Q-Anon

[Tom Paine 1949]

I am curious if any USMB members support or defend Q-Anon, and what everybody thinks of this phenomenon. Will it fade away as many crackpot conspiracy theories have in the past? Is it inevitably connected to the Donald Trump “moment” in American history, or will it outlast his presidency? Is it the harbinger of a new nutty movement or even “religion” that will be with us for a long time? By now most everybody is familiar with Q-Anon. Here are a few characterizations. What do you think?

“QAnon is a virtual cult that celebrates President Trump and casts Democratic politicians and other elites as evil child abusers. Aspects of the cult are downright delusional. Last year an FBI office warned that Q adherents are a domestic terrorism threat.

“Despite all of that, or maybe because of all that, this dangerous nonsense seems to be spreading. It is cropping up in congressional races and national news coverage.

“In recent weeks many observers of the online information ecosystem have written, with growing concern, about the mainstreaming of QAnon. Reporters like Kevin Roose of The New York Times and Ben Collins of NBC have said that the conspiracy theory is in much wider circulation than polite society wants to admit...”

Analysis: QAnon is conspiratorial, dangerous, and growing. And we're talking about it all wrong.

“QAnon is emblematic of modern America’s susceptibility to conspiracy theories, and its enthusiasm for them. But it is also already much more than a loose collection of conspiracy-minded chat-room inhabitants. It is a movement united in mass rejection of reason, objectivity, and other Enlightenment values. And we are likely closer to the beginning of its story than the end. The group harnesses paranoia to fervent hope and a deep sense of belonging. The way it breathes life into an ancient preoccupation with end-times is also radically new. To look at QAnon is to see not just a conspiracy theory but the birth of a new religion...”

 

[denmark]

I am curious if any USMB members support or defend Q-Anon, and what everybody thinks of this phenomenon. Will it fade away as many crackpot conspiracy theories have in the past? Is it inevitably connected to the Donald Trump “moment” in American history, or will it outlast his presidency? Is the harbinger of a new nutty movement or even “religion” that will be with us for a long time? By now most everybody is familiar with Q-Anon. Here are a few characterizations. What do you think?


“QAnon is a virtual cult that celebrates President Trump and casts Democratic politicians and other elites as evil child abusers. Aspects of the cult are downright delusional. Last year an FBI office warned that Q adherents are a domestic terrorism threat.

“Despite all of that, or maybe because of all that, this dangerous nonsense seems to be spreading. It is cropping up in congressional races and national news coverage.

In recent weeks many observers of the online information ecosystem have written, with growing concern, about the mainstreaming of QAnon. Reporters like Kevin Roose of The New York Times and Ben Collins of NBC have said that the conspiracy theory is in much wider circulation than polite society wants to admit...”

Analysis: QAnon is conspiratorial, dangerous, and growing. And we're talking about it all wrong.

“QAnon is emblematic of modern America’s susceptibility to conspiracy theories, and its enthusiasm for them. But it is also already much more than a loose collection of conspiracy-minded chat-room inhabitants. It is a movement united in mass rejection of reason, objectivity, and other Enlightenment values. And we are likely closer to the beginning of its story than the end. The group harnesses paranoia to fervent hope and a deep sense of belonging. The way it breathes life into an ancient preoccupation with end-times is also radically new. To look at QAnon is to see not just a conspiracy theory but the birth of a new religion...”

The Prophecies of Q

QAnon is so stupid that Allah, Jesus, and Moses look good in comparison.

 

[JustAnotherNut]

It represents a growing number of people worldwide that are fed up with the 'establishment' of those in power over them and abusing that power, in a nutshell.
As for my own position on it.....I want more solid proof it's not a double cross

 

[Billy_Kinetta]

“QAnon is a virtual cult that celebrates President Trump and casts Democratic politicians and other elites as evil child abusers.

I know nearly nothing about this group, but if that statement is an authentic description I see nothing to take issue with.

After all, there has been no screwier cult to stalk America than the short-lived cult of "The Messiah Obama" who supported and encouraged our enemies and enriched the terrorists of Iran.

