“Secrets are the very root of cool.” - William Gibson
You’ve heard the rumors before, and un-named “official” sources can now finally confirm, thanks to leaked documents: everything is a conspiracy.
And if it’s not, then that’s just because it isn’t organized well enough.
I’ll admit: I used to really get off on conspiracy theories. They are just so weird and complex and juicy and… confusing that they can be very entertaining if you’re in the right frame of mind. But I’ve realized something by “doing a lot of work on myself” lately and attempting to harmonize my intentions with my actions. Namely, that’s all conspiracy really is: doing things on purpose.
To people who have not yet mastered the secret esoteric art of “doing things on purpose”, everything does indeed seem to be a conspiracy - a conspiracy of other people with secret aims and hidden ways to accomplish them. As paranoid as this world view can get, it is also fairly understandable. When you’re unable to appropriately express your goals into reality, you tend to fear and envy those who have that ability. The “Powers That Be” are simply those people who have taken the steps to secure and exercise personal power. Obviously, there’s a difference between “doing things on purpose,” and “exercising personal power” from like… actual crimes and UFO’s and stuff. But I should hope that difference would not distract us from our current purpose: pulling the curtain back on the elusive world of conspiracy theory.
As my own ability to achieve goals and cause changes to occur in reality by taking the right actions has increased, I have also begun to understand better the give and take that living fruitfully within this world sometimes requires. There are times when, for example, if you have certain goals, it may not assist the execution of those goals to necessarily state them to other parties. This is the essence of all communication really: telling people (1) what they need to know, (2) when they need to know it, and (3) delivering it in the best form possible for them to take action upon. It is the art of the diplomat, really (again: altogether distinct from lying or “manipulation” in its negative connotations). It is also the art of performance, or stagecraft.
Think of it like this: when you’re putting on a show, you don’t want people to see what’s going on back-stage. It distracts from the story, actors, set, music, etc. So you only show your audience the things you want them to see so that you can achieve your goals. As a performer, your goal may simply be “having people enjoy themselves.” As an evil despot fronting a huge media campaign, your goals really aren’t all that much different. While it may not specifically be “having people enjoy themselves” (although, hey, who knows!), what you are going to try to do is sell your story in such a way that people “buy into it.” That is, people suspend disbelief: which isn’t so far from simply enjoying themselves after all.
The trick, whether you’re performing a rehearsed stage production or a full-fledged political thriller-style real-life conspiracy, is really not so different. In fact, it’s so simple we could probably break it down into a few pointers you could apply to nearly any task you want to perform “on purpose” in the real world:
- Assemble the right audience.
- Understand their expectations and pitch to them.
- Direct people’s perceptions by manipulating their center of attention.
- Only show what you have to show.
- Making suggestions allows people to form their own conclusions.
And a bonus:
- Having someone else tell them your message makes you seem more important (word of mouth).
You should also, of course, successfully fulfill the expectations of your audience. At least, if you want to put on a good show that people will talk about and remember, that is! But then, maybe I’ve been hired by the New World Order to spread exactly this message - you never know*! I guess you’ll just have to start taking responsibility for your own life and decisions instead of trying to decipher everything through a haze of fear and outrage instead. You win either way… trust me.
See also: The Grand Ritual Mass Custom Conspiracy.
[*Actually, I'm more of an Illuminati man, truth be told.]
- END -
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12 Comments
I kinda see where you’re going but it’s coming across in a really scary way. So now you’re one of Them, you’re going to use your new-found power in secret to serve the forces of light, right?
I think that when you are powerless, you see all powerful people as evil, as working for the forces of darkness. Like for example the freemasons have traditionally opposed the Vatican and Royalty but in conspiracy theories they are commonly portrayed as all in it together.
I once made an analogy that that is a “bugs eye” view of the world. Like all powerful people are just big shoes ready to step on you. From that perspective they all look alike.
But I think when you start trying to exert power in your own life, own your personal power and increase it, the world starts to look different, you start to see why things are done a certian way by anyone that actually wants to take action as opposed to being a passive observer.
