Conspiracy theories almost always leave me cold. Shakespeare’s works were actually written by some aristocrat dude? Srsly, who cares?? Does a Hamlet by any other name not sound as sweet? Apollo moon landings faked? Yawwwn. If NASA invented the images in order to excite and inspire a generation of American kids to compete scientifically with Commie kids (and to persuade Congress to fork over billions for rockets), well Good for Them!
Most conspiracy theories spring up to offer reassuring handholds to frightened and vulnerable people who are living through an overwhelming river of confusing and terrifying events. Like September 11th. Or the global economic meltdown. Or for the seriously isolated and vulnerable, the election of a guy to be president who had a really really thin resume. No, the Secret Society of Marxist Cannibal Muslims did not conspire to put obama in the White House. The boring old DNC did it.
Conspiracy theories can usually be deflated and debunked by asking who would benefit if the theory were actually true. If the answer is no one, well it’s probably a kooky conspiracy theory. If the answer is The Secret Cabal of Super Rich Dudes Who Rule the World, well it’s probably hogwash too. I mean, if the SCOSRDWRTW has actually been in charge since the get go, then that means Life As We Know It is not really different from Life As It Actually Is. I’d rather learn how to knit, or surf, than spend time obsessing about that.
On the other hand, once in a great while some kooky, whacked-out, totally tinfoil typa theory will be put forth by some clown on the internet (what? where else would a conspiracy theory come from?) that makes me sit up, pay attention, and start fiddling the old antennae. Such as:
“I still believe that OWS is astroturf – not all the members but the leadership. The goal is to dissipate progressive energies and focus their anger on the GOP. They’re not supporting him [obama], but they aren’t opposing him either. And next year they’ll be voting for him because “The Republicans are worse!“™
Damn, but that makes perfect sense to me.
Also, seriously, the fricken dudes at these rallies Can’t. Stop. Sexually Assaulting. Women.
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
DancesWithPumas 10.18.11 at 8:27 pm
I left a comment at the Can’t Stop Sexually Assaulting Women site:
Mutants, freaks, and perverts aren’t exclusive to the Occupy sites. You can find them anywhere and everywhere, police forces, politics, medical facilities, religious institutions, the homes neighboring your own, etc. The problem isn’t rallies, or churches, or government, or the police agencies, the problem is: Men. Men and the societies that support and encourage their overblown, unearned sense of entitlement, agression, and “power over”, along with the constant degradation of women and girls.
DancesWithPumas 10.18.11 at 8:28 pm
Heeeey, nice photo, Murphy. Were you in one of those Gidget remake movies??
murphy 10.18.11 at 8:31 pm
Ha ha, I couldnt resist! I like that shot because it doesnt exactly show that my rental board was actually 17.5 feet long. With a rudder and stabilizers.
DancesWithPumas 10.18.11 at 8:34 pm
LoL! Great shot!
BigCatLover 10.18.11 at 8:52 pm
Love the tinfoil cat but can understand why he is ready to punch someone with his paw. Hate the sexual harassment and yes, men are the aggressors but our culture of accepting this behavior greases the way. Women need to stop being there to support the dudes. But we already knew that.
murphy 10.18.11 at 9:00 pm
BCL, ayup. That’s why I’m not actively supporting OWS. Waiting and seeing with a skeptical bias.
murphy 10.18.11 at 9:00 pm
and ps, I know you knew this, but the cat up there is actually a she.
BigCatLover 10.18.11 at 9:03 pm
With it’s tinfoil hat, it was hard to tell the sex.
murphy 10.18.11 at 9:04 pm
Also, dudes tend to be more vulnerable to conspiracy theories for some reason. I think it plays to their egotistical desire to Know What’s GOING ON. Makes them feel powerful. Or something.
BigCatLover 10.18.11 at 9:07 pm
Dude logic is completely unfathomable.
murphy 10.18.11 at 9:12 pm
probly because it’s not usually all that rational.
