Friday, July 29, 2011

Yet Another Film The Truthers Think Is About Them

Close Encounters of the Truther Kind:
Richard Dreyfus' character in Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind, Roy Neary, struggles with an obsession to recreate a mountainous shape out of anything malleable he touches. During the movie he regularly interrupts some normal, everyday event by suddenly falling into an artistic obsession to represent a vision apparently burned into his brain. His struggle to bring meaning to his vision doesn't end until he completes a perfect model of the Devil's Tower in Wyoming, recognizes it for what it is, and then succeeds in reaching the tower in spite of cordons of troops and helicopters.

The real life version of that Close Encounters' moment, that instant when there is a perfect vision of what happened, is nearly here for 9/11.

There is something in the nature of fiction that requires that the obsessive and paranoid individual is always proven right in the end. I suppose it is simply that if the Richard Dreyfuss character was wrong, the whole subplot with him constructing representations of the Devil's Tower would simply be a red herring; an irrelevant bit that simply leads us astray.

Indeed, the only counter-example I can think of for this is A Beautiful Mind. There we learn eventually that Nash's zany conspiracy theorizing is simply a reflection of mental illness. And of course, that was based on a true story.

41 Comments:

At 30 July, 2011 14:00, Blogger M Gregory Ferris said...

" Finally, it is time to stop being embarrassed about be called "conspiracy theorists," because the pile of stinking evidence that now surrounds the official cordon around 9/11 suggests "conspiracy theorist" is an approbation that can be worn as an honor."

...and by "Badge" he means "Training Bra"...

 
At 30 July, 2011 14:32, Blogger Michael Lewis said...

There is something in the nature of fiction that requires that the obsessive and paranoid individual is always proven right in the end.

I think it's more basic than that, even. The humble figure, defeating Power and Lies, using only Virtue and Truth as weapons -- that's about the oldest literary theme there is. Ever notice how Troofers can't agree about plot details but they all agree that the story ends with Bush & Cheney being hanged?

Of course there's one key difference between Roy Neary and any given Truther: Roy Neary was right.

 
At 30 July, 2011 15:47, Blogger snug.bug said...

I couldn't care less about hanging Bush and Cheney.

What I care about is having investigations in the media and the government that can be believed. What they've given us is a load of crap. A democracy can not function unless there's free and open discussion of all the issues.

 
At 30 July, 2011 16:51, Blogger M Gregory Ferris said...

"What I care about is having investigations in the media and the government that can be believed. "

...believed by your ridiculous standards.

The difference between troofers and Roy Neary is that Roy went to the mountain to find the truth. He didn't hang out in his mother's basement picking apart other people's work.

The appropriate story for the troofers is Don Quixote not only because of the obvious correlation between them and the titel character, but the link to the undertones of the Inquisition and those standards of "proof".

 
At 30 July, 2011 18:22, Blogger Len said...

"There is something in the nature of fiction that requires that the obsessive and paranoid individual is always proven right in the end."

That makes perfect sense. As the odd saying goes, "dog bites man" isn't news. An obsessive nut job turning out to be just a loon wouldn't make for a very interesting story, unless he wins a Nobel Prize. The latter wouldn't work as fiction.

Funny though that truthers don't see the irony in having to keep referencing fiction to shore up their beliefs.

 
At 30 July, 2011 18:45, Blogger Triterope said...

Funny though that truthers don't see the irony in having to keep referencing fiction to shore up their beliefs.

I think it's a function of their TV- and Internet-addled existence. They get all their cues from pop culture. Science, history, literature are dead letters to them.

 
At 30 July, 2011 18:53, Blogger Dave Kyte said...

"What I care about is having investigations in the media and the government that can be believed. What they've given us is a load of crap. A democracy can not function unless there's free and open discussion of all the issues."

So let start with the idea creation is something that need to be considered as viable as evolution. Lot of people hold that idea too.

We don't do it because the people pushing the idea we need to "investigate the controversy" are like truthers religious zealots. Creationist use the tactic of calling for freedom to teach the idea evolution may not be true as a way of forcing thier little God into the minor questions surrounding exactly how evolution works. Truthers loons use this let's investigate again as a way to try and force an "Inside Job God" into reality.

The informed and educated accept evolutions as fact same as the informed and educated accept 9/11 was not an inside job. Only the ignorant want to promote a controversy on both subjects. An enlightened country ignores the idiots.

 
At 31 July, 2011 15:41, Blogger Jonn Wood said...

I think it's a function of their TV- and Internet-addled existence. They get all their cues from pop culture. Science, history, literature are dead letters to them.

This also explains why they think they can demolish several paragraphs worth of argument with a "witty" one liner.

 
At 31 July, 2011 16:09, Blogger Ian said...

What I care about is having investigations in the media and the government that can be believed.

We already did have these investigations. You don't believe them because you're an ignorant lunatic.

What they've given us is a load of crap.

False.

A democracy can not function unless there's free and open discussion of all the issues.

