Understand, I am all-too aware of the fact that mocking Fox News coverage is just about the biggest “Free Throw” in existence around here (NCAA March Madness LIngo, Go Zags!).
And the latest is a doozy, and worth plenty of laughs, and more derision than any of us rightly have time for right now, what with wall to wall great basketball on. But, hear me out, because this is a little more important that just, well, stupid.
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From my friends at The Daily Beast:
In a Fox & Friends First segment on Donald Trump’s new executive order on campus free speech, Fox reporter Carley Shimkus read a tweet from @QAnon76, a significant QAnon account on Twitter that has more than 160,000 followers.
You will be entirely forgiven, indeed praised, as someone having both A) a life, and B) an IQ over 84, if you have nary an idea what “Q-Anon” could possibly represent.
But, your loyal servant as always is here to help:
QAnon adherents believe a series of online clues posted by “Q” have exposed a secret world hidden by the “deep state.” They think that Trump is engaged in a secret war against a pedophile cult in the Democratic Party, in an echo of the earlier Pizzagate conspiracy theory.
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Believe me, that is the most charitable description ever favored upon an organization since the NRA became a “legal entity.”
Because it’s just so much worse:
QAnon believers think Trump is about to arrest and even execute top Democrats, and much of their time is spent in online messages boards awaiting the day when Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama will face military tribunals.
Oh, that, too — is mild.
Really.
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Unlike me, you likely haven’t written a wonderful novel filled with triple layers of meaning that outwardly concerns UFOs, Roswell, Ike, the Moon, alien abductees, and every other conspiracy theory out there. For that, you should be thankful.
It took a lot of research.
You know where you find nuggets of truth (!) about UFOs? (Yes, I just said that) You find them in and among the people who run websites that traffic in Q-Anon theories!
Again, you got the milquetoast version of “Q” above.
What they also believe is that Mueller is secretly working with Trump, and the “investigation” is really about arresting every Dem in existence, because they’re all in on it, and it does involve murders, child-sex rings, the occult, and pretty much everything else bad of which you could think.
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What about the convictions and indictments? Well, that explains the pardons, of course.
It’s all for show.
It’s all insane.
But not on Fox & Friends:
In a Fox & Friends First segment on Donald Trump’s new executive order on campus free speech, Fox reporter Carley Shimkus read a tweet from @QAnon76, a significant QAnon account on Twitter that has more than 160,000 followers.
“Do not for one second, underestimate the significance of this EO,” the tweet read. “Thank you POTUS for reestablishing and preserving FREE SPEECH rights for ALL students.”
Yeah, “hate speech” is now back in vogue and — by executive order — to be allowed on a college campus near you.
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But you knew Fox was crazy, how can this possibly matter?
Because it does.
No matter where Fox and its audience is now, it most certainly can always go deeper. So it does. That’s one of the characteristics of propaganda, fresh meat, meatier than before, is always needed, as the appetite, once taken hold, cannot be satiated.
But, again, how can this possibly matter?
Because people who believe that Democrats are running child-sex rings and murdering people can much more easily justify violence themselves. We have already seen a Pizza place needlessly shot up. What happens when the “Deep State News Media” releases a report that — far from leading to Obama’s arrest — leads to talk of criminal charges of Trump?
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Will some know they’ve been had?
Sure. Some.
Will far far too many believe that the Deep State is winning again, and now is the time for “patriots” to rise? C’mon, these are people already believing Obama is a murdering child-rapist! Of course.
Will most just sit on their asses, talking a big game?
Of course, by far.
But how many does it take to call to action, especially if it really looks like Trump — a hero sent by God — really is going to be put in jail by the “Deep State,” to make it extremely ugly? To kill?
NOT MANY.
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That’s why it matters.
This descent into madness must stop. But how? Well, one idea is go right on the network and SPEAK truth. Show you don’t have fangs, rebut stupidity, talk sanely. It’s an idea.
Another is to starve the beast, call for advertisers to get the hell off the Q-Anon network.
But I think the most effective is to get some spine and start talking politics in places we’re not all comfy talking politics. Put it right in their face: “Do you really believe that Obama is a ….” If they say “yes” — laugh. Say something like I do here in the deep south: “Well, believe me, I don’t like Pence at all, but I don’t think he’s a murdering. blood starved, werewolf.” And walk away.
You win. I promise. I’ve done it. Most of them end up sort of scratching their head. Maybe feeling like they’re a little carried away.
Just like “Q” planted a seed, you did, too. Only they “know” you, and know you’re not insane.
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I think it matters, obviously.
I think you should, too.
If history has taught us one damn thing, it is that when propaganda isn’t actively opposed by those still “thinking,” it can spread like wildfire.
I liken “knowing” and “rebutting” to firefighting, except the stuff coming through your “hose” is called “thoughtfulness,” “bravery” and “education.”
Something we have in barrels around here.
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Peace, y’all. Love one another.