BigCatLover 10.18.11 at 9:18 pm
So glad you’re back Murphy. Don’t get to read the blog as often as I used to, but love what I’m reading. It’s alway good food for thought.
turndownobama 10.18.11 at 11:47 pm
From downstairs: “Personally, I have not met one single person who voted for Obama who will admit they were wrong. That koolaid is pretty strong stuff.”
Then visit an OWS rally. The WSJ interviewed some people there and said that an “overwhelming majority” had voted for Obama but NOW 51% disapprove of him and 48% plan NOT to vote for him (and some large number plan not to vote at all).
So that’s a place where recovering Bots can get together and organize.
turndownobama 10.18.11 at 11:48 pm
Bravo Dances and Zee!
turndownobama 10.18.11 at 11:49 pm
Here’s the WSJ ‘interview’ article.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204479504576637082965745362.html?mod=rss_opinion_main
turndownobama 10.19.11 at 12:15 am
http://occupywriters.com/by-lemony-snicket
CJK2 10.19.11 at 1:24 am
May as well post something humorous, though I’ll likely get bashed as a “right winger” for something in it by someone anyway. This is an “occupy” demonstration I could support. Good for a chuckle. Enjoy. http://www.femisex.com/content/as-a-new-member-occupy-wall-st-im-ready-occupy-susan-sarandons-home-and-actually-get-paid-ar
CJK2 10.19.11 at 1:31 am
P.S. Hi Murphy! Love the photo of you with the board, and love the cat in the tinfoil hat!
invalidresponse 10.19.11 at 1:53 am
Women who smoke
Democratic women preparing to fight the good fight, against the odds, in North Carolina. Amendment on the May Primary ballot that would ban all state recognition of unmarried couples, with potentially devastating consequences for LGBT couples, unmarried domestic violence victims, and children of unmarried parents.
Senator Ellie Kinnaird (third speaker) speaks of how this has been put up to a vote to honor a dying senator. Think about that a second, enshrine into your constitution discrimination against a huge number of people because one bigoted man is going to die, and he has wanted it for years…
Soooooooooo worth listening to the whole video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwkAhAkBx2o
Delle 10.19.11 at 5:39 am
Now he is accused of using a green screen!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/8834859/White-House-accused-of-Barack-Obama-green-screen-trickery.html
Everything about this SOB is fake!
murphy 10.19.11 at 6:52 am
Jesus fucken Christ:
http://crayfisher.wordpress.com/2011/10/19/dudebro-occupation/
Dragonfly 10.19.11 at 9:17 am
love the photo, murphy.
I am extremely discouraged about the way women are being abused and co-opted, yet again, by so called male liberals. Where are the good guys? Again, as far as I know, the local Occupy is not suffering any issues with violence, but this is a much smaller community than Boston, Baltimore, and New York. Somebody knows your people around here and you do risk lectures from former teachers even if your people are all dead.
In other news, if you will forgive the irrelevant link, think about supporting this entity with a few dollars to respond to the famine: http://www.oxfamamerica.org/emergencies/food-crisis-in-east-africa
I must flit back to my responsibilities . . . nice seeing you all.
Your Loyal Dragonfly
Dragonfly 10.19.11 at 9:33 am
http://www.kirstengillibrand.com/signup/demand-pay-equality-for-women?ad_code=om-fb-paycheck-joinsen-dpe-wrights
just a link in case in you’re interested – I don’t know if any legislation does any good some days, but tomorrow might be better.
now really I have to do something expected of me.
Dragonfly 10.19.11 at 10:09 am
http://cleveland.cbslocal.com/2011/10/18/occupy-cleveland-protester-alleges-she-was-raped/
19 year old reports rape by Occupy Cleveland protestor
murphy 10.19.11 at 11:26 am
Ten Top Tips posted, take it upstairs!
murphy 10.19.11 at 11:26 am
(Hiya Dragonfly!)
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