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Where goats go to escape
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Guy Smiley
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The linked article illustrates a growing problem exaggerated by lockdowns and other restrictions imposed by COVID19. A growing , festering mess of conspiracy ‘theorists’ spreading their tentacles across various social media platforms and in some cases, starting to do some real damage when it comes to institutional management of pandemic... and society.

I guess there’s a wider question about social controls and the role of the individual being presented, nothing new in that aside from the ready nature of communication which allows the propagation of fear.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-n ... ine-battle
According to a statement of claim seen by Guardian Australia, posts made about the federal MP in April claimed, without any factual basis, that she was “a member of a secretive pedophile network” who had been “parachuted into parliament to protect a past generation of pedophiles”.

Within weeks of the case being filed, Justice Michael Wheelahan made urgent orders for the defendant to remove the posts, labelling them “vile” and describing the legal action as “one of those exceptional cases” where the court could order the removal of the allegedly defamatory material before a trial.

“Given the potency of the allegations [in the] online posts, the scandal created may well reach quarters that cannot be known … this is one of those rare cases where damages may not be an adequate remedy,” Wheelahan said.
Brewer’s personal Facebook page, which has thousands of followers, is a petri dish of beguiling theories and vicious abuse. In the steady stream of live videos and posts she feeds to her thousands of followers each day, Brewer rails against vaccinations, fluoride, and the cabal of Freemasons she believes controls Australia’s parliament, judiciary, media and bureaucracy as part of an extensive paedophile protection racket.

Though Webster declined to speak to the Guardian this week, her defamation case marks an important flashpoint in the burgeoning world of conspiracy theorists in Australia.

This week, Brewer spent much of her time spurring her followers to attend the so-called “Day of Freedom” protests scheduled for 5 September. The event, which has been repeatedly removed and reposted to Facebook, has, at various stages, had more than 10,000 people mark their intention to attend.

Dreamed up by a coalition of online groups broadly linked around a mish-mash of conspiracy theories, the organisers plan to march in cities across Australia in defiance of lockdown restrictions, mandates on mask-wearing in Victoria, 5G, vaccinations, and “child trafficking and pedophilia
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blackblackblack
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Stupid people are Stupid Shanky, can't cure that. It's insidious and pervasive, can't stop it. I guess the important thing is to expose it for what it is. To positively debunk the messaging in your own circles as that seems to be the mechanism within which it propagates. That's difficult as the algorithmic methodology of the stalkbook news feed and the google search function gives you things related to stuff you've previously looked at on one as part of the news feed on the other so it begins to normalise as you see it from multiple sources. So, be a source of accuracy and not a font of bs, if you have people that you're connected to spouting the loon, call them on it.
CrazyIslander
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It's dangerous, it's playing to a certain section of the community. Once a rumour takes hold it can have a life of it's own. It's difficult to rein in without both government and websites employing dedicated departments to fight it. I don't see it happening because of the costs.

The cheaper alternative and more effective is to educate people about misinformation on social media, include it in the curriculum etc.
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mat the expat
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The decision to not have children is looking more and more correct.... :shifty:
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Ted.
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blackblackblack wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 12:53 am Stupid people are Stupid Shanky, can't cure that. It's insidious and pervasive, can't stop it. I guess the important thing is to expose it for what it is. To positively debunk the messaging in your own circles as that seems to be the mechanism within which it propagates. That's difficult as the algorithmic methodology of the stalkbook news feed and the google search function gives you things related to stuff you've previously looked at on one as part of the news feed on the other so it begins to normalise as you see it from multiple sources. So, be a source of accuracy and not a font of bs, if you have people that you're connected to spouting the loon, call them on it.
The issue now, as pointed out, is that these stupid people have a much further reach than previously. Simply pointing out peoples folly and ensuring your own exemplary record is intact, is no longer enough. It has got to the point where these loons have pushed out the bounds of freedom of speech to such a point t6hat it risks having a negative impact on all of us.

