QAnon: The 21st Century's Most Bizarre Conspiracy Theory

What is QAnon? Who is it, and where did it come from? Join us as we go insanely in-depth about this conspiracy theory.
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[@Snake369]

As someone who grew up with 4chan, I could never fall for QAnon stuff because simply mentioning it started on 4chan would cause it to lose all credibility. If someone on 4chan were to tell me the sky is blue, i'd be fact checking that because everyone's intention there is to screw with you.

[@ericrowe2533]

My theory is that growing up on 4chan immunized us against Q, whereas normies and boomers have no natural resistance built up to shitposting

[@freedfg6694]

This is one of the things I always go back to. When your conspiracy starts with a shitpost. It's probably always a shitpost.

[@Eidelmania]

Growing up on the internet is bad enough, but on 4 chan ? Yikes

[@nowave3356]

@@Eidelmania le epic redditor moment

[@benaziz5465]

Rock on /b!

[@pumpkingamebox]

Best argument against democracy is a 5 minute conversation with an average voter. Best argument for democracy is every other form of government.

[@Kitsudote]

Absolutely underrated comment. I think democracy is the best way, if (and big if) the educational system is really good and unbiased.

[@alext3811]

@@Kitsudote So definitely not the USA (more often than not)

[@_derpderp]

@@Kitsudote which is a big ask in the capital v. democracy cage match of the ages…

[@LordMarcus]

I think it was Winston Churchill who said "Democracy is the worst form of governance, excepting all the others that have been tried."

[@DBourque12]

🎯

[@WeaponizedKarma]

The worst part about QAnon is the way it has literally torn families apart in the US. Seriously. I will be alone for the holidays again this year because members of my family would rather cling to this shit than admit they got fooled. I can't even speak to them for any period of time without it eventually devolving into a fight about QAnon's validity. There needs to be an intervention group like the ones that rescue people from cults or something.

[@TomLopez17]

I hope you find friends to spend it with.

[@gallery7596]

I'm sorry.

[@andrewlaco1776]

The mask cultists seriously need intervention.

[@tonyk4615]

Same here. My family all went way down the Qanon rabbit hole and just started spouting all this paranoid conspiracy fueled BS. We were really close but now I barely talk to them.

[@benjaminkemper5876]

That sucks. My family doesn't talk politics at functions. Or at all, really... and thank God for that. I couldn't care less about what a person believes politically, we're all drowned in propaganda from every angle, maybe cut them some slack and try again idk, agree to disagree and go throw some balls around in the yard

[@bartjohnson8139]

I was such an optimist decades ago. Very Zen-Buddhist, and yet I joined the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam “conflict”. My-O-My were my eyes opened! The racism, the unbridled vitriol that flowed from the mouth's of my shipmates. I was blindsided by such hate associated with such ignorance from extremely intelligent people, and it’s just continued, as it will forevermore. Now in my senior years, I’ve lost so much hope for the human race. I’ve been slowly beaten down to the point where I just want to be separated from the madding crowd, sitting in my own gardens enjoying the birds and the butterflies, while my grandchildren watch in amazement as little doodlebugs do their little doodlebug thing. Hatred and ignorance will always exist, however it still knocks the wind from my sails. As I watch my grandchildren, I morn, knowing the world they will grow up in once they pass through my garden gate, physically leaving behind the peace and tranquility I’ve strived to create for us. I hope with all my heart that I’ve given them useful knowledge that they will use when making their life decisions.

[@jj-py9kf]

I feel the same way...I mourn for my 3 year old son, knowing what kind of a world he will grow up in.

[@montrelouisebohon-harris7023]

