Economist Tyler Cowen takes up the question of QAnon: “[I]t’s worth asking what the movement is really about…I think it’s necessary to do more than regard QAnon with either incredulity or scorn.”
This makes sense to me. I don’t have a coherent theory to offer about the nature of QAnon, but having followed Q posts for several years I’m stuck by the outright foolishness of much anti-QAnon commentary. Consequently, I am eager for more serious approaches to understanding the event that QAnon represents.
Tidewater News and Opinion Forum 
“Foolishness” of the anti-QAnon commentary?
Why would you be “struck” by that?
In my opinion the stronger the beliefs in conspiracies the weaker the society. Dictatorships are rife with conspiracies, evidence Turkey, because the truth is so muddled. And the regimes need scapegoats for their failings.
Alex Jones’ reprehensible spreading of “false flag” rumors about school shootings or pizza parlors is all about assigning blame for political purposes.
Natural disasters such as storms and plagues were often blamed on disfavored members of a community. Ignorance was not bliss, but it was expedient.
Yes, there is child sex trafficking. But is it all controlled by Soros or Clinton or Democrats? Why not Russian oligarchs, Trump or the Republicans? The choice is dependent upon political motivation and whether the old adage of a big enough lie becoming the truth.
That QAnon is a bit of a joke gone viral would not be a problem. The internet is packed with crap.
The problem is we have a president who endorses it because the followers are his fans. Or that was his stated reason. More likely is that it will give him a boost among a portion of the electorate.
And now we have a Republican House member, or will soon, that is a conspiracy nut. That the more liberal Democrats, a few in number, received attacks based on the Green New Deal should be put into perspective with the Trump party’s embracing conspiracies (black clad thugs on a plane anyone?).
The GND is about policies and innovation. The conspiracies are all about fear and ignorance. Unfortunately this plays into the agenda of rural elitists who heap scorn on the “coastal” liberals. Yes, you have that right. The rural elitists consider themselves the “real” Americans. Can’t get anymore divisive and elite than that.
IMHO
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RE: “In my opinion the stronger the beliefs in conspiracies the weaker the society.”
In that case it might be useful to follow Cowen’s advice by questioning our assumptions — especially by not assuming we know what QAnon is until we have done the basic investigative work. As a hypothesis at least, it might be that QAnon is strengthening society.
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…”it might be that QAnon is strengthening society.”
You’ve said some weird, scary stuff before. This takes the cake.
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What are you scared of?
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Your faith in Qanon “strengthening society.”
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Could Tyler Cowen BE Qanon? We don’t know HIS real name either. Seems kind of cowardly to me.
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