Yes, which is why it's good that we had a free and open discussion of all the issues related to 9/11 over the last decade. There isn't much left to discuss, but if you disagree, you are free to call Diane Feinstein, Barbara Boxer, and Anna Eshoo to demand more discussions.

On second thought, that might not be a good idea, given the way you stalk other women.

 
At 31 July, 2011 16:10, Blogger Ian said...

Anyway, Brian, did you have a good weekend? Don't tell me you just spent it all babbling about magic thermite elves and calling people "girls" on the internet....

 
At 31 July, 2011 16:10, Blogger Len said...

"I think it's a function of their TV- and Internet-addled existence. They get all their cues from pop culture. Science, history, literature are dead letters to them."

It is not uncommon for them to say that some movie or TV show shows easy it would be to pull some conspiracy off.

 
At 31 July, 2011 23:41, Blogger snug.bug said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

 
At 01 August, 2011 00:59, Blogger snug.bug said...

Ian, I had a working weekend, and worked myself silly. Whether my work was productive or valuable I don't know, but I sure as hell tried.

The nice thing about janitorial work is that you know when you did a good job. More complex work, you may never know if you were effective or not.

 
At 01 August, 2011 11:24, Blogger Dave Kyte said...

"More complex work, you may never know if you were effective or not."

More complex work. "thinking mans work" would be too much for a loser like you Brian, but we do need people to clean up after the more productive and valuable members of this country, so yes you have a small but certainly not a invaluable use as a person.

Its good there are simpleton types satisfied to do the grunt work.

 
At 01 August, 2011 18:29, Blogger snug.bug said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

 
At 01 August, 2011 18:31, Blogger snug.bug said...

DK, there's a difference between taking satisfaction in grunt work and being satisfied with it.

But I can't expect you to discern it.

What people like you don't recognize is that no matter how high you may think you've risen, you're still just doing grunt work.

 
At 01 August, 2011 18:36, Blogger Triterope said...

Ian, I had a working weekend. The nice thing about janitorial work is that you know when you did a good job

So you are a fucking janitor now? Or is this some retarded metaphor?

 
At 01 August, 2011 19:20, Blogger Ian said...

Ian, I had a working weekend, and worked myself silly. Whether my work was productive or valuable I don't know, but I sure as hell tried.

Brian, stop pretending you have a job. You're an unemployed lunatic who posts dumbspam all day from the computers of a public library.

It must suck to be a bright middle schooler who can't use the computers to write a report on Thomas Jefferson because an unemployed middle-aged lunatic is pounding away at the keyboard.

 
At 01 August, 2011 19:22, Blogger Ian said...

The nice thing about janitorial work is that you know when you did a good job. More complex work, you may never know if you were effective or not.

Brian, stop lying. You're not a janitor. You're an unemployed liar who wears women's underwear.

 
At 01 August, 2011 19:24, Blogger Ian said...

What people like you don't recognize is that no matter how high you may think you've risen, you're still just doing grunt work.

There's nothing more enjoyable than Brian's bitterness and resentment towards a world that just laughs at him when it doesn't ignore him.

 
At 02 August, 2011 07:22, Blogger Dave Kyte said...

"What people like you don't recognize is that no matter how high you may think you've risen, you're still just doing grunt work."

NO, what people like you, who because they were born without brains or talent will never have the pleasure of experiencing is we PLAY, the fact people pay us to play is gravy.

You on the other hand Brian are a useless person so everything you do is grunt work, Nothing wrong with that, you can't help being born on the lower end of cognitive ability. So get in there and sweep the floor.

 
At 02 August, 2011 10:51, Blogger snug.bug said...

I sweep the floor with your head almost every time you show up here.

 
At 02 August, 2011 14:15, Blogger WhyAskQuestions said...

Date: September 11, 2011

Time: 8:00 PST

Location: Supreme Court

Inside the court room...

All rise!

Judge: You my be seated.

Judge: The U.S. Defense team will now call its first witness.

Defense: We call Brian Good to the stand. Brian is testifying that 9/11 was an "Inside Job" done by the U.S. Government and was "covered-up" to protect those involved.

Prosecutor: Judge, my client isn't willing to discuss his views in court. We would like a motion.

Judge: Denied.

Defense: Mr. Good, can you tell us where you were on the morning of September 11th, 2001?

Brian: I was at home.

Defense: You were at home! Is that correct?

Brian: Yes.

Defense: Did you watch the News reports that morning?

Brian: Yes, I did.

Defense: Did you see the two planes impacting both Towers?

Brian: Yes, I did, but they were not planes'.

Defense: How did you come up with this no plane theory when you told the court that you did see them?

Brian: I don't know.

Defense: So you are willing to lie to everyone in the court room?

Brian: No, I'm not lying, it's you that is lying. The 9/11 Widows....

Defense attorny cuts Brian off

Defense: We are not here to discuss about the widows. We are here to validate your claims and evidence.

Brian: Shill!

Defense: Judge, as you can see for yourself, Mr. Good is just wasting our time with his silly theories reguarding 9/11. I ask yo to dismiss the investigation.

Judge: Granted.