Unfortunately the laws have not kept up, but now that politicians are starting to feel the bite, we will see some action on that front. One way to confront it may be to bring in a law similar to vexatious litigants, who lose some of their rights in respect of access to 'justice' due to their abuse of that right.
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Carter's Choice
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What's the end game of this conspiratorial, post-truth movement? Where does it end? I see it being like the video game lemmings, where they all end up following each other off a metaphorical cliff.
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Guy Smiley
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Carter's Choice wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 4:11 am What's the end game of this conspiratorial, post-truth movement? Where does it end? I see it being like the video game lemmings, where they all end up following each other off a metaphorical cliff.
I think there’s a real danger in writing this off as simply a cresting wave of stupidity. There’s a critical mass effect in society and left unchecked, this is the sort of thing that could seriously impact policy, just as a hard right Christian base is attempting takeover of the Victorian Liberal party.

I’m as guilty as the next person of making fun of conspiratorial loons but I’ve become alarmed of late at the extent to which this is creeping across various sectors of society at large.
CrazyIslander
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Carter's Choice wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 4:11 am What's the end game of this conspiratorial, post-truth movement? Where does it end? I see it being like the video game lemmings, where they all end up following each other off a metaphorical cliff.
Tougher regulations meaning new government departments and compliance departments for websites.
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mat the expat
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Shanky’s mate wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 4:15 am
Carter's Choice wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 4:11 am What's the end game of this conspiratorial, post-truth movement? Where does it end? I see it being like the video game lemmings, where they all end up following each other off a metaphorical cliff.
I think there’s a real danger in writing this off as simply a cresting wave of stupidity. There’s a critical mass effect in society and left unchecked, this is the sort of thing that could seriously impact policy, just as a hard right Christian base is attempting takeover of the Victorian Liberal party.

I’m as guilty as the next person of making fun of conspiratorial loons but I’ve become alarmed of late at the extent to which this is creeping across various sectors of society at large.
But they cannot be reasoned with.

That's the problem - you can't fight it
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Carter's Choice
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The problem with social media is that anyone with an opinion can publish it and share it with the world. And platforms become an echo chamber for people because individuals invariably like and share opinions that are similar to their own. So opinions are becoming more intense and and at the same time are being shared much more widely. This is a relatively new phenomenon.
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Guy Smiley
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mat the expat wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 4:56 am
Shanky’s mate wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 4:15 am
Carter's Choice wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 4:11 am What's the end game of this conspiratorial, post-truth movement? Where does it end? I see it being like the video game lemmings, where they all end up following each other off a metaphorical cliff.
I think there’s a real danger in writing this off as simply a cresting wave of stupidity. There’s a critical mass effect in society and left unchecked, this is the sort of thing that could seriously impact policy, just as a hard right Christian base is attempting takeover of the Victorian Liberal party.

I’m as guilty as the next person of making fun of conspiratorial loons but I’ve become alarmed of late at the extent to which this is creeping across various sectors of society at large.
But they cannot be reasoned with.

That's the problem - you can't fight it
Everything can be reasoned with, we just haven’t found anyway through yet. I’m basing my attack on fear for now... I think people that buy into conspiracies are essentially afraid to accept the ugly truth. That being that life is shit and we die.
Harveys
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CrazyIslander wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 4:28 am
Carter's Choice wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 4:11 am What's the end game of this conspiratorial, post-truth movement? Where does it end? I see it being like the video game lemmings, where they all end up following each other off a metaphorical cliff.
Tougher regulations meaning new government departments and compliance departments for websites.

So there’s is this saying “Do people have ideas or do ideas have people”?

This is issue with Sam Harris theory that theology needs to be rooted out of society so we can all start acting logically and reasonably is that’s never going to happen you just dress the same possession up in different clothes. For a portion of society it’s always going to be that way and now days you are exposed to a shit ton more and they all have a platform to speak from.

Good luck with regulating people’s expression, that won’t end well because the posts are always moving.

One way or another we need a solution to the hyper exposure we now live with to each other’s thoughts, politics and ideologies. It used to be considered manners not to talk religion or politics at the table now we beat each other over the head with it 24/7 on line non-stop. Political ideology is no better than religious ideology and you have fundamentalists and loons on both sides.
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Hong Kong
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Dunning-Kruger personified
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MungoMan
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Short of killing them or rendering their centres of cognition non-functional, it is not possible to stop people thinking stupid thoughts.

