I've heard about QAnon in the news and knew it was some sort of conspiracy group with ties to domestic terrorism. Then I saw the following on the Skimm which is a free daily newsletter you can have sent to your email. I saw the two women who write the Skimm posts on Trevor Noah so I signed up for it.
"QAnon. It's a far-right conspiracy-theory group that emerged on Internet message boards shortly after President Trump was elected. The group believes (with zero basis) that Democrats, celebrities, and other high-profile figures are part of a cabal of Satan-worshiping pedophiles. And that they run a global child sex-trafficking ring. Among the accused: Hillary Clinton, Tom Hanks, Pope Francis, Oprah Winfrey, and many more. QAnon supporters also believe Trump is waging a war against this cabal, also referred to as the "Deep State."
Where is this even coming from?
It all started when an anonymous user – known only by the name of "Q" – posted cryptic messages on 4chan (a now-destroyed message board) alleging the existence of this cabal. Q claimed to be a high-ranking government official with a "Q clearance" access to top-secret information. And things spiraled out of control. QAnon supporters now believe in an array of unproven theories: that Bill Gates is using the coronavirus so he can inject people with a microchip hidden in a vaccine, that the cabal is made up of Democrats who drink children's blood, and that they all will be arrested and punished during an event called "The Storm" – led by Trump.
Nobody believes this, right?
Um, you'd think so. But during the pandemic, their baseless content has exploded online. In just the last four months, membership to QAnon groups on Facebook reportedly rose 700% (they now have millions of members). And it's not just happening online. Some QAnon believers have shown up at Trump rallies, donning Q merch. But they're not always harmless. Some have been linked to violent incidents, like "pizzagate" in 2016 (which some believe was the precursor to QAnon) as well as things like trespassing, armed standoffs, and even murder. Despite all this, they're also getting some high-profile support.
From whom?
Some estimates say over a dozen 2020 candidates are QAnon believers. That includes Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene. In August, she won the primary runoff for Georgia's 14th Congressional District, and is likely to win in November. The president congratulated Greene on her primary win, and has also praised the theory's supporters. Yesterday, NBC's Savannah Guthrie pressed Trump on sharing conspiracy theories linked to the group on Twitter "like someone's crazy uncle." But he defended his retweets and refused to denounce the group. The FBI, on the other hand, says QAnon poses a potential domestic terrorism threat. And after years of leaving QAnon largely unchecked on their platforms, social media companies like Facebook, Twitter, and now YouTube want to put an end to its fake news."
I got this on CNN:
"NBC Town Hall moderator Savannah Guthrie asked Trump if he would "disavow QAnon in its entirety." Instead, Trump falsely said "I know nothing about QAnon," adding, "I do know they are very much against pedophilia."
And I got this from BBC News:
“At its heart, QAnon is a wide-ranging, unfounded conspiracy theory that says that President Trump is waging a secret war against elite Satan-worshipping paedophiles in government, business and the media.”
Just as Trump would not disavow White Supremacists, he won't condemn QAnon either.
This is so darn scary! What the heck is going on in our country?
POSTSCRIPT:
Did you hear that Trump was in Michigan at a rally and got his supporters to chant "Lock Her Up!" referring to Governor Whitmer? She is the governor another militant militia group was planning to kidnap but got foiled by the FBI. They were angry because of her mask mandate. Trump was encouraging people at his rally to demand she open up their state despite the fact their COVID numbers were reflecting a surge in cases.
I'm standing here just shaking my head in frustration.
It is amazing and scary what people will believe because they want to believe.
ReplyDeleteCountry in a crisis of willful ignorance.
ReplyDeleteThis man has got to go! It is so scary to think that people believe that. Apparently many women are devotees of Qnon
ReplyDeleteKay, one of the things I like about your blog is you're not afraid to speak up about Trump or this kind of dangerous nonsense. What the heck is wrong with these people, believing this crap. For crying out loud, Trump wouldn't try to save his own wife or kids, let alone battle secret Democrat pedophiles! I've read comic books that are more believable than this idiocy! I hope that after Biden is elected, these crazies just scurry back into their redneck gopher holes.
ReplyDeletejust two more weeks. i will either be the happiest i've ever been or be looking to move!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review and information Kay. I joined up to receive the daily summaries from the Skimm after you previously mentioned it. I'm surprised how well they summarize world events so that I can be a bit informed about things going on outside the U.S.
