When I was 19 I accidentally started a cult.
This is why I know that most Q Anons aren't mentally ill. They're just desperate for something, anything to give them purpose.
Thread.
This is why I know that most Q Anons aren't mentally ill. They're just desperate for something, anything to give them purpose.
Thread.
When I was 19 I spent a semester, ok like half a semester, at the local community college with my best friend. We'll call her Amanda. That's where she met her boyfriend whom we'll refer to as Stan.
Now I want to preface this by explaining that I am not proud of this. So lets go.
Now I want to preface this by explaining that I am not proud of this. So lets go.
Amanda, Stan and I would all hang out in my tiny little apartment, smoking cigarettes and listening to music and talking. One day Stan had asked me what religion I believe in. And if you know me you know that's
C o m p l i c a t e d
C o m p l i c a t e d
It seemed like he wasn't hearing me, because when I finished a point he would say "oh ok so you believe [insert totally absurd thing that has nothing to do with anything discussed]" and I guess I just got tired of correcting him because I went with it.
But, there were problems. The random things he was talking about lacked structure. There's a plot to all religions that must be followed. You need an origin story. You need the protagonist and antagonist. And you need mission parameters.
So I built the walls while he decorated the rooms and before you could say anunaki we had fleshed out a whole new religion based on internet conspiracy theories and whatever else came to mind.
I didn't know until later that he had schizophrenia and he and Amanda didn't tell me.
I didn't know until later that he had schizophrenia and he and Amanda didn't tell me.
Now.
That's not a cult.
That's one guy. Right?
So the next day we have class.
We've got a friend group.
Or rather we gave affable schoolmates that also smoke cigarettes in the gazebo.
He starts telling them....
They look... Concerned...
He's also telling it wrong.
That's not a cult.
That's one guy. Right?
So the next day we have class.
We've got a friend group.
Or rather we gave affable schoolmates that also smoke cigarettes in the gazebo.
He starts telling them....
They look... Concerned...
He's also telling it wrong.
God help me I corrected him.
And you know what we threw magic in there for good measure.
Suddenly our affable smokers (who happen to be mostly goths or metal heads my age or younger) have kind of jumped on board. But not until I make it real.
And you know what we threw magic in there for good measure.
Suddenly our affable smokers (who happen to be mostly goths or metal heads my age or younger) have kind of jumped on board. But not until I make it real.
There's an exercise on the power of friction that has cool side effects. You rub your hands super fast together and then you let them cool. You press the air between your hands into one another and your fried nerve endings register the heat as pressure.
Feels like dough.
Feels like dough.
Bam.
Sold.
They want more.
Not just magic tricks but the whole story. What's our goal? What's our purpose? It took less than an hour and 1 turned into 10. In a week? 30. I left after that. Before the investigation started.
Weirdly no one ever contacted me.
Sold.
They want more.
Not just magic tricks but the whole story. What's our goal? What's our purpose? It took less than an hour and 1 turned into 10. In a week? 30. I left after that. Before the investigation started.
Weirdly no one ever contacted me.
What did I do?
I told a few kids a story with a proper structure. I gave them words and elements they could research on their own. I used buzz words that could easily be repeated. Then I gave them what they thought was tangible proof. An excuse to go along with it.
I told a few kids a story with a proper structure. I gave them words and elements they could research on their own. I used buzz words that could easily be repeated. Then I gave them what they thought was tangible proof. An excuse to go along with it.
When it was all said and done I asked a few if they believed any of it. If I asked them in the middle of it all they might have claimed I was a demon. But when I asked they admitted they hadn't. But it was something to do. Something to believe in. Atleast for a little while.
That it gave them a mission. Purpose.
But while they were in it they immersed themselves so fully that any threat to their suspension of disbelief was seen through the lense of the game. If you didn't believe, you either weren't chosen or weren't activated/awoken.
But while they were in it they immersed themselves so fully that any threat to their suspension of disbelief was seen through the lense of the game. If you didn't believe, you either weren't chosen or weren't activated/awoken.
Now imagine instead of basing it on alien conspiracy theories and religion, I sold them on political conspiracy theories and crimes against humanity. Give them screenshots of some shit I typed out and claim it's from wikileaks and give them a link to thousands of files to-
discourage them from trying to find it themselves.
Give them a name
A mission
Tell them they've been activated
Promise them battles
Victories
Something other than their day to day 9-5. Something to excuse their faults. Something to make them feel righteous.
Give them a name
A mission
Tell them they've been activated
Promise them battles
Victories
Something other than their day to day 9-5. Something to excuse their faults. Something to make them feel righteous.
Some will truly believe. Some with fight and die for the cause.
Some will be like Stan and get tattoos of the movement and rally troops. (Again I feel bad)
Many will use it to pass the time and play the game while they're in it. Snap back when they're out.
Some will be like Stan and get tattoos of the movement and rally troops. (Again I feel bad)
Many will use it to pass the time and play the game while they're in it. Snap back when they're out.
Most aren't sick. Just desperate and bored. It's a game. A hobby.
Like 14 year old's who think they're vampires.
Q anon is just larping for politics.
/fin
Like 14 year old's who think they're vampires.
Q anon is just larping for politics.
/fin