 

[Daryl Hunt]

Here is some QAnon clips.

 

[there4eyeM]

A "great awakening" is what many religions and philosophies have talked about. If everyone woke up one day and truly understood the "matrix" (perception) is real a great leap forward probably would take place spontaneously. That is not what "Q" seems to be talking about, but if the entire world could peacefully agree to live together on whatever social basis, it would work.

 

[JLW]

I'd say at least 85% of the Trumpers on this board are acquainted with and frequent q-anon forums. Of those at least 35% of those Trumpers on this board are hard core q-anon followers.

 

[Daryl Hunt]

I'd say at least 85% of the Trumpers on this board are acquainted with and frequent q-anon forums. Of those at least 35% of those Trumpers on this board are hard core q-anon followers.

And that is a very conservative estimate. A lot more conservative than the party of the rumpers really are.

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

It’s important to understand that the majority of conservatives don’t actually believe in the ‘QAnon’ conspiracy theory.

Like other lies, misinformation, fake news, and conspiracy theories conservatives propagate, the ‘QAnon’ conspiracy theory is used by the right to foment mistrust in the political process, to undermine and discredit the political process, and to facilitate discord and chaos among the voting public perceived by conservatives to be to their political advantage.

If voters lose faith in the political process, conservatives reason, if voters are turned-off by the political confusion and dysfunction, they will abandon the political process – and of course conservatives hope that it will be likely Democratic voters who stay at home on election day.

Moreover, conservatives use these conspiracy theories to deflect and distract from the real issues, from the important issues; to deflect and distract from the failures of conservative political dogma, and of course to deflect and distract from the many failures and bad acts of Trump.

Indeed, Trump supporters would rather Trump’s opponents spend their time, energy, and money chasing conspiracy theories down rabbit holes rather than focusing that time, energy, and money on defeating Trump.

Conspiracy theories such as ‘QAnon’ are part of the right’s political scorched earth strategy.

 

[basquebromance]

E Pluribus QAnon!

 

[Shawnee_b]

WWG1WGA

 

[Pilate]

I

I am curious if any USMB members support or defend Q-Anon, and what everybody thinks of this phenomenon. Will it fade away as many crackpot conspiracy theories have in the past? Is it inevitably connected to the Donald Trump “moment” in American history, or will it outlast his presidency? Is it the harbinger of a new nutty movement or even “religion” that will be with us for a long time? By now most everybody is familiar with Q-Anon. Here are a few characterizations. What do you think?

“QAnon is a virtual cult that celebrates President Trump and casts Democratic politicians and other elites as evil child abusers. Aspects of the cult are downright delusional. Last year an FBI office warned that Q adherents are a domestic terrorism threat.

“Despite all of that, or maybe because of all that, this dangerous nonsense seems to be spreading. It is cropping up in congressional races and national news coverage.

“In recent weeks many observers of the online information ecosystem have written, with growing concern, about the mainstreaming of QAnon. Reporters like Kevin Roose of The New York Times and Ben Collins of NBC have said that the conspiracy theory is in much wider circulation than polite society wants to admit...”

Analysis: QAnon is conspiratorial, dangerous, and growing. And we're talking about it all wrong.

“QAnon is emblematic of modern America’s susceptibility to conspiracy theories, and its enthusiasm for them. But it is also already much more than a loose collection of conspiracy-minded chat-room inhabitants. It is a movement united in mass rejection of reason, objectivity, and other Enlightenment values. And we are likely closer to the beginning of its story than the end. The group harnesses paranoia to fervent hope and a deep sense of belonging. The way it breathes life into an ancient preoccupation with end-times is also radically new. To look at QAnon is to see not just a conspiracy theory but the birth of a new religion...”

View attachment 375663

I think some things it peddles are correct. But the idea that Trump has some super duper secret plan to destroy the deep state and you just need to have blind faith in it is...well it’s nonsense.

 

[Natural Citizen]

I think it's just an AI.