I can totally understand why because I was six years old in 1973 and watch the news over at my great aunts house after school every day, and she babysat me before I started school, and I would watch Walter Cronkite with her in the nightly news and I watch scenes from the Vietnam war, and it broke my heart. My dad was in the Navy for 26 years and active duty for years and 22 years in the reserves and he loved it.! Dad enlisted in 1965 and went to basic and Great Lakes Illinois in November when it was absolutely freezing of course. He went and got stationed in Norfolk Virginia, which is not far from our home in Roanoke.M, VA. This was before me and mom got married the next year in November 1966, but he was in Norfolk and mom didn’t want to leave Roanok because she knew that was gonna get deployed. I was always very independent and didn’t care and I married a US Marine, and Steve and I live each other for five or six years before we got married but I didn’t care about leaving home and I left Virginia flew all the way to Hawai.. he had to practically pull me there, because I was in no hurry, and most people would’ve jumped for joy to go to Hawaii, but I have lived around the world and it was just another place to me. I only live there slightly less than a year and a half anyway I know it was different than I expected!!! Too crowded because on who are who they have 4 large military bases and 2 smaller military bases. The people that I don’t really care for the military at all but they certainly love the money.! Why it is so crowded and especially on the water and then that’s where the majority of the tourists go also. Well, dad and mom got married in November 1966 and that was him on leave for two or three weeks and then went back to Norfolk and came back to see mom for about 10 days because he was getting ready to get deployed in April 1967 over to the Mediterranean. It was a miracle he wasn’t getting sent to Vietnam like everybody else, but it seemed like I’m just about everybody in the army and marines went to Vietnam and definitely the Graffis, but the Navy just kind of depends on where you were.. Dad loved it because he went over to Italy, where it shows where they say the majority of the time, and between Italy, and then head toward Greece and Turkey & he did go see a bullfight in Spain and absolutely loved it. I love animals too much and I couldn’t get any enjoyment of that but I would like to see the running with the bulls.. those people have to be crazy because I would never do that! Spaniards are either braver just crazy, but I love watching it on TV and I would love to see it in person! Mom got pregnant with me when dad came home on weed for 10 days and he was trying to get back home in December when I was born and I was due on the third but I was 10 days late. The timing actually worked out perfectly because dad had to take a max fly from Europe and he had to wait and he didn’t get back to Roanoke until two days before I was ports and he was supposed to be home all week before that.. oops! That’s the military for you, and especially when it comes to Mac flights. Who stay home for two weeks and then went back over to Italy and they returned in April 1968. Mom did go to Norfolk when dad returned and stayed there and lived there most of the time but they kept their house they bought in Roanoke and mom would drive back to Roanoke once a month or so to see her family and then dad that out I like to be in February of 1970, and then my brother was born in July. How much does a little kid and I remember seeing how the Vietnam veterans were treated by Americans in the 1970s and they were either ignored or treated like dirt . It was wrong & so disrespectful because these men went over to serve their country whether they enlisted or were drafted, and they may not have a greed with the politics, but they were doing the building of the American government be good or bad. I’m all for preventing the spread of communism, but I don’t think the United States had any business in Indo China, because a France couldn’t hold onto their colonies of the United States didn’t have any business over there and I think that’s one reason why Kennedy was assassinated. He was against colonization, and he was against going militarily into Vietnam for four, and he was getting ready to pull the Navy back from Vietnam, because we had some chips over there and the next thing you know he was assassinated.. I always have this gut feeling that his vice president have something to do with it and the CIA also but I didn’t start to think that way until I was older and it was just my belief because my parents never thought such a thing. I thought that to be the case, even if it was some rogue, intelligence person who said Oswald up to do it, because Kennedy was against the Vietnam War. He didn’t want anything to do with that Americans over there and Johnson was a warmonger, and the military industrial complex knows that or is profitable but sadly it’s not their sons and or daughters that go off and fight in by and get injured in these wars either. Joe Biden got in the office and here it goes again and at least we had for years of peace when Trump was in office.. aside from the people who were always hating the man and trying to impeach him militarily we were at peace after Isis was defeated. Trump wasn’t gonna take any crap off of anybody for sure, because I’m Iranian gumbo was shooting at one of our navy ships and the admiral told the crew to give them a warning to stop in and they did it again they were blown them out of the water . Well, about 15 minutes or so later, the Iranian gunboats shot and fired on the navy ship again, and they got blown to Kingdom come, and after that the Iranians never messed with the US military again.!😂 I just wish I could see that firing comes right out of that shit that grande because I don’t think there was anything left of that gun but after the ship got through with it. The thing about being in the Navy, is it when you’re and Bowdel and see if your shit gets damaged badly enough and it since you don’t really have anywhere else to go except the water. If people aren’t injured on the ship immediately with the battle, then there’s always a chance of drowning or sharks or just being lost and see you without anybody been able to find you were calling you for a long time.. it’s a pretty scary place to be during that kind of warfare and there was a lot of that in World War II. Thank you so much for your service to America, and from just some kid who watch the news and had the nicer appreciation for our military, and not because dad was in the Navy, but just because I knew even when I was six or seven that the military and the soldiers and sailors did things they didn’t always necessarily agree with politically or personally, but they did it because it was their job! Thank you for your service and God bless you !

[@EleanoRa99]

I am quite a bit younger than you but your words made me weep for the future. What is the point of trying to live?

[@jj-py9kf]

@@EleanoRa99 The point would be to try to make the world a better place for future generations. People need to stop living for themselves and realize that the world would be a better place if we would all try to live with future generations in mind.

