Do you have friends or relatives who have gone down the QAnon rabbit hole? In this interview with the authors of Pastels and Pedophiles: Inside the Mind of QAnon, we'll explore how QAnon got started, how it spread, and -- perhaps most importantly -- how you might be able to help someone captivated by the QAnon delusions to find their way back to reality.
One of the authors has a Ph.D. in political science. The other has a doctorate in psychology. "One-to-One with John DeDakis" goes one-to-one with Mia Bloom and Sophia Moskalenko.
See and hear it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac5mvEuC-Ms&list=PLXDV_HPUqtvvV-j0lyb2BsaZNSW3GCcDP&index=1&t=17s
I watched your podcast all the way through listening to what the authors had to say. Was amazed to find out that there are seemingly harmless games gathered "willing idiots" into the fold and indoctrinated them to the point where they may have to be deprogrammed to lose the notion that all of the conspiracy theories, many coming from Russia are just fake and lies with no substance. And I agree that the modern woman having to compete with men one-on-one in the workplace, do all of the housekeeping, and all of the care and nurturing of the children, might opt for becoming part of the alternate lifestyle of obedient wives to dominant right wing leaders and followers.
And I'm aware of the shift in strategy towards electing school board members, state representatives, judges, mayors and others who are QAnon here in the state of Texas. Two relatively unknown West Texas billionaires are providing about two thirds of the funding for Republican candidates in all of these small offices throughout West Texas. They also are providing about two thirds of Sen. Cruz's campaign chest. I agree with the authors that this may be more insidious than going after Congress.
And, we have one brilliant author who was also born in Russia who seems to have fallen for the conspiracies hook line and sinker. It bothers me that I can't seem to do anything about changing anyone's mind except to write poetry, articles and stories that get to the heart of the matter. My book that sells is an apocalyptic tale that people want to identify with. Why would anyone want to see our prosperous United States turn into disarray, shut down and eventual anarchy where everyone dies?
Only autocrats and willing idiots, I guess.
Ron