# The REAL conspiracy theory **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 18, 2000, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-conspiracy-theory/10617 "2000-04-18T23:15:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zealot10](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/65b543/32.png) [@zealot10](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zealot10)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2000, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-conspiracy-theory/10617/1 "2000-04-18T23:15:00Z")
Everywhere you look – there it is. Every electronic device that you purchase, virtually every watch, computer, heater, or lamp, contains this symbol. This symbol has been seen on phones. Maybe even on silverware. Certainly on sunglasses. What is it? A small stylized “CE” printed inconspicuously on the side or bottom of these products. When I purchase something, can I expect some hidden camera or microphone to be hidden within? Is some government organization tracking my purchases so that they can find me by my buying habits? WHAT IS THE “CE”? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2000, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-conspiracy-theory/10617/2 "2000-04-18T23:30:00Z")
Christian Ed. Short for Christian Education. Pat Robertson is watching you, **Zealot10.** He sees the dirty magazines you’ve got hidden under the mattress, oh yes, and he KNOWS your sinful thoughts… No, actually, I have no idea. * * * “Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast!” - the White Queen ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2000, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-conspiracy-theory/10617/3 "2000-04-18T23:34:00Z")
## Chinese Engineering? “Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast!” - the White Queen ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2000, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-conspiracy-theory/10617/4 "2000-04-18T23:36:00Z")
## Conspiracy Enabled? “Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast!” - the White Queen ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2000, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-conspiracy-theory/10617/5 "2000-04-18T23:38:00Z")
## Con Ed? (short for Consolidated Edison, the power company) “Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast!” - the White Queen ---
**Author:** ![JonF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@JonF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JonF)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2000, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-conspiracy-theory/10617/6 "2000-04-18T23:41:00Z")
Officially, “CE” is not an acronym, but it used to stand for “Conformité Européenne” or “European Conformity”. It is similar to the “UL” you will see on almost all electrical devices. It means that the marked item has been certified to conform with the “harmonized standards” of the European Union (nee Common Market)l. “Harmonized standards” are standards derived from the various safety and consumer protection standards established by individual countries (e.g. BS in Britian, DIN in Germany) and accepted by all EU member countries. Products sold in Europe that are covered by any CE standards are required to be certified and bear the CE mark. Products sold elsewhere often bear the CE mark because it’s easier not to make a special product for sale outside Europe, and also because it’s not uncommon for purchasing agents to require a CE mark outside of Europe (for world-wide compatibility and commonality). Also, the CE standards are pretty rigorous, and a CE mark reallly means something (at least in the case of industrial machinery, which is the field with which I’m familiar). [Exporting to Europe and CE Marking](http://www.ce-mark.com/cedoc.html) * * * jrf ---
**Author:** ![dpr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dpr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dpr)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2000, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-conspiracy-theory/10617/7 "2000-04-19T04:03:00Z")
Oh Jon you just took the fun out of answering…