[@EleanoRa99]

@@jj-py9kf I agree with everything you have said. I just feel so hopeless sometimes that’s all.

[@texashustler9845]

I feel like Simon should modify " you should always be trying to change your opinion " to " you should always be challenging your assumptions/opinions"

[@slayingroosters4355]

I completely agree, to always change your opinion would be absurd 🤣

[@bswantner2]

More like, "Always be willing to adjust your opinions with new and demonstrable information."

[@gabrielpartanen1194]

@@bswantner2 Pretty sure this is what factboy was trying to convey.

[@TheTokenBilly]

“The willingness to change one's mind in the light of new evidence is a sign of rationality not weakness.” ~ Stuart Sutherland ~

[@rhyse2744]

Big brain

[@jackstraw522]

The most unbelievable part of the deep state is the idea that our governments could be that organized and keep that good of a secret

[@duckyh9712]

Wtf you think Epstein was lol

[@jackstraw522]

@@duckyh9712 it didn’t stay a secret

[@datass666]

@@duckyh9712 Well he wasn't much of a secret...So...

[@Blabla12345Q8]

I don't believe in QAnon, but this is not a good argument. You don't believe governments can keep information classified? That there are political or military secrets?

[@duckyh9712]

These guys knew about Epstein before he was caught. Everyone knew he was dead instantly. A lot of these people having been paying attention and they know what’s really going on for some time now. Easy for all of you to say that now.

[@lucasroche8639]

I've got a mate who was educated at a top private school yet he has been totally sucked into the flat earth nonsense which just goes to show you that you can throw money at a kids education and get nothing in return.

[@joecoolioness6399]

Just remember, someone can be a leading authority and expert in one thing but be gullible and clueless when it comes to other things. I am teaching my kids how to think at the same time as teaching them how to learn.

[@user-xb9di4eo4h]

So show me proof of how you know this for sure? You “know” because someone claims they proved it, and they show how they came to that conclusion, but what if that person was full of shit. Idk if it’s round or flat because I have not verified those facts myself and I don’t think you have either. My point is that they have lied so much about other things that I don’t think anyone should trust anything until it’s verified. You openly ridicule someone who has a different theory and trust the one you were taught is correct. Verify it then get back to me.

[@lucasroche8639]

@@user-xb9di4eo4h I don't think my mate would be happy about me sharing his personal details just to prove a belief he holds, that's quite a bizarre and unrealistic request to ask a stranger. As for 'proof' of the planets shape well, flat earther testing has inadvertently disproved their own beliefs which is a delicious irony or, you could use a 2000 year old test that a Greek man Once did that wouldn't work on a flat earth or, the bible phrase about "the whole round of the earth" would do, if it was flat the quote would refer to the circle since both flat and round mean different things.

[@user-xb9di4eo4h]

@@lucasroche8639 you don’t need to prove it to me, My main point is that you should verify for yourself. They lie about lots of things and mix those lies with truths and half truths. There is an article about a group of scientists that turn in fake studies on things like dog rape and those studies passed peer review and were published. Apply that to every study that has been published. Or keep believing the propaganda and don’t do any research.

[@user-ud6ui7zt3r]

@@lucasroche8639 @user-xb9di4eo4h The only undeniable proof that a Flat Earther would accept is if the Earth were small enough to hold in your hands, yet big enough to see, and it was undeniably shaped like a sphere. For myself, I think of two items that stand out as proof... • a color photo of the Earth, taken by a satellite, while the satellite was passing by Saturn. In the photo, the Earth stands out like a pretty, bright blue marble; and • manmade satellites that continuously orbit, in circular paths, around the Earth. To my way of thinking, if the Earth were flat, then such satellites would have to carry, on-board, and endless amount of fuel to burn-up, for the purpose of performing an endless sequence of *course corrections,* to keep such satellites traveling in *circular paths.* On the other hand, if the Earth is a sphere (and you believe in Gravity), then the circular orbital paths are a simple consequence of the Earth posing a *point* referred to as the Earth's *center of gravity.* When you mention orbital satellites to a Flat Earther, they respond by saying "Well, NASA's got a lot of Helium, don't they? Them satellites is held up there, way up in the air, by Helium balloons!"

[@dillon1320]

This stuff really hurt my brothers life. He went hard into it and work distanced him eventually losing his job and his family has just accepted it as a bad character flaw they are stuck with. It's got to hit some parts of the brain like addictions because he could not stop.

[@turtleanton6539]

It does. Learning is fun. Even when you are "learning" stupid or wrong stuff ypur brain gets stimulated.😊

[@seame3795]

My ex as well. Had to leave, it was absolute hell. I was living with an angry stranger who made no sense who grew obsessed with Trump, Q & Facebook. It was all so upsetting and surreal.

