| This thread has been locked, it will not receive new replies. |
|
Locked on 06/01/2019 2:52:03 PM PDT by Jim Robinson, reason:
counterproductive flamebait |
Posted on 04/10/2019 10:11:03 AM PDT by romanesq
During the 2018 Midterms in the United States, strange signs started appearing at political rallies. Held up by non-descript attendees, the signs read simply, “We are Q.” For those Trekkers out there, you might be confused: no, these rallygoers were not making an oblique reference to the infamous Star Trek: The Next Generation character portrayed by John de Lancie. The group appeared from the fringes of internet chat rooms, such as on the website of 4Chan, a peculiar mixture of cyberpunks and various online misfits.
“Q” is derived from an anonymous poster on the internet forum, a source claiming to have a top secret clearance with the U.S. intelligence community. This person (or group of people) spun an intricate conspiracy theory that many Far Right activists on gonzo internet forums picked up and began disseminating to wider audiences online and in their communities.
The conspiracy goes like this: the real purpose of the Robert Mueller special counsel investigation was not to investigate Donald Trump, but instead to investigate Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and people like former Hillary Clinton campaign chairman, John Podesta. The QAnon conspiracy theory is far-reaching, with new pieces added with regularity, in the form of what Q supporters refer to as “breadcrumbs.” One such addition to the conspiracy theory last year was that the Mueller probe was also looking into the now-deceased Senator John McCain (R-AZ) for his illegal activities.
What is the ultimate end of the QAnon conspiracy; what does Mueller hope to achieve, according to them?
That part, like most conspiracy theories, is conveniently not knowable. The Mueller investigation, having ended in a whimper rather than the bang the Trump-hating Fake News was hoping for, should have been the end of the QAnon conspiracy theory. QAnon conspiracy theorists have simultaneously argued that the ultimate target of the Mueller investigation is either the “Deep State” of nefarious anti-American, globalist actors, or the aim is to pursue high-profile pedophiles in the United States government and in other powerful circles related to the government.
QAnon’s Pernicious Connections to “Pizzagate”
Now for the most pernicious aspect of the QAnon conspiracy theory. In 2016, conspiracists on 4Chan and other similar fringe messaging boards claimed that the emails stolen from Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta’s (and subsequently made public by WikiLeaks) contained secret messages referring to a powerful ring of pedophiles who were using a local Washington, D.C. pizzeria as a base of operations to conduct their crimes. None of these claims were true. But, what ended up happening was that the highly irresponsible conspiracy theory triggered a mentally unstable man, who in turn took a gun to a D.C. pizzeria with intent to use it.
The source material for these theories is the vile, uber-fringe 4Chan and 8Chan. 4Chan was launched in 2003 as a place to share images and discuss Japanese anime. In fact, it was modeled on the Japanese anime internet boards, such as Futaba Channel. Over time, though, the already eclectic group of online personalities that 4Chan attracted devolved into something darker. It became a haven for crazed conspiracy theorists from both sides of the political divide. 4Chan also became popular among the white nationalist community, and also became a place for hackers and other criminals–including child pornographers. If there was a Hell on the internet, 4Chan was Hell.
Meanwhile, a similar website, created by gonzo software developer, Frederick Brennan, 8Chan was launched in 2013 as a response to what Brennan believed was the rise in authoritarianism, censorship, and surveillance on 4Chan. Despite the fact that 8Chan has become the 3,857th most viewed website in the world, with an average of 35,000 unique visitors per day and 400,000 original posts per day, it too has become mired in controversy. 8Chan, which has been billed as the more libertarian (though, perhaps libertine would be better) 4Chan, has apparently become a hub of international child pornography postings. This became such a problem that, in 2015, 8Chan was blacklisted by Google search. It is a profound understatement to claim that anything positive or good comes from these boards. Yet, it is precisely from sites like these that the “Pizzagate” and now the QAnon conspiracy theories emanate.