Stopping people communicating stupid thoughts - especially those masquerading as fact - to others can certainly be attempted; and sometimes is, with varying degrees of success.
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blackblackblack
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MungoMan wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 7:09 am Short of killing them or rendering their centres of cognition non-functional, it is not possible to stop people thinking stupid thoughts.

Stopping people communicating stupid thoughts - especially those masquerading as fact - to others can certainly be attempted; and sometimes is, with varying degrees of success.
Thing is, that action however justified and correct feeds into and as an effect strengthens the conspiracy.
Clearly death squads are the answer.
CrazyIslander
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Harveys wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 6:19 am
CrazyIslander wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 4:28 am
Carter's Choice wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 4:11 am What's the end game of this conspiratorial, post-truth movement? Where does it end? I see it being like the video game lemmings, where they all end up following each other off a metaphorical cliff.
Tougher regulations meaning new government departments and compliance departments for websites.

So there’s is this saying “Do people have ideas or do ideas have people”?

This is issue with Sam Harris theory that theology needs to be rooted out of society so we can all start acting logically and reasonably is that’s never going to happen you just dress the same possession up in different clothes. For a portion of society it’s always going to be that way and now days you are exposed to a shit ton more and they all have a platform to speak from.

Good luck with regulating people’s expression, that won’t end well because the posts are always moving.

One way or another we need a solution to the hyper exposure we now live with to each other’s thoughts, politics and ideologies. It used to be considered manners not to talk religion or politics at the table now we beat each other over the head with it 24/7 on line non-stop. Political ideology is no better than religious ideology and you have fundamentalists and loons on both sides.
I'm not saying banning anyone who disagrees with you. I'm saying target prolific misinformation users via courts. The increased government/corporate oversights is for enforcing court orders and informing the public.

Perhaps a tracking system a la Bitcoin where users can flag certain accounts to discredit it.
I'm not talking about opinions, I'm talking about fake info like accusing people of sex trafficking etc. Once social media adopt a system of flagging and is accepted then it'll be easy to hound out those users.
Random1
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Carter's Choice wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:01 am The problem with social media is that anyone with an opinion can publish it and share it with the world. And platforms become an echo chamber for people because individuals invariably like and share opinions that are similar to their own. So opinions are becoming more intense and and at the same time are being shared much more widely. This is a relatively new phenomenon.

Completely agree.

It’s an amplified version of what has always happened - we’ve always had nutters claiming utter nonsense is true - we actually have an older, more accurate word for it; they’re cults.

The underlying danger is the combination of social media and the post modernist bullshit about rationality and truth being social constructs.

The postmodern philosophy has the potential to return us to a pre-enlightenment world where these cults can become revealed truth based religions.
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mat the expat
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Shanky’s mate wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:03 am
mat the expat wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 4:56 am
Shanky’s mate wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 4:15 am

I think there’s a real danger in writing this off as simply a cresting wave of stupidity. There’s a critical mass effect in society and left unchecked, this is the sort of thing that could seriously impact policy, just as a hard right Christian base is attempting takeover of the Victorian Liberal party.

I’m as guilty as the next person of making fun of conspiratorial loons but I’ve become alarmed of late at the extent to which this is creeping across various sectors of society at large.
But they cannot be reasoned with.

That's the problem - you can't fight it
Everything can be reasoned with, we just haven’t found anyway through yet. I’m basing my attack on fear for now... I think people that buy into conspiracies are essentially afraid to accept the ugly truth. That being that life is shit and we die.

I'd love to agree with you but the rabidity of their belief....

Happy to be proved wrong
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Ellafan
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Hong Kong wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 6:34 am Dunning-Kruger personified
There's a bit of that going around.
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Sandstorm
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Random1 wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 7:50 am
Carter's Choice wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:01 am The problem with social media is that anyone with an opinion can publish it and share it with the world. And platforms become an echo chamber for people because individuals invariably like and share opinions that are similar to their own. So opinions are becoming more intense and and at the same time are being shared much more widely. This is a relatively new phenomenon.

