I would like to say that there is hope for CT believers out there, because I used to be one. There is hope that believers will one day see the fallacy in their beliefs and reformulate them.

While there are most certainly groups and interests vying for control and exercising means at control, I think the truly frightening reality of it all is that NO ONE is in control. That our entire world culture is only meta-stable, somehow a super complex system self regulating.

I also think that belief in massive worldwide conspiracies arises more from a need to believe that SOMETHING is in control. In one sentence a CT'er may deride someone for believing in "god", and then turn around and speak of dark meetings and a dozen rich men who rule everything. C'mon!

Felt like I had to say something after gazing out my windows tonight, overlooking Lake Superior and cities Duluth/Superior, and jut how amazing it is that all this has arose with basically no one at the helm. Just shows how truly amazing evolution is.

__________________
"In the end the aggressors always destroy themselves, making way for others who know how to cooperate and get along. Life is much less a competitive struggle for survival than a triumph of cooperation and creativity."- Fritjof Capra

www.gonzoscience.com

There was a Vanity Fair article called "Welcome To The Conspiracy" that said conspiracism is an "oddly self-comforting worldview" because "nothing is accidental, everything can be explained, and someone is always in control."

__________________
"One does not require alien ruins in order to absorb a profound sense of wonder and mystery from the moon. That our civilization had actually visited it is miracle enough." Jason Roberts

I entirely agree. I think I mentioned in another thread that I believe some people find it more comforable to believe that someone is in control of this mess, even if that someone is a cabal of evil, than the alternative. Which is that we all are screaming headlong into the future & noone, but noone, knows what happens next.

conspiracy theorists always seem like the most extreme religious zealots to me- everything serves a purpose, and nothing is left to chance.. nothing.. and when something doesn't go as it's "supposed to", it is just a part of the plan to keep us guessing and weed out the non believers amongst us- the ones that don't see THE TRUTH.

__________________
"blacker than the blackest black... times infinity."- Nathan Explosion
The.. Best.. Thread..Ever...

Yes, Praise evolution...

It souds like your feet are firmly cemented to the ground.

Too bad all that ridiculous religion stuff got soooooo perverted by the evolved people.

I just happen to love Jesus, but I am not a CTer by any stretch of the imagination, never have been. I like things in their purest forms with intelligent people testing it piece by piece to form a solid conclusion, you know, before all the exaggerators and woo wooers get involved.

When I look across a lake I see the hand of God in his purest form, I see something I want to preserve because it is beautiful.

__________________
Beneath the stars came falling on our heads.
But they're just old light, they're just old light.

Regina Spektor - Samson

To be honest, from what I've seen of some conspiracy theorists' minds, I'd say "cult" is a more fitting description than "religion". Cults leave little room for personal interpretation, it's more a matter of "believe us because we're saying the truth no matter what others say". Religion doesn't have that as strongly as cults.

__________________
Spread the Love!

Again referring to the article I mentioned, Rich Cohen said that, "for [conspiracy theorists], not believing is an affront." Also, "your disbelief only proves the conspiracy; your counter-argument only proves brainwashing." It's like some conspiracy theorists give their followers a clear set of instructions for how to interpret everything. I'm thinking of the Signs of the Times on the Zetatalk site; if a bridge collapses or train derails, it absolutely has to do with Planet X; no chance it was a poorly-maintained bridge or the engineer wasn't paying attention.

__________________
"One does not require alien ruins in order to absorb a profound sense of wonder and mystery from the moon. That our civilization had actually visited it is miracle enough." Jason Roberts

People in general are not who they are. They are in flux. Some don't change but many- most even I would say, do.
We are like walkers on paths. And as we move through life, we continue to learn and develop.

When meeting a person, we have a strong tendency to think "this is this kind of person. This is how they are."
It's funny. Because what you perceive them to be could change. Then, your perceptions will be obsolete. And yet, we continue to hold onto them.

I met an old friend after having not talked to eachother in many years.
She kept commenting on how much I had drastically changed, and I found it odd how she had not changed at all. The irony is that she really needed to change. But her lack of learning and inability to change had caused disaster in her life. If asked to predict- I would say that is her path. But the funny thing is- I don't know that. I'll probably never know, because I cut off all communication with the lil psycho- but the point is- When we have friends that are worthy- it can be a great boon to have faith and believe in them. I've watched many people change over the years, normally for the better.
I think it's best to not dismiss people until they have shown clearly that dismissal is the only option.

Neverfly,

I have never heard you so philosophical before. I pretty much completely agree with what you said. Some people do take longer than others to find reasons to change their lives. As you said, some never will, and some lives will be constant change.

When looking back at my own life, I realize how little I knew just 5 years ago, 3, even just 1. When I was 18, I thought I knew it all, who doesn't when they are that age. Then the life revelations and growth really began. The "me" today probably would not want to hang out with the "me" 5 years ago.

So with that in mind, knowing all the profound life changes that I have seen in myself and others around me, looking towards the future is very humbling because I still realize how little I know.

For every answer I get, I have two new questions.

As for conspiracy theory, I still find it fascinating. I think there is plenty of evidence around us that the world is corrupt beyond belief, and corruption is conspiracy. But where as before I would have viewed that as some 'inherently evil, out to get me, ONE group of dark men controlling EVERYTHING, nothing I can do attitude', I now see that that was a flawed way of thinking. No way ONE entity is controlling this world. Many many many different groups all competing for money/power, and ultimately some form of control. I don't think money is bad, I think what money does to people is bad Just look whats its effect has been on our planet.

Its a strange world we live, and only getting stranger. But strange in a ponderous, interesting, profound way. Just the fact that I am sitting here even talking about this scale of stuff over a technological planetary brain is proof that we are alive at probably the most interesting point of history of this planet so far (or is that being egocentric?)

Sitting back and thinking about that makes the pitiful money addicts who supposedly are conspiring about our enslavement just that more pathetic.

__________________
"In the end the aggressors always destroy themselves, making way for others who know how to cooperate and get along. Life is much less a competitive struggle for survival than a triumph of cooperation and creativity."- Fritjof Capra

www.gonzoscience.com

Seconded. That was pretty deep.

Well for Nev anyway.

__________________
Very funny Scotty, now beam down my clothes.

I agree.

__________________
I want to go back to the moon.
I don't care which rocket you use, whichever one you pick, I'll like it, I swear.
"If you think the LHC will create black holes, you might as well believe Hobbits are at the bottom of your garden."- Dr. Mike Inglis
Rovers forever! - ToSeek

Yeah see- throw that as an addendum to what I said earlier- Becuase our perceptions based on forum posts can get throwed off as well
I'm actually pretty philosophical- but I prefer to keep that away from BAUT posts.


If I was looped back in time and encountered the me of ten years ago- I probably would have kicked my (three little asterisks).

The root of all evil?
I recall reading about Corporate espionage in which employees of the "other" corporation were often framed of had drugs planted on them etc (Especially at Customs) in order to delay or stall them while the framing companies employees work hard to beat the deadline.
When billions of dollars are on the line- yeah... there are definitely conspiracies out there.
The trouble with CT is that they don't usually know where to look for facts and where they let their imagination take over critical thinking.


I think it is. History is filled with a great many most interesting periods.

Ironic- The more we depend on technology, the more slaves to money we become.
Which is ultimately what Modern Society is in developed countries. Slaves to the $.
We serve it.