinion, assume the antithesis must be true and in turn, begin looking for supporting 'facts'. Don't be so surprised. :P
Oh, like publishing in academia.
Without facts and critical-thinking skills, the hobgoblins take over.