Conspiracy

Thanks to The Odyssey who emailed me a link to David Aaronovitch's article in The Times about the spread of conspiracy theories on the internet. Sir Timothy John Berners-Lee, the British computer scientist who is credited with inventing the World Wide Web, was quoted as being worried by that through using the net “a cult which was 12 people who had some deep personal issues suddenly find a formula which is very believable - a sort of conspiracy theory of sorts and which you can imagine spreading to thousands of people and being deeply damaging”.

By shear coincidence I stumbled on such a conspiracy theory this morning. It is claimed those running the CSA are mostly graduates of Common Purpose (aka the New World Order!), and that Common Purpose has infiltrated business, government, health services, the police and the legal profession throughout the UK. Furthermore Common Purpose holds secret meetings, brainwashes it's members and receives millions of tax payers money. Allegedly some people have died and some are surving prison sentences for trying to expose this.

So what is this subversive organisation? Common Purpose is an accredited Government training provider delivering leadership development programmes and the organisation adheres to the international Chatham House Rule of confidentiality (secrecy?) to encourage openness and the sharing of information. Neurolinguist Programming (brainwashing?), used widely in business communication and management training, is adopted. Common Purpose is a non profit making organisation. The conspiracy theory would be laughable if it wasn't so damaging and the Common Purpose Trustees felt it necessary to issue a statement.

Updated 22/9/08; Common Purpose have informed me of this site they have produced to set the record straight.