Completely agree.

It’s an amplified version of what has always happened - we’ve always had nutters claiming utter nonsense is true - we actually have an older, more accurate word for it; they’re cults.

The underlying danger is the combination of social media and the post modernist bullshit about rationality and truth being social constructs.

The postmodern philosophy has the potential to return us to a pre-enlightenment world where these cults can become revealed truth based religions.
Antivacs are a cult. I like it.
Random1
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mat the expat wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 7:56 am
Shanky’s mate wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:03 am
mat the expat wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 4:56 am

But they cannot be reasoned with.

That's the problem - you can't fight it
Everything can be reasoned with, we just haven’t found anyway through yet. I’m basing my attack on fear for now... I think people that buy into conspiracies are essentially afraid to accept the ugly truth. That being that life is shit and we die.

I'd love to agree with you but the rabidity of their belief....

Happy to be proved wrong
This is at the core of the cultural war for me; Rationality and reason are deemed as being subjective. There are no facts, just perspectives.

That’s why a person’s lived experience, or account, is given as much credence (if not more) as a peer reviewed paper or centuries of statistical evidence.

If they don’t even accept the principle of rationality, then how would you even go about reasoning with them?
Random1
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Sandstorm wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 8:36 am
Random1 wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 7:50 am
Carter's Choice wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:01 am The problem with social media is that anyone with an opinion can publish it and share it with the world. And platforms become an echo chamber for people because individuals invariably like and share opinions that are similar to their own. So opinions are becoming more intense and and at the same time are being shared much more widely. This is a relatively new phenomenon.

Completely agree.

It’s an amplified version of what has always happened - we’ve always had nutters claiming utter nonsense is true - we actually have an older, more accurate word for it; they’re cults.

The underlying danger is the combination of social media and the post modernist bullshit about rationality and truth being social constructs.

The postmodern philosophy has the potential to return us to a pre-enlightenment world where these cults can become revealed truth based religions.
Antivacs are a cult. I like it.

I might be stretching the definition a bit, but thinking about it, the anti vaccers in particular are a great big suicide cult.

It’ll fizzle out when the members die off.

Problem is, they’ll take some of the rest of us with them.

Pricks.
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Guy Smiley
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Sandstorm wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 8:36 am
Random1 wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 7:50 am
Carter's Choice wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:01 am The problem with social media is that anyone with an opinion can publish it and share it with the world. And platforms become an echo chamber for people because individuals invariably like and share opinions that are similar to their own. So opinions are becoming more intense and and at the same time are being shared much more widely. This is a relatively new phenomenon.

Completely agree.

It’s an amplified version of what has always happened - we’ve always had nutters claiming utter nonsense is true - we actually have an older, more accurate word for it; they’re cults.

The underlying danger is the combination of social media and the post modernist bullshit about rationality and truth being social constructs.

The postmodern philosophy has the potential to return us to a pre-enlightenment world where these cults can become revealed truth based religions.
Antivacs are a cult. I like it.
Cult is the term being used here... people are so sucked into this they need deprogramming...

https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/science/ ... s/12564566
Random1
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That’s an interesting read. They make a point which is worth highlighting, because it’s the only thing that makes me feel that this’ll just burn itself out;

For the conspiracies to have proper power and influence for any longer than 15 minutes, they need to be organised and centre on some form of doctrine.

The self fulfilling prophecy with conspiracy groups is, the fruit loops that follow this stuff are hyper sceptical of anything that looks like a controlling organisation. So it’ll likely fall apart into splinter groups before it causes significant, long term societal damage.

I remain more worried about other ‘cults’, like the evangelical Christians and NRA in the US or Marxism over here in the old world. They’re organised (particularly the first two) and have a central doctrine, which has given all of them longevity.
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Uncle fester
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https://t.co/bW9871N4jL

Good read. Points out that conspiracy theorists are nothing new in the US. What has changed is the medium.
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Ted.
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Random1 wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 10:28 am That’s an interesting read. They make a point which is worth highlighting, because it’s the only thing that makes me feel that this’ll just burn itself out;

For the conspiracies to have proper power and influence for any longer than 15 minutes, they need to be organised and centre on some form of doctrine.

