Bokonon,

In a previous thread of mine below, you said in part "....life's problems are a little more complicated than simple minded conspiracy theories suggest." Now I find that to be a puzzling statement from what I have personally observed along these lines. I have never seen a truly simple minded conspiracy theory. They are all very, very complicated. They twist and turn, involving many people in numerous acts of deceit, treachery, killing and control. It takes a rather good mind to keep all these things in line and create a true conspiracy "theory". (as opposed to simply claiming something is a conspiracy) Not something for simple minded folks at all. In fact, the simple minded people I know never subscribe to conspiracy theories but just accept the statements handed out by the governmnet at face value. *That* is what is simple minded, along with denial. So, could you maybe elaborate on what it was you meant by what you said?

-- Gordon (gpconnolly@aol.com), August 28, 1999

Answers

Gordon,

Your question contains the answer. Conspiracies are devilishly complicated. So many things have to go according to plan. So many people have to behave exactly the way you expect them to. You have to stay rigid enough to keep the momentum going and stay on target, while simultaneously staying flexible enough to adjust for unforseen events. Then there's the problem of keeping co-conspirators silent. Most conspiracies worth the effort, carry high stakes. There's usually lots of profit in whistleblowing, and whistle blowers are usually granted immunity from prosecution.

Then there's the problem of just how many would-be "Hitlers" are vying for the top spot? This applies not only to internal power struggles, within a given conspiracy, it also applies to possible competition from other plots being devised simultaneously by other groups. This is the one that derails most political conspiracies. Most people forget that Adolf Hitler was in part guaranteed failure of his plans for Lebenstraum by his co-conspirators in Italy and Japan. Mussilini was under direct orders from Berlin, not to attack Greece. He did it anyway, forcing German troops to commit to a front they had planned to leave for later, and drawing forces away from the Russian Front. Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, without even notifying Hitler, and brought the U.S. into the war - a fatal mistake for the Axis. The grander the scheme, the greater the chances for mishap.

I have no doubt that there's lots of little "Hitlers" (or at least little "Ceasars"{no pizza reference intended}), vying for power in ours and every gov't, throughout the world, at any given time, past or present. However, due to the above enumerated complexities, most conspiracies fold in on themselves before they ever ripen.

Conspiracies are complex - believing that everything that happens that you don't like, is the result of a conspiracy, is what is simple-minded.

-- Bokonon (bok0non@my-Deja.com), August 28, 1999.

BONKERS!

"However, due to the above enumerated complexities, most conspiracies fold in on themselves before they ever ripen."

That's what they would like you to believe...

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), August 28, 1999.

It's driving mANDY nuts that I'm not getting involved with the little flame attractor, he posted last night.

-- Bokonon (bok0non@my-Deja.com), August 29, 1999.

Gordon and Bokonon -- Well spoken, both of you!

I go back and forth on conspiracies like your points do. I think we've all seen (and mentally written) some great conspiracy movies, and we know we'll read some in history books one day. We just don't know which ones, and we're so damned curious, we wanna know now. Especially when our lives are at stake.

We just want to know: Are WE in one of those movies now? Or is it our fertile imaginations?

And thanks to you , Andy Man! Keep servin' them up!

Gotta go pick up some preps now -- all day drive.

-- jor-el (jor-el@krypton.uni), August 30, 1999.

Here is a quote that I've always believed:

"Never attribute to conspiracy what can be explained by stupidity."

Take Bonkerson, for example. He is certainly NOT part of any conspiracy!

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.com), August 30, 1999.