Legalectric

The QAnon ‘Storm’ Never Struck. Some Supporters Are Wavering, Others Steadfast

Former President Donald Trump did not declare martial law in his final minutes in office; nor did he reveal a secret plan to remain in power forever. President Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi were not sent to Guantánamo Bay. The military did not rise up and arrest Democratic leaders en masse.

Instead, Biden took the oath of office and became the 46th U.S. president on Wednesday.

And even more details:

Some QAnon followers lose hope after inauguration

QAnon supporters believed Wednesday’s inauguration was an elaborate trap set by the former president, wherein Democrats would be rounded up and executed while Trump retained power.

Rounded up an executed? And these are the folks who were “storming the Capital” two weeks ago.

And same goes for the Proud Boys, so disappointed, not getting what they wanted:

‘A total failure’: The Proud Boys now mock Trump

Today’s a holiday, right?

When folks around you are mired in QAnon, conspiracies, lies, what to do? I’ve come around to thinking that what’s needed is intervention, and treatment and/or deprogramming, as with cults, or in 12 Step chemical dependency models.

After this last week, each of us should be asking this question and grappling with action.

From Psychology Today:

Part 1 – The Psychological Needs That QAnon Feeds – What to do when someone you love becomes obsessed with QAnon

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Part 2 – How Far Down the QAnon Rabbit Hole Did Your Loved One Fall? What to do when someone you love becomes obsessed with QAnon

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Part 3 – 4 Keys to Help Someone Climb Out of the QAnon Rabbit Hole – What to do when someone you love becomes obsessed with QAnon

This is a little too “psych lite” for me, but in talking about intervention, there is this, which makes sense:

Another form of psychotherapy that could be applied to conspiracy theory beliefs is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is designed to challenge “cognitive distortions” and false beliefs by looking at evidence to disconfirm them.

From the article, a reading list:

• How to talk to conspiracy theorists—and still be kind” by the moderators of the Reddit r/ChangeMyView subforum.

• My father, the QAnon conspiracy theorist” by Reed Ryley Grable.

• Escaping the Rabbit Hole: How to Debunk Conspiracy Theories Using Facts, Logic, and Respect by Mick West.

• Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults and Beliefs and The Cult of Trump by ex-cult member turned cult expert and counselor Steven Hassan.

David Neiwert’s forthcoming book Red Pill, Blue Pill: How to Counteract the Conspiracy Theories That Are Killing Us also looks to be a worthwhile read.