The self fulfilling prophecy with conspiracy groups is, the fruit loops that follow this stuff are hyper sceptical of anything that looks like a controlling organisation. So it’ll likely fall apart into splinter groups before it causes significant, long term societal damage.

I remain more worried about other ‘cults’, like the evangelical Christians and NRA in the US or Marxism over here in the old world. They’re organised (particularly the first two) and have a central doctrine, which has given all of them longevity.
The Anti-Vax movement has been around a lot longer the 15 minutes. So have the anti-fluoride nutters. There's ample time for them to get organised as the NRA did and along similar lines, freedom, right to decide, etc.
Random1
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Uncle fester wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 10:37 am https://t.co/bW9871N4jL

Good read. Points out that conspiracy theorists are nothing new in the US. What has changed is the medium.
Enjoyed reading that - she has a nice writing style.

She has made me revisit my thoughts on the longevity of Qanon, with her example of the seventh day Adventists, but only if Qanon is actually being driven by Christianity (which is a recurring theme through her article)

She’s right in that millerites were fundamentally Christians who had a bit of a stiffy for the end of days (I’m paraphrasing) and it’s that angle I hadn’t really thought about with Qanon.

She also points out the classic cognitive dissonance similarities (Matt syed uses the millerites as an example in the excellent book called ‘black box thinking’). That could also give them some longevity.

Suppose I just imagined a bunch of neck bearded virgins, mentally ill veterans and semi computer literate trumpers being the mainstay of their number.

I suspect that if she is right, and faith has a significant uniting factor in Qanon, then the major Christian denominations will mangle them if they start to even threaten success in dismantling the hierarchy.

But always nice to read a different interesting view.
So thanks for sharing 👍
Random1
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Ted. wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 12:57 pm
Random1 wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 10:28 am That’s an interesting read. They make a point which is worth highlighting, because it’s the only thing that makes me feel that this’ll just burn itself out;

For the conspiracies to have proper power and influence for any longer than 15 minutes, they need to be organised and centre on some form of doctrine.

The self fulfilling prophecy with conspiracy groups is, the fruit loops that follow this stuff are hyper sceptical of anything that looks like a controlling organisation. So it’ll likely fall apart into splinter groups before it causes significant, long term societal damage.

I remain more worried about other ‘cults’, like the evangelical Christians and NRA in the US or Marxism over here in the old world. They’re organised (particularly the first two) and have a central doctrine, which has given all of them longevity.
The Anti-Vax movement has been around a lot longer the 15 minutes. So have the anti-fluoride nutters. There's ample time for them to get organised as the NRA did and along similar lines, freedom, right to decide, etc.
Nope!

I’m not revisiting two of my opinions on this matter in one day.

You’re all conspiring to make me doubt my self know truths! 😅
CrazyIslander
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Random1 wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 1:51 pm
Uncle fester wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 10:37 am https://t.co/bW9871N4jL

Good read. Points out that conspiracy theorists are nothing new in the US. What has changed is the medium.
Enjoyed reading that - she has a nice writing style.

She has made me revisit my thoughts on the longevity of Qanon, with her example of the seventh day Adventists, but only if Qanon is actually being driven by Christianity (which is a recurring theme through her article)

She’s right in that millerites were fundamentally Christians who had a bit of a stiffy for the end of days (I’m paraphrasing) and it’s that angle I hadn’t really thought about with Qanon.

She also points out the classic cognitive dissonance similarities (Matt syed uses the millerites as an example in the excellent book called ‘black box thinking’). That could also give them some longevity.

Suppose I just imagined a bunch of neck bearded virgins, mentally ill veterans and semi computer literate trumpers being the mainstay of their number.

I suspect that if she is right, and faith has a significant uniting factor in Qanon, then the major Christian denominations will mangle them if they start to even threaten success in dismantling the hierarchy.

But always nice to read a different interesting view.
So thanks for sharing 👍
Good read and very concerning the power Trump potentially has at his disposal especially if he loses the election.

