Forum:Robert Anton Wilson

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I'm sure you heard of Robert Anton Wilson (He's the co-creator of the famous satirical book series which made fun of conspiracy nuts illuminatus! These books, ironically, gave birth to many conspiracy theory/illuminati tropes we all see today) well I were searching the internet like I usually do and I found a part of an interview he did

"Richard Metzger: You have studied the Illuminati for years. Have you come to any conclusion about their aims?

Robert Anton Wilson: Usually when people ask me that question, I give them some kind of a put-on, but I can't think of a good and original put-on that I haven't done several times before.

So I'll tell you the truth, for once. After investigating the Illuminati and their critics for the last 30 years, I think the Illuminati was a short lived society of free thinkers and democratic reformers that formed a secret society within Freemasonry, using Freemasonry as a cover so they could plot to overthrow all the kings in Europe and the Pope. I'm very happy that they succeeded in overthrowing all the kings, I just wish that they had completed the job and gotten rid of the Royal family in England too, but they did pretty well on the continent. I'm sorry they haven't finished off the Pope yet, either, but I think they're still working on the project and I wish them luck."

I decided to do a Google search on this quote and found that some people think that he believes the illuminati exists and use this quote as their evidence. I find this hard to believe considering: 1) One of the main goals of his books was to make fun of conspiracy theorists 2) This Video 3) This Video (Both the videos seem to be showing that RAW thinks that majority of Conspiracy Theories are stupid and impossible). I feel like it's impossible for RAW to be a conspiracy theorist and that he actually believed in the illuminati, I just need the opinions of other more rational, better critical-thinkers than to me to come to a final conclusion.

1. Do you think that RAW actually, literally meant what he said about his opinion on the illuminati? Or was it just for humour's sake and if so why do you think he worded it like if that's his definitive opinion that he truly believes in the illuminati?
2. Is a conspiratorial mindset a mindset of a conspiracy theorist?
3. Do you think the videos above show that he in fact didn't believe in conspiracy theories? I feel like it's pretty self explanatory but I feel like maybe I have misinterpreted the videos.
4. Do you think he was a conspiracy theorist?
5. Who do you think he is referring to when he mentions "the power elite" in the longer video?
6. Finally, should we have a page on him?

On a sidenote, I'm sorry if I'm clogging up the general discussion forums of late, but I feel like this is the best place to ask rational critical thinkers about things that I am too weak minded to be skeptical about (if that makes sense).

Thank you in advance.--WeakMindedSkeptic (talk) 18:55, 18 April 2016 (UTC)

Totally a joke at the expense of conspiracy nuts.--Kugelschreiber (talk) (mail) (block) 18:59, 18 April 2016 (UTC) 18:59, 18 April 2016 (UTC)

Awesome, thank you for clarifying! That makes sense considering his opinion on Conspirscy nuts and conspiracy theories--WeakMindedSkeptic (talk) 21:51, 18 April 2016 (UTC)