ReplyDeleteIt's very scary to see how many people follow incorrect trends. I was totally stunned during the last presidential election, how a very smart RN colleague could rationalize her devotion to Trump.
I hope we can breath a sigh of relief after November 3rd, literally and figuratively!
Off to take my Biden Ballot to the Election Office drop box! Linda in Kansas (we're not all red...)
Yay, Linda! I have a relative who is quite intelligent, but is swayed by the immigration policy. They’re against immigration, but hire undocumented workers. Sigh...
DeleteIt's a scary world out there, hopefully the election will calm all that down or stir it up more...
ReplyDeleteYeah, I've heard of them. I don't understand why the media gives so much airtime to these crackpots.
ReplyDeleteI've been reading about the QAnon qrackpots for a long time. One right-wing blogger I read believes in it fervently, as do all his commenters. Unfortunately there are now millions who believe it to at least some degree.
ReplyDeleteOn a certain level it's no crazier than believing in astrology or ghosts, but obviously the practical consequences are more dangerous. Unfortunately when a big chunk of the population lacks critical thinking skills and is prone to paranoia, this kind of thing happens.
I love that you printed this hoax in red type! I would love to hope it all goes up in flames Nov. 3rd, but It’s way deeper into our country and culture than the White House, the Senate, and the state governments because way too many “ordinary people” have been brainwashed into believing the lies. This thoughtful opinion piece from Newsweek was very good, I thought: https://www.newsweek.com/marianne-williamson-americas-cold-civil-war-opinion-1534660 I think you might like to read it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Kay, CNN keeps referring to this group now I know
ReplyDeleteYes, I read about them as I was curious.
ReplyDeleteWe've got conspiracy theorists on this side of the border, too. Our local MPP is the WORST!!!! It is such ignorance! People believe what they want to.
A lot of uneducated and ignorant people will believe anything. It's very scary! Social media first allowed their posts but they have since learned how dangerous they are.
ReplyDeleteYa can't fix stupid and it cannot educated. They get their news from headlines on crappy memes. They never read articles. They don't research. And when facts are provided? Well, they cannot be bothered to read so they go on believing.
ReplyDeleteIt's ludicrous what is happening in our country :-(
Thank you for your visit, Elle. It’s so very nice to meet you. I worry about our country constantly too.
DeleteIt is appalling and terrifying what some people will believe. They need the drama and to feel that they are somehow part of "saving" the world. (the children?) And Trump loves the idea of being a super hero instead of simply stupid.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me sad that Trump will carry my state. Early voting starts today. I will cast my vote for Biden Harris this week. I will be in the minority in my state.
ReplyDeleteThank you for trying. Right now, our most powerful tool is the vote.
DeleteTrump is going on in America.
ReplyDeleteThe United States is in serious trouble. I cannot imagine what will happen after the election as I am fearful there will be a civil war. We have lawmakers here in Fresno who have refused to prosecute those who broke the law during the pandemic and stayed open. It's like the wild, wild west. No law.
ReplyDeleteI have heard about this group and find them down right scary. Their beliefs are just insane. I head Trump say that he didn't know who they were but they seem to like him which he thought was great. Mercy.
ReplyDeleteDear Kay and Friends, one thing is true, the rich and powerful have access to some really bizarre recreations, which the rest of us do not. Oh, thank the Lord for His hedge of restraining grace!
ReplyDeleteYes these things are unbelievable and I can't understand why some "normal" person would fall for such trash. Internet platforms make it easy to distribute such trash anonymously so it's difficult to challenge the trash.
ReplyDeleteVote, vote, vote. As if your life depended on it.
ReplyDeleteI have been all too aware of QAnon. I continue to be baffled that ANYONE can believe this stuff, and yet I have family members who are on the fringes of some of this stuff.
ReplyDeleteGov. Whitmer is beseeching the Trump campaign to cease and desist in attacking her because it is putting her in real dander, but he won't.
I am so fearful that we will not get that toad out of office. And even if we win the office back, those supporters will not be going away. And he can do such terrible damage in three months before January 20. Anxiety like I've never had before over the state of my country.
ReplyDeleteThis is DEFINITELY my concern as well.
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