The German city that is largely considered a conspiracy theory
In response to a silly conspiracy theory first posted online in 1994, a German city is offering $1.1 million to anyone who can prove it doesn’t exist.
Back in the 90s, someone posted online that the German city of Bielefield, which is home to about 300,000 people, isn’t known for anything and therefore doesn’t exist. Apparently, the author, computer science student Achim Held, intended it to be a satirical piece poking fun at conspiracy theories. But a lot of people took it seriously. Because of the post, some people really did start doubting the existence of the 800-year-old city.
“The conspiracy then spread on the internet, where it was postulated that a group called ‘SIE,’ or ‘they’ in German, created an imaginary illusion of the city,” DW.com reported. “The city has since used the satire for public relations and even Chancellor Angela Merkel once joked while on a visit to Bielefeld that it does indeed exist.”
“We are excited about the creative submissions and are 99.99% sure that we will be able to refute any claims,” Martin Knabenreich, the marketing director for the city, said.
Anyone up for the challenge has until September 4th to submit their case for why Bielefield is a figment of the German imagination.
-
Plans for Neom’s ambitious “The Line,” a zero-carbon city in Saudi Arabia, have been revised, scaling back its initial...
-
In a significant escalation of the ongoing dispute over misinformation, Brazil Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has initiated...
-
Mumbai Takes the Throne for the Most Billionaires in Asia In a historic milestone, Mumbai has overtaken Beijing to...
-
French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the need for Western powers to remain vigilant in the face of the Ukraine...
-
Ken Griffin, the founder and CEO of Citadel, emphasized the importance of prudence in the Federal Reserve’s strategy regarding...
-
The Philippines has strongly denounced what it described as “unprovoked acts of coercion and dangerous maneuvers” by China in...
-
As Moscow Prepares to Bid Adieu, Navalny’s Funeral Raises Uncertainties and International Allegations The spokesperson for Alexei Navalny has...
-
Michael Saylor, a prominent figure in the world of cryptocurrency, has seen significant gains this week as the value...
-
On the two-year anniversary of the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, there is much to reflect upon. Since...
-
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) released official figures on Wednesday, revealing that the United Kingdom posted a record...
-
Greece has become the first Christian Orthodox-majority country to legalize same-sex marriage, marking a significant step forward for LGBTQ+...
-
Massive Deflation in China as CPI Plummets by 0.8% China faces mounting challenges as its consumer prices spiral deeper...