Thread by @ARCCollective

We are... what? Less than 48 hours from the presidential inauguration?

American Trump supporters are still convinced that he still has a master plan to remain president and punish his enemies. The true believers among his Canadian supporters feel the same way. 1/15

In short, QAnon conspiracy woo.

Now I've spent a great deal of time the last two weeks posting information about QAnon's Canadian Trump supporting adherents. I figure that we might focus a bit on a case study in radicalization. 2/15

When I was publishing articles on ARCI wrote about Ryan Mclean in relation to his membership in the anti-Muslim/anti-immigration Canadian Combat Coalition. I also may have noted that his face looks like it is putting his body to sleep because I can be, and often am, a jerk. 3/15

By the way, "multicultural" in C3 means all the colours between cream and egg shell.

And because one can basically become a leader in this movement like it is a prize in a Lucky Elephant Popcorn box, Mclean also assumed a leadership position. 4/15

Over the years it was apparent that Mclean was a sucker for every conspiracy theory he came across which meant he fell hard for QAnon. He has been promoting the byzantine conspiracy theory almost as long as he has been a member of C3. 5/15

And since the election he has continued to push QAnon talking points, including the promise be made last night. 6/15

And so, over the course of a few hours... this. 7/15

and this. 8/15

Ultimately culminating in posting a list of American and world political leaders, entertainers, business people, and others he (and other Q supporters) believe are part of the satanic pedophile cabal ruling the world as either being executed or awaiting a military tribunal. 9/15

Now you are going to ask, "Kurt, since he will see and has seen many of these people are clearly alive, he will be disabused of this delusional thinking eventually, right?"

Well, QAnon provides here a ready response because this really has become a closed system.10/15

And here we have what might be the fundamental problem and why we will be struggling with this for likely years to come.

They have been programmed to think uncritically and not to believe their lying eyes. 11/15

QAnon should perhaps be thought of now as a new religious movement in which adherent reject logic and replace it with faith, even when presented with facts that are irrefutable. They will not believe you because they exist in an alternative universe where they find comfort. 12/15

QAnon is now self-perpetuating. Though Trump is a messianic figure, he is no longer necessary for the movement to sustain itself. Some may drift away. Some may harm themselves. Others may be determined to help move the prophecies forward with a little human intervention. 13/15

It isn't going away any time soon. 14/15

Incidentally, Mclean has at times shown he is capable of doubt, though he is skeptical or denies actually real things.

He doesn't believe there is a pandemic.

He thinks vaccinations are harmful.

And, oh yeah, he believe the Holocaust didn't happen. 15/15