I doubt the mainstream churches can stop them. The mainstream lack the fanatical followers that small denominations have. Must admit, I've only just realised the real impacts of Trump's tweets and fake facts.
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Guy Smiley
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Melbourne’s TheAge ran this article the other day...
COVID-19 conspiracy theorists have launched an orchestrated online attack, dubbed “digital warfare”, aimed at shutting down aspects of the mainstream media's reporting of the coronavirus crisis.

A co-ordinated spam attack on The Age’s Facebook page on Thursday forced the removal of an article, about suicide rates during the pandemic, after the page was flooded with thousands of comments including threats, abuse, defamation and conspiracy theory material.

The article reported on information from the Victorian Coroner that showed there had been no increase in suicides in 2020 compared with the previous year, despite the mental health challenges of the pandemic.

The attacks prompted a senior editor at Nine, owner of The Age, to accuse Facebook of "providing a safe space for nutters".
In an Instagram post from mid-August, Melbourne photographer Matt Lawson and a woman known online as Mel Ann plan a spam attack against mainstream media organisations. Mel Ann boasts that the campaign had already forced changes to Channel 9’s online presence.

“Nine News have had to take down some posts,” Mel Ann says on the video.

“If they take down posts, then that’s happy days, like if Dan [Andrews] takes down his propaganda, then I’m more than happy with that.”

Mel Ann rejected the notion that members of the group were "whack jobs", and insisted they were representing a broad-based movement with mass support.


In the same Instagram video, Mr Lawson speaks of setting up the Millions Rise for Australia group, the platform from which Thursday night's attacks on The Age were launched. Mel Ann is an administrator of the group.
James Chessell, executive editor of The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, said Facebook had a responsibility to limit the spread of conspiracy theories and fake news.

"If Facebook was even vaguely interested in preventing the spread of fake news and conspiracy theories at a time when a measured, evidence-based discussion about public health issues was critical, it would allow media companies to turn off comments on certain stories.

"But Facebook has made it very clear that the profits it generates by providing a safe space for nutters and extremists overrides all other considerations."

Facebook has been contacted for comment.
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Uncle fester
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Random1 wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 1:51 pm
Uncle fester wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 10:37 am https://t.co/bW9871N4jL

Good read. Points out that conspiracy theorists are nothing new in the US. What has changed is the medium.
Enjoyed reading that - she has a nice writing style.

She has made me revisit my thoughts on the longevity of Qanon, with her example of the seventh day Adventists, but only if Qanon is actually being driven by Christianity (which is a recurring theme through her article)

She’s right in that millerites were fundamentally Christians who had a bit of a stiffy for the end of days (I’m paraphrasing) and it’s that angle I hadn’t really thought about with Qanon.

She also points out the classic cognitive dissonance similarities (Matt syed uses the millerites as an example in the excellent book called ‘black box thinking’). That could also give them some longevity.

Suppose I just imagined a bunch of neck bearded virgins, mentally ill veterans and semi computer literate trumpers being the mainstay of their number.

I suspect that if she is right, and faith has a significant uniting factor in Qanon, then the major Christian denominations will mangle them if they start to even threaten success in dismantling the hierarchy.

But always nice to read a different interesting view.
So thanks for sharing 👍
What do you mean by this?
The Protestant churches are wonderfully splintered with no Central leadership. There is no hierarchy.

Catholic church has a much more cohesive structure but they are not as prevalent in the US.
CrazyIslander
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It's good read and it explained a lot of comments on social media.
Sinkers
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Good article that. Particularly appreciate the bit about the “professionals”.
Ultimately these things come down to individuals seeking personal gain - power, influence, money. Same for politics,organized religion etc.

That there are QAnon bandwagon jumpers because they see commercial opportunity is telling.

Those calling them crackpots etc aren’t helping and are missing the point - you’re often talking about the equivalent of small scale and extreme end of sensationalist media cynically looking for clicks & $$.
Random1
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Uncle fester wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 9:15 pm
Random1 wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 1:51 pm
Uncle fester wrote: Sat Aug 29, 2020 10:37 am https://t.co/bW9871N4jL

Good read. Points out that conspiracy theorists are nothing new in the US. What has changed is the medium.
Enjoyed reading that - she has a nice writing style.

