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I see folks wondering how QAnon still exists after the inauguration, so I wanted to get into it a bit more than "they're all nutbars."
I don't really feel vague allusions to mental illness are useful for understanding conspiracy theorists. I want to look at one specific post:
I don't really feel vague allusions to mental illness are useful for understanding conspiracy theorists. I want to look at one specific post:
This is a sticky(!) from a QAnon board. It correctly observes that 1) Trump's plan to form a party is not consistent with his stated belief that elections are stolen. So 2) either Trump is a dishonest grifter OR some weird conspiracy is happening.
So far, we agree!
So far, we agree!
This post is interesting because its author is, in a very direct and literal sense, being rational. They present premises 1, 2, and 3 and derive a conclusion.
The problem is premise 3: "Trump is a genius and NOT a grifter." It fucks up the conclusion because it's low quality.
The problem is premise 3: "Trump is a genius and NOT a grifter." It fucks up the conclusion because it's low quality.
Throwing out that premise would give you the right answer. Unfortunately, that's not the point for this poster. They don't need to be right: they can sleep soundly either way. They need Trump to be right.
Instead, they use the argument format to retroactively justify Premise 3.
Instead, they use the argument format to retroactively justify Premise 3.
In a very relatable way, this is what being a conspiracy theorist is about. It's not just deciding to be wrong about everything in one go: it's about getting emotionally attached to a few narrow ideas that don't fit with available data.
The consequences spiral alarmingly.
The consequences spiral alarmingly.
If you've got one wrong answer smack dab in the middle of your crossword, it can't be your only mistake. Sticking with it means ending up with a mess of pen scribbles, creative misspellings, and bitten-through pencils.
The "value" of conspiracy communities like QAnon is that they direct your frustration outward--towards, say, crossword editors.
You don't have to feel "crazy" if the boxes themselves are an evil scheme. Accepting that the puzzle is a lie gives you license to write down anything.
You don't have to feel "crazy" if the boxes themselves are an evil scheme. Accepting that the puzzle is a lie gives you license to write down anything.
In other words, "proof" the conspiracy is horseshit will not cure many believers. This is not a process of observing what is real and changing beliefs. This is a process of changing what is real to suit core beliefs. Those who elect to do so may continue indefinitely.