[@YahwehSaves]

@@seame3795 hate to ask, but is this mostly a male thing? My female partner got deep into this shit but I eventually pulled her out of it thank god, but it seems like most males who fall into this bullshit don’t get out

[@alex-qn5xp]

​@@YahwehSavesmost males enjoy having an excuse being angry and violent, especially if they think they're "saving" the country.

[@FINNSTIGAT0R]

@@YahwehSaves In my opinion males are much more stubborn and more eager to stand their ground or to double down if they are confronted with the fact that they're being stupid, even if undeniable evidence is presented and even if they themselves know they're wrong. That's because lots of males do not want to admit being wrong, as it feels like losing a power battle and/or having to be humbled in front of others. Once the fight has started it's better to fight than to admit defeat even if the fight is pointless. Figures of speech like "This is the hill I will die on" would never originate from typical female behavior 🤷

[@dwaynewhite1669]

The most amusing thing about Q-anon is how many times they have been so so so wrong, and yet people still buy the BS.

[@weatheranddarkness]

The tragic thing is that the "predictions" not coming true has been reintegrated into the conspiracy and now the lack of results constitutes for them a "proof". It's so similar to the flat earth crap in the way that it functions. More so than most conspiracies.

[@johanvasquez4564]

They always pull the "dont stop believing, the last prediction was a ruse to get them of our track" and they always believe it

[@monochromicornthetuna4256]

When it comes to cults, it's easy to praise the hits and forget the many, MANY misses

[@ChannelMath]

another way it can keep going is by multiplying "denominations" like religions have. One claim goes wrong and you just have 2 interpretations of why. The only things that hold them together are completely nebulous, unverifiable, and unfalsifiable claims. You can believe anything you want about anything that matters, and still call yourself a Christian as long as you believe "Jesus is the son of God" (whatever that means)

[@mousermind]

You say amusing, I say terrifying.

[@melasnexperience]

My 2 takeaways: 1. Simon just learned how absolutely bonkers American politics has been for the past decade & change, and if you think it's crazy to read about, imagine living in it. 2. When some post-post-apocalyptic society is piecing together how our civilization fell, they wouldn't be wrong to think that a lot of it stems from 4chan's influence.

[@jarehelt]

The last decade? Politics has always been batsht crazy kzbin.info/www/bejne/goS8mYCtgaiMqKs

[@DodongoManoof]

Yeah ffs, it's a clown show looney bin over here

[@paulmakinson1965]

It's strange because I get the impression that 4chan is exclusively an US thing. Even Twitter, I don't know anybody who uses these things here in France.

[@ossiedunstan4419]

@@smokedbeefandcheese4144 Very few members of QANON are actually homonids, All are just a pox on society. Donald trump is POX on the pox.

[@michealpersicko9531]

@@DodongoManoof Says the democracy that still has to answer to the most useless part of any modern government the british monarchy when passing laws.

[@mahi-fish]

A few friends of mine and a family member fell into that hole. Some of the insane things they believed simply can't be explained.

[@manbearpig7521]

Trump being the 2nd coming was hilarious. A lot of vulnerable friends fell for it.

[@OscarLangleySoryu]

They're lying.

[@NaviciaAbbot]

QAnon - /pol/'s largest trolling operation gone out of control.

[@blemishednicely8402]

The My Little Pony one was pretty good too (WHAT a cross-over/did NOT have that on my Bingo card)...just saying~

[@stephenfowler4115]

The problem with the benevolent dictator system is that dictators are never benevolent. They always deteriorate into tyranny.

[@DystopianUtopia8]

Paranoia will destroy ya.

[@13minutestomidnight]

Not really, it doesn't always descend into tyranny, but there is a tendency to do so (although that's different from dictators creating a positive image at first to gain power). There are people who held authoritarian power over a part of society and treated them well, but their rule could be harsh in different ways. Let me give some examples: Jimmy Hoffa treated the workers' of his union incredibly well, helped improve workers' rights and pay for millions of Americans, but he worked extensively with the mob from the beginning - at first because strikes got so violent. Yes, he was corrupt. Walt Disney believed he always knew best for his workers, and he treated them well according to what he thought was best for them. The problem was he held absolute power, and no one was allowed to disagree about things or join unions, which was frustrating. Finally, Lee Kuan Yew basically built Singapore into the beautiful modern city it is today since it was freed from colonialism. At the time, the city state was full of different ethnicities and religions, and it was on the verge of blowing up with conflict. So he instituted authoritarian control. He was fair to the people, gave them equal rights and good standards of living, but he was harsh in cracking down on crime and civil disobedience. He really forced all the different factions to play nice, basically.

