So, it's hard to be a modern netizen without running across a conspiracy theory or two. These range from the obviously plausible (websites devoted to JFK assassination theories) to the unlikely (the Bush administration was behind 9/11) to the downright absurd (reptilian aliens are infiltrating world gov'ts). Most recently, the conspiracy theorists are having a good time talking about the incident in Newtown, CT.
As conspiracy theories go, it's less plausible than the ATF instigating the Waco Siege, but more plausible than the Gov't doing 9/11. But that's not really what this post is about. There's something a lot more important to discuss, and it's not the real identity of Emilie Parker, or whatever the hell that girl's name is.
What always occurs to me whenever I read about someone's pet theory is "If I believe this is real, what changes for me?"
It's a hell of a question. It doesn't sound that hard to answer, until we start getting down to the specifics. If Sandy Hook was planned by the gov't, then our gov't is evil on a level we've never experience in the US, and it's probably time to put some folks up against a wall. But that's not at all what this post is about, so we're going to substitute a "Stolen Television" analogy here. Just to avoid confusion.
If my television gets stolen, then to act as if it is still there would be an act of madness. My XBOX won't play movies anymore, to act otherwise would be to choose unreality over reality. Madness, there's really no better word for it. To know the truth, but to live according to that which is known to be a lie, is to choose to live in an unreal world. It's self-chosen insanity.
The Truth simply is what it is. It's not something people should ever avoid, nor should people ever ignore it. If my television gets stolen, then it would be an act of madness to choose to believe that it's still there. The reality or unreality of my television being stolen isn't innately good or bad, it simply is. Obviously, I'd have to get a new television, but reality wouldn't change.
Back to conspiracy theories. If I come across a conspiracy theory, and it's just not believable (I'm not saying it was aliens....but it was aliens), then nothing is required of me. I can go back to bed, and wake up for work tomorrow. Unreality requires nothing of a conscious mind, and to change in reaction to unreality (my television was not stolen, I need to buy a new one) is to choose insanity.
One of the most central axioms in my life is that things simply are what they are. The Truth is True, what's Real is Real, and it is what it is. I rarely like reality (Tax day is coming up, I didn't have paycheck withholding last year...ouch), but that doesn't mean that I can swap in whatever insanity strikes my fancy that day. If I believe something is real, then I'd have to be a crazy person to act like it isn't.
I'm sitting on a very real recliner, in a very real state (really bad state, but hey, it's Oklahoma), typing on a very real computer. Tomorrow, I'll go to a very real job by driving a real car down real roads, dodging other real cars. Life, literally, depends on my interaction with reality.
If I choose to disregard reality, like assuming that the semi-trailer on the freeway isn't real and trying to merge in front of it, I'll end up dead, or in the hospital. A better place would be a padded cell, which is the only good place for people who refuse to deal with reality.
I'm not saying that we should all rise up against our gov't. I'm not saying Sandy Hook was a conspiracy. What I am saying is that if things are true, then we should act on them, and if things aren't we shouldn't. I'm not just talking about big things, or grandiose fights against corruption (Let me know how marching on the Capital goes, okay?). It's the little things, too.
If it's true that it's good to hold doors open for old ladies, then hold the damn door open for old ladies. If it's true that it's good to get some exercise every day, then do your age in jumping jacks tomorrow morning (or pushups, whatever you fancy). Don't just acknowledge that something is true, then live as if it isn't. If you do that, you're choosing to betray yourself, you're choosing madness, you're choosing lies over truth, unreality over reality.
If you're a religious person, like I am, then you bloody well better commit to that, too. If you really believe in an all-powerful, all-knowing God, don't even try to hide from Him. Don't try lying, don't try dodging. Commit to what you believe is real, don't choose what you believe is false.
Maybe, after a while, you'll change your opinions about what's true and what isn't, and that's fine, too. People who stay in reality rarely find that they've got everything sorted, and as long as they stick with what's real and true, then there's nothing wrong with seeing shades of gray between black and white. It's called nuance, it's actually a beautiful thing.
Dealing with reality is hard-ass work. Maybe that's why folks seem so quick to turn towards anything that will take away the burden. The reality that the only way to succeed is to work hard is daunting, so it's easier to turn towards someone who promises easy success. The reality that you can't save money by spending more is unpleasant (to say the least), so we're quick to look for ways to make more income instead of spending less.
There's a natural tendency to want to avoid reality whenever possible. Life is hard, there's no two ways about it.
But it's real. Even in a world of murderous gov'ts, greedy corporations, retarded politicians, and idiotic drivers, the real thing is a hell of a lot better than the alternative. Let's deal with the real world as it is, in the exact manner it deserves, and give no thought to the unreality that tempts us.
Personally, I really hope that in the end, Sandy Hook was really just the actions of Adam Lanza. I really hope that in Waco, the Branch Davidians shot first, and that in New York, it was really just 19 hijackers who wanted to strike back against the Great Satan, or whatever they call us. That would be nice, easy, and wouldn't require much of us.
If it's all bullshit, then I guess we're in for a rough couple of years.
