"Quickly moving toward my car I thought 'God help the poor bastard that runs into that guy after his next spin around the internet.'"

Oh my. I've no doubt that will be me. I can't even count the number of times I've run into this guy, often in his less virulent form, but annoying all the same. Obsessive, compelled, and boring as another man's dreams.

I used to write in bars a lot. For some reason, that furrowed brow, that look of concentration as I tried to figure the next phrase--was like catnip to certain people. "This man must desperately want to hear from me about all of my loony conspiracy theories," they seemed to say to themselves.

One particularly burly (and surly) woman came up to me and asked, "are you just sitting here writing down all the stupid shit I say?" I replied, "no ma'am, I can't write that fast." I knew I was in trouble when, after that, she asked me to the dance floor. (I was glad to have a solid reason not to go.)

All the above has to do with why I was always less than enchanted with the DBIS's own conspiracy nut who saw in the march of history nothing but his hero David Icke's tales of shape-shifting lizards guarding bloodlines and shaping world events. But lately, I've found a store of patience even for the most certifiable ones that I encounter--not that I want to listen or go looking for them, but when I do run across them, I mainly just try to be polite & get out of there without letting them feel as though they have managed to spread their contagion. It's a shame because many a perfectly good trip to the bar can be ruined by just being a little too open to listening to folks.

I'm afraid I haven't enough of the devil in me (any more) to want to mess with conspiracy theorists, or amplify their delusions. But I completely understand the impulse.

Anyway, beautifully written post, Reg, and thanks for that.

Herring405