Have you ever spent time creating a really terrific hoax or a joke? Have you ever been pranked by someone else? I hope it was a good one - a funny one, where the humor carried you both to a level of appreciating creativity! Ideally, the prank was exposed without any long, embarrassing consequences...
Recently, I read this quote, which is perfect for today: “One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves, that we’ve been taken. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back.”
― Carl Sagan
Ideally, a joke is good, funny and not permanently harmful.
What happens though, when we are told the truth in such a way that it seems like a joke?
Or, when we get suspicious and start asking questions - we're blatantly told another story?
Then, the 'bamboozle,' takes on a life of its own. It grows roots and spreads...and anyone brave enough to question it is considered a 'conspiracy theorist.'
(This image is from my fave 'Alice' illustrator: Ralph Steadman)
Throughout time, there have been a number of brave people willing to investigate the fact that we, as a collective, have been bamboozled for years. Maybe you are one of them? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALkmD3tzeMo
Rest assured - the house of cards is coming down! No joke.