Open letter to Q

[intrepidity]

Hey, whoever you are (Jim), can you just use your power for good, actual good, not superhero fantasy LARP good vs evil, but like real-world good? I don't know, maybe something small to start, like telling your followers to recycle, you know, something non-controversial? Or, turn off the lights when they leave a room? Still too controversial? OK, hmmm, vaccinate their pets? Don't litter? I don't know, but try it please, just one little thing to start, and see how it goes. Maybe you'll find pleasure in helping the world, rather than trying to destroy it. Just a thought.

[haele]

1. Problem is, by now, Q is anyone who claims to be Q.

There's a framework Russian 'bot script to follow, but other than that, any idiot can post and claim to be A.

Haele

[intrepidity]

2. I take your point, but think it's probably more nuanced nt

[Newest Reality]

3. Maybe...

Maybe I am painting with too broad a brush, but my impression of Q devotees is that they are the most gullible and least educated people among us, so that's a nice idea, but it I think the agenda of QAnon, (now repackaged) is rather obvious. We see a rebranded form of propaganda based on The Protocols of the Elders of Zion and with that kind of basis, it is not an altruistic or beneficial movement, but rather, it looks like a portent of potential travesties as new absurdities are stacked carefully on the current ones. Once you get them to believe the absurd without questioning, the rest is a piece of cake.

Q cultists are responding to a litmus test, in a way. Not only are they unlikely to investigate or substantiate the information that they are being fed, they are also motivated by their own inability to deal with the state of the World and the country or the ambiguities that result from trying to. Like fish with bait, they seem to be primed to bite any hook that will let them pretend they understand, with a sense of certainty, what is going on and who is "behind it all". Of course, people who don't agree with that or challenge it, "just don't get it." When challenged they dig their heels in, as well.

It's not just about gullibility, but a mindset and psychology primed for making fictions and absurdities seem plausible because they can't fathom or accept the complexity they face and both paranoia and a sense of belonging seal them into a reality tunnel or cocoon of comfort that helps them to resolve their unsettling cognitive dissonance.

I don't see any potential for your suggestions to be practical in light of that. They are very busy reinforcing and supporting their confirmation biases and irrational, induced, trance-like vulnerability to a belief system.

[Upthevibe]

4. intrepidity....

Thank you for this post. I have a couple of friends who have always been conspiracy theorists. They've never been "political" and have never voted. They say politics doesn't make any difference....It doesn't have anything to do with them.....(and I LOVE this "point&quot ....one person (the President) doesn't make any difference at all.....(that was said before dt).

One of these friends I normally talk to frequently on the phone. She was bringing up this Hollywood child trafficking ring idea, Bill Gates is evil, etc. maybe even a year ago and before I knew about Q. I'm not sure she even knew it was QAnon. Then I started doing my research. When this would come up in conversation, I'd ask her to explain just some of the basic logistics, and I don't even remember what she said.

At one point, I let her know any discussion of this was off the table. She knows I'm an active progressive, I go to marches, I register people to vote, I volunteer on campaigns, etc. I think it probably surprised her too when she realized that what she believed started with right-wing dt supporters - because - you know- she's anti-political....

One of the foundations of our long-term friendship has been in our spiritual beliefs. We're both new-age/new-thought believers that isn't in the arena of "conventional" religion (such as reincarnation, a Higher Power-not necessarily God, Spirit Guides, etc.). I've been disappointed that some new-age thinkers have also bought into QAnon. One of the sites I used to go to on a regular basis went full QAnon around or just before COVID (which, of course, is a hoax ). I saw that the founder of that particular site retweet something from Breitbart and when I went to his personal FB page it full QAnon (but he's somehow a "spiritual" person.... )

I've really backed off speaking with her like we normally do because I'm so angry and disgusted. I've cut her slack over the years because she lost a 16 year old daughter in an accident (over 30 years ago) and this eff-upped her life so I've given her a pass.

I don't want to bring up to her why we're not speaking like we normally do because I'm afraid I'll lose it and say some really mean things.....