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Apophenia is the tendency to perceive a connection or meaningful pattern between unrelated or random things. In September 2020, Reed Berkowitz published this piece on Medium, discussing how apophenia plays into the propagation of the Q conspiracy theory. https://medium.com/curiouserinstitute/a-game-designers-analysis-of-qanon-580972548be5
A game designer, Berkowitz ( @soi on Twitter) is the Director of Curiouser Institute ( @curiouserstream), which says it studies the structure and psychology of storytelling.
I had heard of neither before this morning. This is neither an endorsement nor fannish recommendation.
I had heard of neither before this morning. This is neither an endorsement nor fannish recommendation.
Berkowitz posits that the QAn*n conspiracy theory has exploited people’s apophenia in the same way an ARG (alternative reality game) would, except the players aren't told it's a game. It’s a lengthy, but fascinating discussion.
I've said Trumpism is a cult for ~5 years. Q is clearly cultic. The thing is, Q is also guano insane, so it is hard to understand how regular Americans went from "I don't like or trust the Clintons" to "Anderson Cooper eats babies."
Because of his background, Berkowitz looked at this from a gaming perspective.
Because of my background, I started thinking about it from a fandom perspective.
Because of my background, I started thinking about it from a fandom perspective.
Back when the internet still had that new car smell, there was a "spoiler source" in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer fandom. His internet handle was a riff on the character Spike's alias, "William the Bloody," but I don't remember exactly what it was, so I'll call that source "WtB."
To say I loved Buffy spoilers is like saying Donald Trump loves adulation. It's a tip of the iceberg statement.
WtB, however, was one of the most frustrating spoiler purveyors going, and that's mostly because he was full of mierda.
WtB, however, was one of the most frustrating spoiler purveyors going, and that's mostly because he was full of mierda.
Probably based on no more than next week's TV Guide description and whatever he'd read on E!, WtB would put out "spoiler" posts that were so cryptic, it was hard to prove them wrong after the fact.
Skim this wiki on cold reading & you'll get what I mean.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_reading
Skim this wiki on cold reading & you'll get what I mean.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_reading
WtB was popular, because you could read what you wanted to into his spoilers.
If it's Buffy S6 & I tell you Buffy has 2nd thoughts about Spike & you hate Spike, you think, "FINALLY!" If you love Spuffy, you're certain it means she's ditching her doubts & buying a wedding gown.
If it's Buffy S6 & I tell you Buffy has 2nd thoughts about Spike & you hate Spike, you think, "FINALLY!" If you love Spuffy, you're certain it means she's ditching her doubts & buying a wedding gown.
The Buffy fandom had sites that published legitimate spoilers: Cross & Stake; Spoiler Slayer; BAPS, etc. Usually, a source (an extra, crew member, network peon etc) leaked real spoilers (often casting sides or select script pages) to the trustworthy sites.
Spoiler frauds flourished, because legit sites had to take care not to reveal their sources while revealing the storyline.
Fake news thrives, in part (there are other reasons), because legitimate news organizations have standards, including the protection of sources.
Fake news thrives, in part (there are other reasons), because legitimate news organizations have standards, including the protection of sources.
Fake news also thrives because we, as a people, lack media literacy, but that's a whole other discussion. Just understand, our lack of media literacy bolsters conspiracy theories, as do politicians who undermine factual reporting, because the facts do not flatter or further them.
Once a person is convinced he can't trust factual reporting from New York Times/Washington Post/broadcast news etc., he'll trust anyone who confirms his biases.
Factual reporting is NOT the same as editorial slant, but often if you dislike the latter, you distrust the former.
Factual reporting is NOT the same as editorial slant, but often if you dislike the latter, you distrust the former.
Spoilers tell you what will happen next. The most hardcore spoiler seekers in any fandom I can think of are the 'shippers (devotees of either a canonical romantic relationSHIP or a hoped-for romantic relationship) -- particularly if there's a love triangle or potential for same.
When show cannon doesn't satisfy fans, they roll their own, i.e. write fan fiction as an outlet.
When spoiler purveyors are also shippers, and their ship isn't panning out as desired, sometimes fanfic creeps into their spoiler coverage -- or at least, into their editorial slant.
When spoiler purveyors are also shippers, and their ship isn't panning out as desired, sometimes fanfic creeps into their spoiler coverage -- or at least, into their editorial slant.
I am not denigrating fan fiction, by the way. I think it's great when people love a creator's sandbox so much, they decide to play in it, too.
I am critiquing the spoiler providers who are also shippers, who let their shippiness color how they analyze and provide spoilers.