She has made me revisit my thoughts on the longevity of Qanon, with her example of the seventh day Adventists, but only if Qanon is actually being driven by Christianity (which is a recurring theme through her article)

She’s right in that millerites were fundamentally Christians who had a bit of a stiffy for the end of days (I’m paraphrasing) and it’s that angle I hadn’t really thought about with Qanon.

She also points out the classic cognitive dissonance similarities (Matt syed uses the millerites as an example in the excellent book called ‘black box thinking’). That could also give them some longevity.

Suppose I just imagined a bunch of neck bearded virgins, mentally ill veterans and semi computer literate trumpers being the mainstay of their number.

I suspect that if she is right, and faith has a significant uniting factor in Qanon, then the major Christian denominations will mangle them if they start to even threaten success in dismantling the hierarchy.

But always nice to read a different interesting view.
So thanks for sharing 👍
What do you mean by this?
The Protestant churches are wonderfully splintered with no Central leadership. There is no hierarchy.

Catholic church has a much more cohesive structure but they are not as prevalent in the US.
Yeah, good point - the word ‘denomination’ wasn’t the right one to use. Maybe, ‘leaders’ is a better word?

At the moment it’s the Protestant evangelical leaders under trump who have had the most influence (at least from what I’ve read).

The point I was trying to explain, was that there are already pretty successful lobby groups for religions and so Qanon entering that space, is one that I suspect won’t go the way the article author thinks.

I took from the article, that she sees the religious aspect of Qanon lending it longevity. What I was trying to express was that I suspect, if Qanon morphs into a more religiousy group, with its own religious identity (based around end of days etc) then the current lobby groups would bitch slap them, undermine them and reduce their influence.

Happy to be educated on this if I’m barking up the wrong tree, as I find the intermix of culture wars, politics and religion such an interesting topic.
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Ted.
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Sinkers wrote: Sun Aug 30, 2020 6:30 am Good article that. Particularly appreciate the bit about the “professionals”.
Ultimately these things come down to individuals seeking personal gain - power, influence, money. Same for politics,organized religion etc.

That there are QAnon bandwagon jumpers because they see commercial opportunity is telling.

Those calling them crackpots etc aren’t helping and are missing the point - you’re often talking about the equivalent of small scale and extreme end of sensationalist media cynically looking for clicks & $$.
Yet a significant proportion are in fact what would usually be termed crackpots and the movement generally relies on the suspension of believe if not total naivety, a lack of critical thinking doesn't go amiss either. Perhaps dangerous crackpots would allow people to take them more seriously ..... ah shit, that's not right either. We need to both dismiss and engage this enemy. We need a special propaganda unit, hidden way dOowwnnn within the government apparatus, maybe poison their water, too. What else?
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blackblackblack
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Death squads I tells ya, start a new conspiracy theory about people that share conspiracy theories getting knocked off. :grin:
Fat Old Git
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Once we have wide spread 5G in place they won't be a problem anymore.... I've said to much.
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Sandstorm
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blackblackblack wrote: Sun Aug 30, 2020 7:25 am Death squads I tells ya, start a new conspiracy theory about people that share conspiracy theories getting knocked off. :grin:
The Secret Service has been doing that since Reagan was President.
Line6 HXFX
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When Obama got elected the right in the America hit the ground running with lots and lots of conspiracy theories, like they were amassing them ready for the day a Democrat entered the White House.
Glenn beck had a great run.
Fact is there is no justification for not taxing the very wealthy until they just fuck off anymore.
They pay minimal tax, they poison the debate, and make life in America (and elsewhere) unbearable for everyone not them.

We didn't tax the rich until they had to fuck off last week, we won't next week either.
Because we are distracted by their silly shit constantly.
Q anon are just another version of Glenn Beck.

Americans love conspiracy theories. The rich are just giving them what they want (instead of paying tax).
CrazyIslander
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I remember back in the days when some teenagers were obsessed with hidden messages in songs and playing records backwards to hear satanic voices. I can imagine it's a 100 times worse with the internet.
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