Dismissing Conspiracy Theories

Kind of like how I followed your posts from one link to another to get to this post.

If you haven't, you should read "The Illuminatus! Trilogy" by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson. Only one person really knew the true goal of the Illuminatus, everyone else just thought they did. A truly inspiring, hilarious book! Every conspiracy theorist should own 2 copies! (In case someone takes one...)

I have the three volumes in one set.

As a former self-proclaimed high pope in the Church of the Subgenius, how could I not? I also was an avid player of the Illuminati card game put out by Steve Jackson Games, which was inspired by, but not precisely based on, the books. Also quite a blast, provided you played with the right people.

And I enjoyed the KLF, who had started off as the JAMS (Justified Ancients of Muu Muu), proving they were also big fans of the books. (I am skipping over their more famous incarnation as The Timelords, when they put out their only really known song, Doctoring the Tardis. Used endlessly by PBS channels looking for fund to broadcast Doctor Who. At least back in the days before the reincarnated Doctor Who started broadcasting on Sci Fi Channel and BBC America.)

Kallisti

(There, was that geeky enough? Every once in a while I have to admit to owning a first edition Monster Manual, or being able to sing all the songs from Life Of Brian. Keeps me humble to remember my geeky origins, before the mohawk and leather jacket in high school allowed me to pick up girls.)

I figured you probably had, judging by your previous posts, but thought I'd throw it out there.

How can anyone question a good conspiracy after reading that? (I guess the catch then becomes: a GOOD conspiracy.)

I think that's the problem, all the conspiracy theories here are just so dull. Oh, form time to time the theories around George Soros or the actions of Israel rise to pretty lunatic heights, but generally the conspiracy theories are just tedious.

The only good one in the examples form my post was the one in Holy Blood, Holy Grail, very entertaining, and with just enough fact to make it semi-plausible. On the other hand, it was ripped off by the DaVinci Code and made boring. And before that every hipster who watched Millennium knew the basics as well, so it wasn't exclusive enough at that point.

No, a good conspiracy theory not only has to be amusingly nutty, and outrageous, but it has to remain exclusive. Otherwise it is just boring. "Bush blew up the Twin Towers" is a perfect example. If only a few nuts held that view it might be amusing because it is so far fetched. But when you have thousands of truthers thinking it is true, it just becomes boring and offensive.

My family will be cursing your name soon, as I now cannot stop playing KLF videos on youtube. I know my wife is patient, but I am sure another replay of "Last Train to Transcentral" will drive her over the edge.

Well, my three year old seems to like the music, at least.

Well, I guess I was wrong.

As I watched Tammy Wynette sing "Justified and Ancient" I was told "This reminds me of you" and "You're strange".

Guess my prediction was a bit off.

Wow! Finally someone posted some Havanna 3 AM videos! I feel like I am in college again.

The one Clash spinoff no one liked except me. But Reach the Rock was a great song.

I forgot how 80's pop inspired some of Havana 3 AM's lesser songs were. Still good, but guess memory always colors things.

Well, still better than some of the stranger bits on Sandinista. (I admit to actually liking Combat Rock, mainly for some of the lesser known songs. Made the fellow punks laugh at me, but they weren't bad songs. Atom Tan, for example...)

I think I am getting much too far off topic here. Think I will stop now.