I am critiquing the spoiler providers who are also shippers, who let their shippiness color how they analyze and provide spoilers.
Then there are the people who exploit the shippers. They pose as or "become" a shipper to court followers.
Exploiters pander to shippers with spoiler spin. They are users, whereas true blue shippers are mere victims of their own romantic whimsy and propensity for apophenia.
Exploiters pander to shippers with spoiler spin. They are users, whereas true blue shippers are mere victims of their own romantic whimsy and propensity for apophenia.
Every fandom group I've mentioned has an analogue in the Trump cult and in the the QAn*n conspiracy theory sub-cult.
There are regular people; politicians; media figures in each of these group:
duped fans/supporters
delusional sources
knowing exploiters
There are regular people; politicians; media figures in each of these group:
duped fans/supporters
delusional sources
knowing exploiters
Ugh. Above, the "group" in "each of these group" should read "groups." There are probably more typos. I can't bear to look.
This section of Berkowitz's piece made me think of #LOST (the ABC mystery series), in two ways.
https://medium.com/curiouserinstitute/a-game-designers-analysis-of-qanon-580972548be5
https://medium.com/curiouserinstitute/a-game-designers-analysis-of-qanon-580972548be5
Lost was cobbled together from an idea and title by Lloyd Braun, a pilot from Jeff Lieber, and Damon Lindelof's deep desire work with JJ Abrams, who then left for bigger things, so Carlton Cuse was brought on.
It was an expensive, happy accident.
It was an expensive, happy accident.
Lindelof has written candidly about the early days, and I can't find it now, so if I misrepresent anything (1) please forgive me; (2) feel free to correct me (with links/cites, if you have them).
What I recall of his comments:
Lindelof didn't really think Lost was going to go, or at least didn't think it would last, so they kind of went full on crazy with the concept. Then the aired pilot was such a ratings hit, there was suddenly all this pressure to make things work.
Lindelof didn't really think Lost was going to go, or at least didn't think it would last, so they kind of went full on crazy with the concept. Then the aired pilot was such a ratings hit, there was suddenly all this pressure to make things work.
Because it was a mystery drama, at some point the creatives said there was a plan and there was, but where they meant "It's about good versus evil," some people took "plan" as "every jot and tittle has been predetermined," which is not how long-form stories are born.
So Berkowitz's, "Normally, if an indie ARG or interactive story goes unexpectedly viral, the creators begin to struggle," made me think of Damon, who has made no secret of having a hard time in season 1. He's a great talent and good man who was overwhelmed for a spell.
Meanwhile, this section from Berkowitz makes me think of the online promotional tie-ins for Lost. See at one point, some of my fannish friends were signing up for emails from some Dharma Initiative or Hanso Foundation site that came from the studio or PR people.
While some fans perceived this content as clues from the creatives, that would explain everything, I figured it was just promotional content that might enrich the experience for some viewers, but wasn't ultimately going to give me anything I needed, that I wouldn't get in-show.
I was more pressed for time and patience than prescient. My kids were 8, almost 6, and 4.5, when Lost premiered. Occam's razor suggested ABC Studios' PR wasn't going to only tell the "real" story to internet obsessives, not the audience who watched the ads that paid the bills.
That makes me remember why I am so frustrated with those Americans who have been sucked into the Q cult.
Why would Trump, who held the office of POTUS, need to resort having a covert operative release the "truth" in cryptic internet posts? It's like the cultists never asked that one question, so they couldn't see the most obvious answer: he wouldn't.
Now, of course they'd say he was thwarting the "Deep State" to reach the real patriots, i.e. them.
But why do they think Q reached out to true patriots in cryptic posts?
Was it so some would think they were going to a protest rally, and others to a kidnapping/mock trial/revolution, while 1 guy stole a lectern, and another left a quarter & a profane note on the Speaker's desk?
Was it so some would think they were going to a protest rally, and others to a kidnapping/mock trial/revolution, while 1 guy stole a lectern, and another left a quarter & a profane note on the Speaker's desk?
Anyhow, I read the Berkowitz piece. It isn't meant to explain everything, but I think is helps explain how Q craziness spread.
And I think he's right about this: "This is a media campaign. This is a coordinated propaganda campaign." https://medium.com/curiouserinstitute/a-game-designers-analysis-of-qanon-580972548be5
And I think he's right about this: "This is a media campaign. This is a coordinated propaganda campaign." https://medium.com/curiouserinstitute/a-game-designers-analysis-of-qanon-580972548be5