Either way, I'll take the real world, and I'll see where reality takes me. Maybe it'll ask me to go places I wouldn't otherwise go, and to change my path through life. Maybe it won't, maybe reality won't bother my hopes and dreams to much. No matter what,it's better than choosing unreality, lies, and madness.
As conspiracy theories go, it's less plausible than the ATF instigating the Waco Siege, but more plausible than the Gov't doing 9/11. But that's not really what this post is about. There's something a lot more important to discuss, and it's not the real identity of Emilie Parker, or whatever the hell that girl's name is.
What always occurs to me whenever I read about someone's pet theory is "If I believe this is real, what changes for me?"
It's a hell of a question. It doesn't sound that hard to answer, until we start getting down to the specifics. If Sandy Hook was planned by the gov't, then our gov't is evil on a level we've never experience in the US, and it's probably time to put some folks up against a wall. But that's not at all what this post is about, so we're going to substitute a "Stolen Television" analogy here. Just to avoid confusion.
If my television gets stolen, then to act as if it is still there would be an act of madness. My XBOX won't play movies anymore, to act otherwise would be to choose unreality over reality. Madness, there's really no better word for it. To know the truth, but to live according to that which is known to be a lie, is to choose to live in an unreal world. It's self-chosen insanity.
The Truth simply is what it is. It's not something people should ever avoid, nor should people ever ignore it. If my television gets stolen, then it would be an act of madness to choose to believe that it's still there. The reality or unreality of my television being stolen isn't innately good or bad, it simply is. Obviously, I'd have to get a new television, but reality wouldn't change.
Back to conspiracy theories. If I come across a conspiracy theory, and it's just not believable (I'm not saying it was aliens....but it was aliens), then nothing is required of me. I can go back to bed, and wake up for work tomorrow. Unreality requires nothing of a conscious mind, and to change in reaction to unreality (my television was not stolen, I need to buy a new one) is to choose insanity.
One of the most central axioms in my life is that things simply are what they are. The Truth is True, what's Real is Real, and it is what it is. I rarely like reality (Tax day is coming up, I didn't have paycheck withholding last year...ouch), but that doesn't mean that I can swap in whatever insanity strikes my fancy that day. If I believe something is real, then I'd have to be a crazy person to act like it isn't.
I'm sitting on a very real recliner, in a very real state (really bad state, but hey, it's Oklahoma), typing on a very real computer. Tomorrow, I'll go to a very real job by driving a real car down real roads, dodging other real cars. Life, literally, depends on my interaction with reality.
If I choose to disregard reality, like assuming that the semi-trailer on the freeway isn't real and trying to merge in front of it, I'll end up dead, or in the hospital. A better place would be a padded cell, which is the only good place for people who refuse to deal with reality.
I'm not saying that we should all rise up against our gov't. I'm not saying Sandy Hook was a conspiracy. What I am saying is that if things are true, then we should act on them, and if things aren't we shouldn't. I'm not just talking about big things, or grandiose fights against corruption (Let me know how marching on the Capital goes, okay?). It's the little things, too.
If it's true that it's good to hold doors open for old ladies, then hold the damn door open for old ladies. If it's true that it's good to get some exercise every day, then do your age in jumping jacks tomorrow morning (or pushups, whatever you fancy). Don't just acknowledge that something is true, then live as if it isn't. If you do that, you're choosing to betray yourself, you're choosing madness, you're choosing lies over truth, unreality over reality.
If you're a religious person, like I am, then you bloody well better commit to that, too. If you really believe in an all-powerful, all-knowing God, don't even try to hide from Him. Don't try lying, don't try dodging. Commit to what you believe is real, don't choose what you believe is false.
Maybe, after a while, you'll change your opinions about what's true and what isn't, and that's fine, too. People who stay in reality rarely find that they've got everything sorted, and as long as they stick with what's real and true, then there's nothing wrong with seeing shades of gray between black and white. It's called nuance, it's actually a beautiful thing.
Dealing with reality is hard-ass work. Maybe that's why folks seem so quick to turn towards anything that will take away the burden. The reality that the only way to succeed is to work hard is daunting, so it's easier to turn towards someone who promises easy success. The reality that you can't save money by spending more is unpleasant (to say the least), so we're quick to look for ways to make more income instead of spending less.
There's a natural tendency to want to avoid reality whenever possible. Life is hard, there's no two ways about it.
But it's real. Even in a world of murderous gov'ts, greedy corporations, retarded politicians, and idiotic drivers, the real thing is a hell of a lot better than the alternative. Let's deal with the real world as it is, in the exact manner it deserves, and give no thought to the unreality that tempts us.
Personally, I really hope that in the end, Sandy Hook was really just the actions of Adam Lanza. I really hope that in Waco, the Branch Davidians shot first, and that in New York, it was really just 19 hijackers who wanted to strike back against the Great Satan, or whatever they call us. That would be nice, easy, and wouldn't require much of us.
If it's all bullshit, then I guess we're in for a rough couple of years.
Either way, I'll take the real world, and I'll see where reality takes me. Maybe it'll ask me to go places I wouldn't otherwise go, and to change my path through life. Maybe it won't, maybe reality won't bother my hopes and dreams to much. No matter what,it's better than choosing unreality, lies, and madness.
