Videos that prove the ELITEs are really REPTILIAN ALIENS !!11!!

[semillama]

Or, how when all you have is a conspiracy theory hammer, everything looks like little green nails:

http://www.boingboing.net/2010/09/01/videos-that-prove-th.html

"I'm with my friend and senior editor of bOING bOING (the zine) Gareth Branwyn and he is showing me funny videos posted by people who think the world is ruled by reptilian humanoid shapeshifters (basically, the nonsense that David Icke perpetuates). The videos show politicians and other powerful people's tongue flicks, hisses, strange head tilting, and membrane eyelids that move sideways. "

So, apparently, these nuts just sit in their basements and look really hard at newscasts, and interpret every megapixel anomaly as OMG THAT GUY TOTALLY SHAPESHIFTED!!!!

All the reptilian amusement you need here:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=reptilian&aq=f

[onager]

1. You're trying to tell me this is NOT a reptilian alien overlord...?

[Behind the Aegis]

2. Serious question...

Does anyone know when or by whom this idea of reptilian aliens being disguised as elites originated? I know David "The Holocaust didn't Happen" Icke perpetuates this BS, but did it start with him or someone else?

[salvorhardin]

3. No, Icke didn't invent the idea of evil, shape-shifting reptilian aliens

He's done more than most to flesh it out and expand on it though.

The idea of evil, shape-shifting reptilian aliens has its origins in the hollow Earth theories, lost continents and occultism. In particular though, Madame Blavatsky sort of kicks it all off in the late 1800s when she becomes fascinated with the writings of Ignatius Donnelly. Aside from popularizing the myth of Atlantis, Donnelly served in the U.S. House of Representatives and was Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota. He also originated the idea that Francis Bacon had written Shakespeare's plays. Another of Donnelly's books heavily influenced Immanuel "Electric Universe" Velikovsky.

From Blavatsky to Icke is a wild and crazy ride but it's very easy to trace the intellectual history of Icke back to Blavatsky, and it's really a fascinating story involving cult leaders, crazy people who hear voices in their welding equipment, science fiction magazine editors and the estranged son of Bill Lear, inventor of the Lear Jet and the 8-Track Cassette.

If you'd like to get the whole story, I highly recommend chapters 6 and 7 of Michael Barkun's A Culture of Conspiracy. If there's interest I can type up a chronological capsule summary.

[Behind the Aegis]

4. Thank you for such a detailed response.

I haven't read A Culture of Conspiracy, it'll have to go on a wish list. I'd love a capsule if you have the time. I am glad I have the information I have now, because I really didn't have a clue as to where this nonsense sprang from.

[salvorhardin]

5. You're welcome. It's amazing to see how it all evolves from the Atlantean myth.

If I get the time, Saturday or Sunday, I'll type up a cursory timeline. I'll have to leave out quite a bit because Barkun goes into incredible detail. The 1980s are the hardest because that's when the UFO believers just go entirely nuts after the MJ-12 document is "made public".

See if you can get Barkun's book through your library or used for cheap though because it's really one of the best books out there on conspiracism. Far from being some dry, academic text it's really quite entertaining too (assuming you're into that sort of thing).

[Behind the Aegis]

6. I really do appreciate it.

I had to look up the library here in New Orleans. I had no idea where it was (it is in the Central Business District (CBD)). We only have a few used bookstore and most of them are "specialty" (i.e. Voodoo). :) It is New Orleans.

As for humor, you know me...straight-laced as they come, at least that's what the label on my special wrap-around arms jacket says. :)