QAnon in the News: Like-Minded People Experts Say Suffer from Illusory Pattern Perception

QAnon conspiracy nuts pro-reopen & anti-stay home rally

(San Diego: May 1, 2020)

Introduction: This very interesting story comes from Vox.com and includes a discussion from David Rohde, an Editor at the New Yorker and also the author of: “In Deep: The FBI, the CIA, and the Truth About America’s Deep State.”

The main piece is a New York Times story that chronicles the chaos within the Trump White House as it initially responded to the coronavirus pandemic. One of the throwaway revelations in that piece was that the president’s delayed reaction to the crisis was partially due to his fears about the “deep state.”

The Times authors write: “Mr. Trump’s response was colored by his suspicion of and disdain for what he viewed as the ‘deep state,’ the very people in his government whose expertise and long experience might have guided him more quickly toward steps that would slow the virus, and likely save lives.”

Under normal circumstances, this would be bad; but, in this pandemic, it’s terrifying. Now, more than ever, expertise is needed, and Trump isn’t especially interested. That a lot of his supporters think the virus itself is a “deep state coup” and that isn’t helping matters.

Trump’s deep state obsession isn’t a new thing. He’s been pumping up this theory since special counsel Robert Mueller launched the investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. It has always been a diversion, whether it was coming from Trump or Fox News (Great example here re: Hannity conspiracy cited here from Media Matters).

But here’s the thing: The “deep state” isn’t exactly a phantasm. 

There are parts of the US government that wield real power outside the conventional checks and balances of the system. It’s not a conspiracy against Trump, but the term does refer to something that exists. It’s a fair-minded look at the “deep state” and the various conspiracy theories surrounding it.

The term “deep state,” Rohde argues, has become a way for Trump and his supporters to deflect criticism — but it’s also a real idea that can help us think through some legitimate issues, namely how we consider the limits of presidential power and the nature of government accountability.

My 2 cents: Continue at the links above. All that is very interesting.

As for me, I have a strong hatred, and BTW, I hate to use the word “hate” about anything or anyone. But this is serious stuff. My hatred for and about QAnon and everything it and its followers stand for is strong for many reasons (research about them – their followers). Quite frankly they are a “Clear and Present Danger” by any measurement.

GOPers speak of DEMS ruining the country all the while they cling to QAnon, Alex Jones, and Sean Hannity FOX types who spread wild crazy disinformation and conspiracies and are so convincing that people believe and trust them at face value just like Trump loyalists believe and trust him no matter what he says or does.

But, research will show that in 99.9% of cases their train of thought can be proven flatly false. But, they are a serious danger to our national sanity and they seem to be growing — why? That is the key question.

I suppose people of that same mind set have nothing better to do?

Mental health experts say QAnon conspiracy followers suffer from an Illusory Pattern Perception.

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