Monday 3 August 2015
Caro Lines - The curious blog of Caroline Gold: Conspiracies And Kathy Mitchell
Caro Lines - The curious blog of Caroline Gold: Conspiracies And Kathy Mitchell: Afternoon thoughts. (May resemble displacement activity AKA procrastination, indicate a Long Lunch etc.) A friend on Facebook posted an ar...
Conspiracies And Kathy Mitchell
Afternoon thoughts. (May resemble displacement activity AKA procrastination, indicate a Long Lunch etc.)
A friend on Facebook posted an article by a Conspiracy Theorist which had the audacious post semi-colon question in it's title - Chaos or Conspiracy? Turns out - wait for it - YES! - It's a conspiracy *Phew!. Other way would be no fun. Such is the joy of Facebook links. The poster/sharer, as a pragmatic and regular chap posted it for ridicule but I have, however, seen more amateurish things served as an OMG fact. Funny how the believers think of themselves as the sceptics?
Got me thinking. It was either that or working!
My dad always said that War when you were inside it was, Chaos and patterns are attributed to it afterwards and things presented as though organised and to plan.
History is written.
Conspiracy theorists (the authors) are like fictional writers working with fact. Using what already exists they have to take the events, make it a plot, give it a narrative, make it look organised. Thing is it's a bit like writers on EastEnders trying to macramé past characters and plots into later ones and making them seem connected. Sometimes you just have to crowbar in the improbable and hope for the best. One needs however an audience who have already entered into a contract of disbelief. When it gets tricky and ludicrous like when the actual people who did the 7.7 attacks were ACTORS duped into thinking it was a film (The 9/11 truthers believe ALL these things are False Flags and the explanation for every terrorist event is quite a miracle to behold) Some here will post the first sighting of the gospel according to apologist. Seriously the details are the best.
The Conspiracy Theory Customers however are like we are and will not give up or criticise Eastenders Kathy Mitchell's return from the dead, we will accept the explanation and enjoy the outcome.. We do like her so okay, far-fetched, lets just move over that part and get on with the whole story. Christmas will be good.
A friend on Facebook posted an article by a Conspiracy Theorist which had the audacious post semi-colon question in it's title - Chaos or Conspiracy? Turns out - wait for it - YES! - It's a conspiracy *Phew!. Other way would be no fun. Such is the joy of Facebook links. The poster/sharer, as a pragmatic and regular chap posted it for ridicule but I have, however, seen more amateurish things served as an OMG fact. Funny how the believers think of themselves as the sceptics?
Got me thinking. It was either that or working!
My dad always said that War when you were inside it was, Chaos and patterns are attributed to it afterwards and things presented as though organised and to plan.
History is written.
Conspiracy theorists (the authors) are like fictional writers working with fact. Using what already exists they have to take the events, make it a plot, give it a narrative, make it look organised. Thing is it's a bit like writers on EastEnders trying to macramé past characters and plots into later ones and making them seem connected. Sometimes you just have to crowbar in the improbable and hope for the best. One needs however an audience who have already entered into a contract of disbelief. When it gets tricky and ludicrous like when the actual people who did the 7.7 attacks were ACTORS duped into thinking it was a film (The 9/11 truthers believe ALL these things are False Flags and the explanation for every terrorist event is quite a miracle to behold) Some here will post the first sighting of the gospel according to apologist. Seriously the details are the best.
The Conspiracy Theory Customers however are like we are and will not give up or criticise Eastenders Kathy Mitchell's return from the dead, we will accept the explanation and enjoy the outcome.. We do like her so okay, far-fetched, lets just move over that part and get on with the whole story. Christmas will be good.
When Conspiracy jockeys try and sell it to the sensible it all goes wrong. these people due to their need and desire to believe, their faith in their paranoia (or cynicism) and hate create complicated Pretzels of logic and present them as though they are plain rolls. They do not realise how far they have gone down the rabbit hole if they believe, if they don't, oh well, it's a game and you are a counter.
They will never see sense because they don't want to, it is no fun (and stops sometimes a politically mischievous game) or, in the case of The Moon Landings, or Lizard people, some film reality with them as special that they find more feasible than the boring and pathetic human truth.
Sometimes it's just a way of deflecting focus from something else more unpleasant, often to do with ourselves or those close. Bit like the reason we watch Eastenders on Christmas day.
They will never see sense because they don't want to, it is no fun (and stops sometimes a politically mischievous game) or, in the case of The Moon Landings, or Lizard people, some film reality with them as special that they find more feasible than the boring and pathetic human truth.
Sometimes it's just a way of deflecting focus from something else more unpleasant, often to do with ourselves or those close. Bit like the reason we watch Eastenders on Christmas day.
Thursday 11 June 2015
Eulogy For the Undead, Dead Good
RIP Christopher Lee
- wonderful man, so glad he lived long and prospered playing high status charismatic master villains, being a war hero and thoroughly impressive dude (the acting really being the least of it) He was just such an unlikely and wonderful person to grace these shores. I imagine the Hammer Horror-peoples heavenly jokes about the irony of them being the ones who wind up in heave...n. Lee is the biggest contrast, however as in real life he is their dark lord reversed in a contrast as extreme, if not more so, than the Star Trek 'Alternate-Universe' bearded 'evil' versions of Spock and Kirk, which of course, were still, all fictional.
