WHO RULES THE WORLD?

Quite a few conspiracy theories have eventually been proven to be true- MKUltra is one-

Somebody recommended the documentary Zeitgeist earlier in the thread, I second the recommendation- The part about religion, specifically, is fascinating -

I loved X-Files ..

I've a friend who believes in all sorts of strange stuff, that she spent years researching.

She has given up an excellent career (and a huge wage) as an accountant for a huge worldwide company, and taken off to find like minded people.

I wouldn't have said she was disempowered, but maybe she isn't a typical conspiracy theorist.

A lot of work has been done into why people believe conspiracy theories. At one point it was thought that those feeling diempowered supported them because they could then feel comfortable that there were powers beyond our control who caused everything.

In the end it is comfort that draws us to conspiracy theorys. We want simple answers to complex problems that are difficul tto handle www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-47144738

absent I have no sympathy for conspiracy theorists no matter how confused, vulnerable and unhappy they may be. They spread fear, hatred and unhappiness - did you not read about the theory they spread about the Sandy Hook school massacre? Grieving parents were abused and told they had made up the killings, made up their children's very existence.
And Lily blaming ‘the Jews’ is nothing like blaming the Tories. No one making anti-Semitic remarks like that would be allowed to stay in my house for a nano second after uttering a comment like that.

Putin is making quite an effort in that direction and he is probably more ruthless than most contenders.

Sorry, missed a question mark in the above post.

Had a handyman in to do some work and while he was fixing the gubbins he explained how some random Jewish guy had been responsible for shooting JFK. There was no doubt he believed every word and he went on to elaborate on his view of the world.

Completely batsh*t. It worried me for a bit and then I remembered that most people are motivated by and adhere to some sustaining narrative whether religious, political or social. His seemed somewhat more harmful and bigoted than most but really, was it much worse than (still) blaming every ill on 'Thatcher' or 'The Tories'.

Fear drives intolerance and conspiracy theories. That and the need for scapegoats.

Best get on with our lives and mind our own beeswax.

Whether it is true or not, what on earth can we do about it?

Advertising manipulates us, that's for sure but we either choose to buy what they peddle or we don't.

Just live your life the best you can; buy what you need; be kind to one another; teach your children to be respectful and help others - and don't get your knickers in a twist.

What more can we do?

And BTW, you're all wrong. I rule the world

lemongrove Conspiracy theories are also brought up or, more likely, supported by vulnerable, confused and unhappy people.

As far as flat-earthers are concerned, my thought, along with many other pet lovers, is that if the Earth were flat, cats would have knocked everything off the edge years ago.

Chastened.

Whether it is my opinion or not and I am just playing devil's advocate I am berated. Thank you

Google the film "Zeitgeist", a three section film. I watched it years ago after a recommendation from a friend. Don't know if any of it is true, but it really gave me pause for thought. I found the first section on religion absolutely fascinating and well worth a watch. Section 2 was all about the Twin Towers, scary conspiracy theory type bit. Section 3 is about the money men, Rothschilds, Rockefellers etc. Found that section a bit boring to be honest. Would thoroughly recommend watching the religion section though and getting other Gransnetters views on it.

Remember reading a book many years ago about a secret group of men who decided everything from PM to presidents, from war to peace.......they decided which country to lend money to and which to call in the debt...we were just puppets for their use to control world ?.....no one knew who and where ...
Made me realise politicians were just figure heads and a waste of space!

I didn’t say ‘not true’ Solange I said ‘No, it’s a paranoid and false view’ ( just to quote my whole sentence)
Conspiracy theories are thought up by paranoid people and spread by social media.
The fact that there really are believers in a flat earth is amazing, is it not?
Very, very rich men (powerful and influential )very likely do try to get their fingers in political pies, especially in some countries where bribes and backhanders are rife.It doesn’t mean they are running the whole show and causing wars etc.

Lemongrove…..proof? I don't think you can throw in a comment like 'not true' and walk away. Where is the proof? or do you just think its silly...? more stupid ideas have proven true.

I agree & believe we are all part of a huge experiment run by off planet beings
Call me whacky, but do your own research & don’t bury your head in the sand through fear & ignorance

I think as a country we need to be more self sufficient. If only in the basics so we have control and can ignore more of the controlling outside influences . Maybe a pipe dream.!

You said 'no smoke without fire' A statement I totally disagree with. I illustrated it with a reference to the recent case of Carl Beech, who over several years named a random selection of well known people, mainly political or establishment figures, accusing them of all sorts of heinous sexual crimes including murder.

It led to their houses being searched, in one case while the man's wife lay dying in another room. Absolutely nothing was found on their computers or in their houses to support these accusations. None of them knew or had ever met their accuser. It was later found that Carl Beech was a serial fantasist. He was recently went down for 18 years, I think.

This case has been on the front pages of the newspapers and on every news site for most of the last 5 years, cases against the police officers who accepted his claims with out evidence are still ongoing

Would you say of all those completely innocent men caught up in a fantasist's web that there is no smoke without fire?

You are of course entitled to your opinion, but being an entitled to an opinion, doesn't mean that others cannot challenge it if they do not agree or do not think it has a sound foundation - and that is all I did, queried your opinion because I think it is not sustainable.

Thank M0nica for shattering my illusions that I was entitled to an opinion...
I have absolutely no idea what you post is about?!

I'm with Maggieanne and GreenGran78 regarding the earth being flat. We know that it is carried on the back of a turtle - don't we ladies?
I also like the idea that we are all part of an inter galactic computer game too GreenGran78. Perhaps you could start a thread on it!

Newspaper owners - have been saying this for 20yrs plus.

I have long had my eye on the illuminati.

The illuminati and new world order. The EU has been thought up by these. A new European army will soon appear. No it is not a theory. We are being controlled. If only people would really open their minds.

I agree with Sillyoldfool. However, I would be interested to know more about the programme that Newatthis mentions.

It used to be said that the major merchant banks ran the world, as they decided which governments could borrow money and at what rate of interest.

I find most conspiracy theories highly over-rated, before giving credence to them, perhaps we should all re-read "Foucault's Pendulum" by Umberto Eco.

That said, obviously those in power are influenced by their advisors, public opinion, financial issues and a great many other things, so I doubt it is possible to say who actually controls what or whom.