QAnon raises a larger question: Why do we believe conspiracy theories? Opinion: The danger of conspiracy theories like QAnon is that they convince people they have keys to a greater understanding.

Téa Francesca Price | Arizona Republic

As Hercule Poirot would say, “Use your little grey cells, mon ami.”

But this brain-teaser is not a mystery penned by Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or even James Patterson.

What you’re about to read is what’s actually happening in the world today. There are regular people who share an irregular perspective, and are congregating in chat-rooms online and now at events in real life.

The mystery I’m focused on is not one of the stories conspiracy theorists are pushing. Yes, some of those are so beyond fantastical, it amazes me that writers for Netflix haven’t utilized the ideas for a “Stranger Things”-esque series.

The true quandary is understanding why conspiracy theories catch on.

We need to ask ourselves these questions

Here are the most widely believed conspiracy theories Some conspiracy theories are so crazy no one in their right mind would believe them. But Ranker has put together its list of the most widely believed to be true. Tony Spitz has the details.

Why is something like QAnon so easy for some people to believe? Have we reached a point where critical thinking can no longer happen unless the puzzle is entertaining?

Or is society in such a state of chaos, that the human existential crisis of finding purpose and truth has veered into lunacy?

Maybe humans are simply escapists by nature, but it’s imperative to address this mysterious aspect of the human psyche.

We need to ask ourselves questions so that in the future, an anonymous person online is not viewed as a thought-provoker, but as the presence masquerading as a benevolent informant and provider of purpose.

Alternative perspectives can be amusing to delve into, and maybe this is what makes conspiracy theories so seductive.

They cannot be proved therefore it falls upon disbelievers to disprove it. It’s the same pedestal both the devout and atheists can sit upon.

What is QAnon?

Understanding the QAnon movement is difficult and even after hours upon hours sifting through chat-rooms, posts and videos, it’s still unbelievable. However, this theory warrants less than zero credence, so here’s a very concise explanation:

In October 2017, an anonymous person(s) began posting on 4chan, a chatroom where text, files and photos can be shared by anonymous accounts.

The user was nicknamed “Q,” after Q-level security clearance in the government, and he/she/they began writing cryptic but expansive posts interpreted as being inside information from someone in the White House or government agency.

A following developed rapidly known as “QAnon.”

The group believes that the “deep state” or “the cabal” – people in power, ranging from the Bush, Clinton, McCain, and Rothschild families, to Saudi Arabia and media owners – have been in a secret war with the "Alliance."

The Alliance supposedly exists to take down the “Deep State,” and that is how Donald Trump came to be president – he is supposedly part of the Alliance and was put into power to expose all the corruption.

This screams for media literacy

Report: Trump adviser responsible for spreading conspiracy theories Frank Wuco, a senior white house adviser at the department of homeland security is reportedly responsible for pushing out far right conspiracy theories before his time with the Trump administration.

What’s terrifying is that Q-followers are tracing details and drawing conclusions like someone reading a horoscope, enthralled by retrospective bias.

They believe that even if Q were fake (or in 4chan speak, a live action role player), the information is still “real” and the dots are there to be connected.

Why else, they ask, would Trump run for presidency and why would the media, Hollywood and people in power so vehemently denounce him unless Trump was part of the Alliance?

It couldn’t be because of contradictory statements or questionable policies – that’s far too rational.

For QAnon supporters, it’s not about who or where the “information” is coming from, it’s about what and why.

“Q” – like the Wizard in the Wizard of Oz – is seen to be disseminating the truth via questions, leaving it up to followers to uncover “facts” and draw conclusions collectively. In their minds, they must do this because the mainstream media is monopolized by the Illuminati.

Tell me what to think about, not what to think

If the consequences weren’t so serious, this notion would be comedy gold. However, nothing proves the dangers of a media illiterate world more so than this movement.

The idea that there’s a secret communication between every media organization in the world that decides the news each day is absurd, but shows that people have no clue how newsrooms work.

Has education failed so miserably that ignorance has bred gullibility?

What’s terrifying and ironic is that, in this claimed search for truth, conspiracy theorists believe an anonymous person(s)' cryptic, unsupported musings over credible sources interviewed by ethically trained journalists.

How do reporters even begin to appeal to this mentality?

This sentiment shouldn’t be shocking. It is the same, albeit extreme, expression we hear time and again in focus groups with our audiences:

“Tell me what to think about, not what to think.”

Theirs is a plea for purpose and unity

DC pizzeria shooting blamed on fake news story A man who said he was investigating a conspiracy theory about Hillary Clinton running a child sex ring out of a pizza place fired an assault rifle inside the Washington, D.C., restaurant on Sunday injuring no one, police and news reports said. (Dec. 5)

Just because Q-followers are impassioned and were recently present at the president’s rally in Florida, this isn’t the first conspiracy theory to leak from the Internet into the real world.

In December 2016, a man fired a rifle at a pizzeria in Washington, D.C., due to a conspiracy theory that said the restaurant was the center of a child sex ring involving top Democrats. A few months ago in Tucson, people were searching for a child sex camp in the desert, despite zero evidence.

That’s the danger of conspiracy theories: they convince people that they have keys to a greater understanding.

So perhaps it’s no great mystery why our Id, Ego and Superego are beguiled by such stories.

Conspiracy theories entice by being entertaining and tease the natural human plight of wanting to feel different, to be unique.

Every person indulges in escapism to some extent, whether it’s through hobbies, travel, exercise, alcohol or even drugs. Yet these conspiracy theories are the manifestation of a human plea for purpose and unity.

The tragedy is that unravelling reality to weave a more desirable story is wasting brain cells and energy.

Those are resources sorely needed to address the chaos and true mysteries facing us all on the real side of the looking glass.

Téa Francesca Price is a Pulliam Fellow for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at tea.price@azcentral.com.

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