I think that whoever has the power to act can be tempted by the dark side. The ability to cause change in the world is a double-edged sword. I advise great caution.
I think its more dangerous to do nothing.
Where do you see me as going?
What in particular do you find scary about it?
One of whom? Someone who realizes that life is just a performance and that we ought to put on the best one possible? Then yes.
http://www.myspace.com/gathertogetherin
So you’re saying that *anyone* (as we all have the power to act, right?) can potentially be tempted to do wrong?
Then we ought to not refuse action, but to discern and take Right Action, yes?
Forgive me if I don’t yet understand what is so scary about all this!
Right action indeed. Good post, Tim.
Hey, I’m smiling to see you’ve changed my listing from “fellow bloggist” to conspiracy blogging “starlet” on your about page.
That makes me laugh, man! Bloggist sounds kinda respectable (better than blogger), but starlet…man, I can’t help but smile at that.
I’ll take that as an upgrade!
> I think its more dangerous to do nothing.
Agreed.
> Where do you see me as going?
I mean I think I understand some of what you’re talking about; I was expressing myself metaphorically.
> What in particular do you find scary about it?
A lot of your writing recently has been in the same sort of language as I’m familiar with from years of exposure to NLP-management-BS. Your aims might be good, but I associate the means with other things.
> One of whom?
‘They’ with a capital ‘T’ are hard to define. I use the capital letter to indicate a relation to the catch-all term often used when talking about conspiracy theories. I guess in this context ‘people who act covertly to further their own ends’. That’s the impression I get from this post.
> So you’re saying that *anyone* (as we all have the power to act, right?) can potentially be tempted to do wrong?
That seems obvious to me. Conversely, anyone can also do right.
> Then we ought to not refuse action, but to discern and take Right Action, yes?
Yeah but no but. The /discerning of Right Action/ is the bit that concerns me. That, I think, is where the rabbit hole starts. Especially if you’re going to use some of the powerful linguistic tools we’ve mentioned on this site.
Oh, and you can fix my quotes if you like
So are you suggesting that because of your preconceived associations, my work becomes somehow invalidated or dangerous?
Are you saying that only “bad” people do this? You’ve never done this before?
We shouldn’t try to discern Right Action?
What linguistic tools? Why are they powerful? It sounds like you’re equating anything which is powerful with bad. Wouldn’t we need powerful tools to discern Right Action?
> So are you suggesting that because of your preconceived associations, my work becomes somehow invalidated or dangerous?
I’m suggesting it scares me personally based on my own personal experience. This doesn’t make it wrong. Many good things can be scary.
> Are you saying that only “bad†people do this? You’ve never done this before?
I’m saying that’s the commonest association of this kind of action. Perhaps we do indeed need to ‘reclaim the streets’.
> We shouldn’t try to discern Right Action?
Of course we need to discern Right Action. This is both the most natural thing and also one of the easiest to get wrong.
> It sounds like you’re equating anything which is powerful with bad.
Not my intent. I’m equating it with potentially dangerous, requiring careful handling. I’m sure some powerful things are bad, but not all of them. Some are just misguided.
I think I have a clearer grasp of what you are saying now, thank you. Are you afraid that I am not being careful or cautious in the areas which I am entering into? What specifically do you envision happening that is so dangerous, if you don’t mind my asking?
I’ve replied on Real Life Acting Tip #5…
One Trackback
[...] There does seem to be a lot of doom and gloom and all around entrainment to negative frequencies in parts of Conspiracy Theory town. I suppose it could be something about looking into the abyss too long. There’s a lot of documented dark stuff that’s liable to blow your eyes out and break your heart or turn you cold if you’re not careful. But it’s not wholly the case, I think. I find a good grouping of the synchromystic folks don’t seem as dreary, though I don’t know if they necessarily seem humorous all the time. (And I’d think that even if I didn’t seem to have been made an honorary member of the tribe as of late.) Adam Gorightly is definately a cat who knows how to keep levity and good humor in his work. Tim Boucher, too, though he’s pretty much moved on up from the CT district to the East Side of action, just like George and Wheezy. [...]