I always thought of Lee as a loveable kitsch icon. In his and my later life I was delighted not only could I enjoy him sans irony, I could marvel at his added excellent-ness. By the time he died he had enjoyed acclaim and received respect beyond those of us who loved camp, unscary glorious technicolour high point in fi the TV programming of our childhood.(Along with Carry On - the crossover in 'Screaming' being perfection) Thing is, truth being strange, the chap was in real life improbably enough actually brilliant and brave enough to do what any of his baddies could have done (with the same diabolical aid), Lee was actually a card carrying 'goodie' in real life as extreme, practiced, erudite and accomplished as many of his high villains.
So as he arrives, sweeping in front of all the posh and important dead at the welcoming committee, is an impeccably turned out Peter Cushing, his high forehead gleaming, his hair swept back, his impeccably tailored velvet jacket and lace collar immaculate, they shake hand and hug "Well, well well Chris old feller, I always expected you to wind up downstairs heheheheh!" Lee takes a sip of some welcome refreshment handed to him.
"Tell al the Hollywood welcoming people and so forth to give my friend and I some time to catch up eh?
Whereupon they wander off together to a bookish wood panelled, clock ticking, candle lit gentlemen's study with comfy chairs, a decanter and a globe to take snuff and talk long into the night, so okay...THIS is this is what I would like to think.
The point being...
Having now expressed, my fondness and best wishes in regard to his passing, my happiness at his good innings and a life well lived. Taking into account the humour and good nature of the man himself. I say I in all due respect to the man and his fans and the online clipboard carrying critics - please do not hassle me over my affectionate, if irreverent impulse to post this picture, drink a toast and say-
'He'll be back" '
- wonderful man, so glad he lived long and prospered playing high status charismatic master villains, being a war hero and thoroughly impressive dude (the acting really being the least of it) He was just such an unlikely and wonderful person to grace these shores. I imagine the Hammer Horror-peoples heavenly jokes about the irony of them being the ones who wind up in heave...n. Lee is the biggest contrast, however as in real life he is their dark lord reversed in a contrast as extreme, if not more so, than the Star Trek 'Alternate-Universe' bearded 'evil' versions of Spock and Kirk, which of course, were still, all fictional.
I always thought of Lee as a loveable kitsch icon. In his and my later life I was delighted not only could I enjoy him sans irony, I could marvel at his added excellent-ness. By the time he died he had enjoyed acclaim and received respect beyond those of us who loved camp, unscary glorious technicolour high point in fi the TV programming of our childhood.(Along with Carry On - the crossover in 'Screaming' being perfection) Thing is, truth being strange, the chap was in real life improbably enough actually brilliant and brave enough to do what any of his baddies could have done (with the same diabolical aid), Lee was actually a card carrying 'goodie' in real life as extreme, practiced, erudite and accomplished as many of his high villains.
So as he arrives, sweeping in front of all the posh and important dead at the welcoming committee, is an impeccably turned out Peter Cushing, his high forehead gleaming, his hair swept back, his impeccably tailored velvet jacket and lace collar immaculate, they shake hand and hug "Well, well well Chris old feller, I always expected you to wind up downstairs heheheheh!" Lee takes a sip of some welcome refreshment handed to him.
"Tell al the Hollywood welcoming people and so forth to give my friend and I some time to catch up eh?
Whereupon they wander off together to a bookish wood panelled, clock ticking, candle lit gentlemen's study with comfy chairs, a decanter and a globe to take snuff and talk long into the night, so okay...THIS is this is what I would like to think.
The point being...
Having now expressed, my fondness and best wishes in regard to his passing, my happiness at his good innings and a life well lived. Taking into account the humour and good nature of the man himself. I say I in all due respect to the man and his fans and the online clipboard carrying critics - please do not hassle me over my affectionate, if irreverent impulse to post this picture, drink a toast and say-
'He'll be back" '
Friday 27 February 2015
RIP Leonard Nimmoy. Spock is gone. The dream must live on.
Not just a loss of our generations childhood past but of the way the future was. An optimistic primary coloured, good natured one.
Four more centuries to go to get back to 1966.
Most of all though, Star Trek was a celebration of friendship, good fellowship and tolerance; a spirit that makes it's mythology so beloved and part of the collective baby-boomer psyche. That, and the flawed and warm charisma of the stars. Even their kitsch and ludicrous musical styling's and other eccentric personal endeavours are/were charming. All of it life, affirming, positive; harmless. The stuff of love and gentleness, joy and smiles. The past is another country, the future another universe. the spirit of (the) enterprise the quest for modernity and hope is what will transport us beyond what we are to what we could be. As for now we have worse that Klingons within and are light years away from being acceptable to the United Federation Of Planets. We still have time though. We must not lose our way and should always endeavour to go boldly.
XXCG
Monday 16 February 2015
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