So keep an eye out for shills using these talking points, I guess.
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Solving mysteries and the community support made them feel smart. It offered a sense of purpose and control in a time where those things were scarce.
"
.
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Because distrust of liberals and the media was fundamental to Trump and Q, it falls to conservatives to engage the QAnon followers. Conservatives can have some credibility and an opportunity, especially if they look for real issues that connect to the underlying concerns of the QAnon base. If they can also offer online communities with online activities that make the followers feel valuable and smart—a major attraction of the QAnon world—they could successfully give followers an out that leads them back to a space of truth.
"
.
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Avoid arguments, judgment, criticism, or humiliation. Share testimonials from people who have abandoned Q. Emphasize that the followers were lied to and that they are victims of those lies—the sense of victimhood is already prevalent among Q followers. This process of de-cultification requires patience and suppressing justified anger, recriminations, and frustration. It also may not work, but it is grounded in the best professional advice on bringing people back out of a cult.
"
.
"
QAnon followers drove the insurrection at the Capitol, and the conspiracy theory has infiltrated all levels of the Republican party. As QAnon crumbles, its adherents will not disappear with it. What they turn to next will shape conservative politics for years to come. Bringing them back to a space where they operate on truth and facts is critical.
So keep an eye out for shills using these talking points, I guess.
"
Solving mysteries and the community support made them feel smart. It offered a sense of purpose and control in a time where those things were scarce.
"
.
"
Because distrust of liberals and the media was fundamental to Trump and Q, it falls to conservatives to engage the QAnon followers. Conservatives can have some credibility and an opportunity, especially if they look for real issues that connect to the underlying concerns of the QAnon base. If they can also offer online communities with online activities that make the followers feel valuable and smart—a major attraction of the QAnon world—they could successfully give followers an out that leads them back to a space of truth.
"
.
"
Avoid arguments, judgment, criticism, or humiliation. Share testimonials from people who have abandoned Q. Emphasize that the followers were lied to and that they are victims of those lies—the sense of victimhood is already prevalent among Q followers. This process of de-cultification requires patience and suppressing justified anger, recriminations, and frustration. It also may not work, but it is grounded in the best professional advice on bringing people back out of a cult.
"
.
"
QAnon followers drove the insurrection at the Capitol, and the conspiracy theory has infiltrated all levels of the Republican party. As QAnon crumbles, its adherents will not disappear with it. What they turn to next will shape conservative politics for years to come. Bringing them back to a space where they operate on truth and facts is critical.
"