Alternative media figures, such as Mike Cernovich, have also furthered the “Pizzagate” and QAnon conspiracy theories. Some of these individuals have massive social media followings. With big internet names furthering the conspiracies, it was only a matter of time before disaster struck. In 2016, when the pizzeria shooting happened, several media outlets attempted to lay the blame at the feet of people like Cernovich. This only gave the Fake News Industrial Complex more fuel in their ongoing war against President Trump and the Right.
The very same group of internet Alt-Right activists and online forums that furthered the “Pizzagate” conspiracy have also spread the QAnon conspiracy theory.
Here are some of the other bizarre, totally inaccurate predictions that QAnon has made:
01/21/18 – A flood was alleged to be coming. A flood consisting of various forms of media that I imagine were supposed to implicate somebody in something nefarious. Sadly, this flood never came.
01/21/18 – Q makes some very certain claims about the Nunes Memo, which of course do not come remotely true when the memo is released a couple weeks later.
01/22/18 – Q posts a confirmed fake Podesta email, then promptly deletes it. But not before his followers have time to notice. 02/09/18 – Next week [Next week] was declared ‘suicide weekend‘. Nothing came to pass.
02/21/18 – Q predicts that the founder of Twitter is removing accounts because he and his Deep State friends are in deep trouble. Nothing came to pass.
03/15/18 – Q declares ‘March Madness’ and that ‘the public will soon know’. Nothing came to pass.
04/02/18 – April was supposed to be a “BIG month“, full of happenings including but not limited to arrests, the release of the IG report, the wall, “military start”, and unsealed indictments. Nothing came to pass.
Where Does QAnon Go From Here?
Things have gotten even stranger for the QAnon conspiracists now that Special Counsel Robert Mueller has submitted his final report. While the report has not yet been made public, Attorney General William Barr has seen it, and he has issued a summary of the report.
AG Barr explains that Mueller has not proven any collusion or coordination between President Donald Trump, his top 2016 campaign staffers, and Russian intelligence. The focus of the investigation was Donald Trump and his 2016 presidential campaign. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Podesta, or even John McCain were not targets of the Mueller probe in any way as Q promised.
The fact that the QAnon conspiracy theory is tied in with the “Pizzagate” fiasco is bad enough. The more damaging part is that these cult-like actors link themselves to the Trump movement, despite the fact that no member of the Trump movement has anything to do with these insane theories. They are the outgrowth of a pathetic group who exist online, in the dark corners of the worldwide web. That they have attached their delusions to the Trump movement is unfortunate.
But, they do not represent and are not affiliated with President Trump, his supporters, or those who work for the president.
Recently, some Q supporters have insisted that certain pictures of President Trump and key advisers in the White House “prove” that they are, in fact, members of the Q conspiracy because their positioning makes it appear as though they are displaying subliminal messages about Q. These internet personalities claim to be supporting the President. Yet, consistently, their actions have shown that they are not allies of the President. They damage and besmirch the Trump movement with their irresponsible actions.
In that their actions, both directly and indirectly, aid those who would do damage to the Make America Great Again Agenda and see it fail. Whoever Q or QAnon may be, they are most decidedly not close to the President, they are not Conservatives, and with every post they make, they subvert the MAGA Agenda.
You know being whiney is one thing and God knows there’s some huge crybabies on this website if anyone dares point out the utter stupidity of the QAnon hoax but you are again personally attacking me.
You have no basis to personally attack me.
I could care less that you and fatima are both calling me names but the fact is you are in stark violation of the rules set here by Jim Robinson, the website.
You owe me an apology.
Sure right after you apologize for calling people Qultist, qanon scammers, stupid, wife beaters, Scientologist, scammers, qidiots, hoaxers, qult promoter, Creepy Paper Porn Boy,
Clownish,
Childish, foolish, goofy, shills, a bukkake creator
Your phony outrage is laughable
Go pound sand
Liar
You don’t get to put words into my mouth nor assume facts not in evidence.