Brian yells out: You're a bunch of liars, including you judge. You're guilty of the crime, the widows will hear of this I swear it.

Judge: Send that lunatic to the asylum and that's an order.

 
At 02 August, 2011 22:23, Blogger sabba said...

I second the motion!

 
At 03 August, 2011 01:16, Blogger snug.bug said...

Soon to be a mojo merkin puketure!

 
At 03 August, 2011 04:36, Blogger Ian said...

Soon to be a mojo merkin puketure!

Brian, is this an attempt to be witty? You fail at wit much in the same way you fail at janitorial work and you fail and getting the widows questions answered.

We really need to find something you can succeed at other than posting dumbspam about Willie Rodriguez and calling people "girls".

 
At 03 August, 2011 11:17, Blogger snug.bug said...

No, actually it was an attempt to be dumb. Few of us have your talents in that regard, though WAQo is a close second.

 
At 03 August, 2011 12:17, Blogger Triterope said...

I sweep the floor with your head almost every time you show up here.

So it was a retarded metaphor then. Thanks for clearing that up.

 
At 03 August, 2011 13:13, Blogger J Rebori said...

"No, actually it was an attempt to be dumb."

DOn't try so hard, you do much better at being dumb when you just act naturally.

 
At 03 August, 2011 20:31, Blogger Ian said...

No, actually it was an attempt to be dumb. Few of us have your talents in that regard, though WAQo is a close second.

My, such squealing!

 
At 03 August, 2011 21:16, Blogger snug.bug said...

TR, any metaphor that's not retarded is taken around here as a statement of literal truth.

 
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At 04 August, 2011 07:07, Blogger Triterope said...

TR, any metaphor that's not retarded is taken around here as a statement of literal truth.

Only when dealing with you, Brian. Because you make it so difficult to tell the difference. Like this very thread, for example.

 
At 04 August, 2011 08:08, Blogger WhyAskQuestions said...

No, actually it was an attempt to be dumb. Few of us have your talents in that regard, though WAQo is a close second.

Picking a fight you can't win can ya? Like you tried to pick fights with Willie and Kevin then ran away.

You really hate me because you can't stand that I'm right and you're wrong. That's the only reason why you bring me up in a losing arguement because you're weak.

 
At 04 August, 2011 08:29, Blogger WhyAskQuestions said...

Date: September 11, 2012

Time: 8:00 PST

Location: Supreme Court

Inside the court room...

All rise!

Judge: You may be seated!

Judge: We are here in this court room to decide where Mr. Brian Goods alligence lies with the U.S. or the Terrorists. You may call Mr. Good to the stand.

Prosecutor: Mr. Good, would you like to tell the court where your alligence lies?

Brian: What do you mean? Are you calling me a liar?

Prosecutor: We are not here to call you a liar, I asked you where does your alligence lie? Is it with the U.S. or Terrorism?

Brian: Terrorism doesn't exist.

Prosecutor: But yet there is evidence from the Middle East of unarmed men, women and children being killed by militants.

Brian: There's no evidence of such a thing happening over there, you lie.

Prosecutor: So you're willing to testify that your alligence is with the Terrorists?

Brian: I never made such a claim, you're a liar.

Prosecutor: Do you know Mr. Good, that lying in front of a Judge isn't such a good idea at this time.

Brian: I don't lie, you do!

Prosecutor: Judge, I have no further comments.

Judge: Mr. Good, it is now known where your alligence is. Your mocking of the prosecutor is relevent and the facts of your last performance indicate that you would rather sympathize with the Terrorists than your own country. I find you at fault on many grounds, your inability to distinguish between what is real and fanstasy clearly show that you're suffering from mental illness. This court finds no fault in the U.S. Government of the attacks on 9/11.

Brian: Fuck you Judge, you lying piece of shit! You paid shill!

Judge: Baillif, arrest that man for attempt of court and obstructing justice.

 
At 05 August, 2011 09:23, Blogger snug.bug said...

My how easy it is to win an argument when you get to write all the other guy's lines.

 
At 05 August, 2011 11:30, Blogger WhyAskQuestions said...

My how easy it is to win an argument when you get to write all the other guy's lines.

Oh, you mean put words in peoples mouths like you do most of the time? Kinda sucks having it done to you, isn't it?

 
At 05 August, 2011 13:24, Blogger snug.bug said...

No, I don't care. It reflects more badly on you than on me.

 
At 06 August, 2011 05:11, Blogger Triterope said...

My how easy it is to win an argument when you get to write all the other guy's lines.

Like anyone could write your lines. Tennessee Williams couldn't have created a character as fucked up as you.

 
At 06 August, 2011 09:36, Blogger WhyAskQuestions said...

No, I don't care. It reflects more badly on you than on me.

Really? But then again I'm not the one going insane trying to debunk us debunkers because we don't agree with your perverted view of the world.

 
At 07 August, 2011 15:42, Blogger snug.bug said...

Right. You proceed from a paradigmatic world view, and you reject all facts that disagree with that world view.

Some of us. however, prefer to live in a reality-based world.

 

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