I understand the conundrum...it’s a legit article. And I am assuming that’s why it’s been left up...though I haven’t seen JR pinged.
And no, I’m not going to poke a stick at the hibernating bear by pinging him.
maybe it’s been decided that this is “The Purge” week.
There are a lot of article subjects that aren’t allowed on FR.
how does it square with JR’s rules ?
I guess JR’s rules re: “Q” stuff mean nothing ?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3713751/posts#comment
FreeRegards.
I’m going to assume all the facts in evidence, in REALITY whether they come from people who worked in the White House like Seb Gorka or Sean Spicer among others.
I don’t care who doesn’t like it, it’s news and this website has no issue with news stories published.
Can’t handle the truth? Not my problem. I’ve laughed at the obvious inability of people in this threat to even address simple facts.
Not a single one addressed the facts enumerated clearly in the article.
People have come out and confessed about this QAnon hoax but it’s so out of control they are ignored just like fact after fact after fact coming to light.
The Federalist published one QAnon hoax creator and he’s not happy about how these scammers have made it into a business.
He can’t be believed, he’s a shill, Mossad or whatever. No one who steps forward with the truth is telling the truth. Only double secret probation anonymous knows the truth and can’t tell anyone but on 8Chan and Crackhead Soapbox.
How’d that Hillary Clinton arrest work out? Where’s Huma? Or Podesta?
Where’s all the arrests from the 10,000 or is it 100,000 indictments and the people shipped off to GITMO?
SMH. Some people.
Who did I call a name? Oh yeah I did about preying insect.
You want me to apologize to preying insect?
Ain’t happening.
You have personally attacked me. You owe me an apology!
Do it now!
Pole!
Facts not in evidence was talking about your assumption I wanted censorship.
You called everyone in this thread multiple names multiple times as I pointed out.
Additionally did you forget your little mod imposed vacation for similar tactics just days ago?
What did he stuff down the front of his pants, a pumpkin?
You are a liar and worse.
Post 1022 of yours ostensibly claims that Q said JFK Jr is alive when exactly the opposite was said. Directly and specifically when asked whether he was alive, Q said no.
When this is over you won’t be able to troll the pages of FR without everyone laughing at you. More than they are now even.
I don’t even think YOU believe the tripe you post.
If you look real close there, that looks like a vibrant beam of radiant light from the front of the ...
never mind.
Don't you know he's flown in space?
Nope, stop lying. I called the Qult names and preying insect too.
So what. Look up David Hayes’ criminal record. Do the same for Pamphlet Coleman. I piss on them.
I’m right here and calling all of them out. I’m standing up right here as a man and calling you out! I will keep speaking the truth and you can’t censor me.
This thread is based on real NEWS in the REAL world, not fantasy where Hillary Clinton was arrested along with Huma, Podesta with tens of thousands of imaginary indictments written up by Santa and his elves for the QAnon scammers.
I’ve called out the QAnon Hoax. Loud and proud for MAGA! I will save as many people from those evil scammers as possible. You’re welcome.
Have a nice day, man up and apologize.
Lol a mattel verti-bird
My absolute favorite toy as a kid
“Post 1022 of yours ostensibly claims that Q said JFK Jr “
Yes, I’m mocking all the BS. You want to quibble okay, tell me where is Hillary Clinton holed up after her arrest by the alleged QAnon god?
Where is Julian Assange btw? What did he and his mother have to say about QAnon and the BS about him being free? I could go on all day with this ridiculous LARP.
And if you are up to it, answer the facts in Seb Gorka’s article. Go on, I’ll wait.
You’d be the very first.
I piss on each and every QAnon scammer. They are a threat to President Trump and I am proud to stand up for MAGA.
You wouldn’t be the first among some if you did. If that’s not the case then bravo to you!
Lol you’re speaking truth to power
The five trolls and your 168 YouTube viewers are thoroughly impressed.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.