[@stephenfowler4115]

@@13minutestomidnight name a time when it hasn't deteriorated into tyranny. Dictatorship attracts despots like rotting meat attracts flies.

[@rome8180]

But that's why it's a hypothetical. Hypothetically, if someone was to be a dictator and have only benevolent intentions, they could create a paradise on earth.

[@stephenfowler4115]

@@rome8180 you can't have paradise without a choice.A dictatorship inevitably removes freedom of choice.

[@Scudboy17]

Qanon is a practical joke/trolling gone WAY too far. The fact that anyone took this even remotely seriously is testament to how stupid people are and how quick they are to believe anything bad, as long as its only talking about people they oppose. I understand people want to believe they are getting "inside information" and answers to questions, but you have to be critical of the answers you get. One of the (few) warnings on 4chan /b (random board) is "Everything posted here is fiction and not to be taken seriously" for a reason.

[@masaharumorimoto4761]

Ya, both sides of the qanon divide got trolled hard, there have been 7 years of people screaming from the rooftops that qanon is like the cigarette smoking man from X-Files or something, it was all just for teh lulz.

[@Alliebaba7782]

This still doesn't change the real world issues Qanon followers are causing.

[@Julia-uh4li]

Oh my yes, the one lady here still on KZbin screaming her crazy head off about how QANON is trying to save the world. She's a British Columbia lady, I believe, named Polly. Man, she got SO MANY people watching her. Probably more likely because she was so wild with the conspiracies. But she was a really lovely, sweet n pretty lady. That probably helped draw them in. Amazing Polly, that's who she is.

[@gregbors8364]

It’s all shits and giggles until somebody gets killed. Like when it happened in Oklahoma City

[@staghornthedruid957]

nearly all their theories are episodes of South Park

[@middle_pickup]

Idk how the editor has all these video clips on tap. They drop the most relevant memes every time.

[@MatthieuBrucher]

No, the guy coming in the pizzeria with the gun has to go to prison for a long time. He may be dumb, but he needs to suffer the consequences of his gullibility.

[@ignitionfrn2223]

2:10 - Chapter 1 - The origins of 4chan 9:30 - Chapter 2 - Cultural impact 16:40 - Chapter 3 - Pizzagate 26:30 - Chapter 4 - The calm before the storm 31:15 - Chapter 5 - The rise of Q 40:15 - Chapter 6 - Where we go one, we go all 55:30 - Chapter 7 - Who is Q and where did they go 1:03:55 - Wrap up PS: Always a treat your script, Casual Decoder or Cash Criminalist ! And it's Allsides at 20:40

[@ThatWriterKevin]

Thanks!

[@ThatWriterKevin]

@@darkermatter125.35 Well thanks, I appreciate you too and comments like this mean a lot to me

[@apersonontheinternet8006]

@@darkermatter125.35 it’s funny how people like yourself think you’re so smart yet failed to understand that Bidens little charade was just a rope-a-dope for all the idiots that don’t understand the authority of the executive. But hey, all the “experts” and college educated bought right into it. I’d be willing to bet that you will not see a bill hit the House floor until summer 2024 where it will be drummed up and promptly die again right after the election cycle,.

[@darthcarnage6734]

@@darkermatter125.35 have you ever considered they may be right?

[@JapaneseAnimalover]

The quote about strangling was from a murder that happened in my town. Dude even posted all the photos of her body strung up at the foot of the bed. He did this so it was the first thing her son saw when he got home from school. It shook the town quite bad. I had the unfortunate experiance of seeing it reposted unedited on Imgur literally minutes before my mother ran in to tell me a murder happened in town.

[@shelbyspeaks3287]

More info pls

[@mitchelldurward8863]

​@@shelbyspeaks3287ChillFuel did a video on it... Pretty hectic.

[@mdog86]

​@@shelbyspeaks3287​ David Kalac is the murderer, and his victim was Amber Coplin. Several channels here on yt have covered it

[@quinndecker8772]

The real Q was the friends we made along the way.

[@K.R.Riordan]

[@andrewharper1609]

I read some of the conspiracy literature when I was at university. I stopped because I realised it was starting to make me feel paranoid.

[@boblawton9303]

Paranoid, or awake?

[@noahgray543]

​@boblawton9303 that is still the paranoia, a symptom is insomnia.

[@whimai412]

It was entertaining to see Simon come to realize how crazy Qanon is.

[@VictoriousGardenosaurus]

It should serve as a reminder to those of us who have become accustomed to this outlandish behaviour. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@tombirmingham7033]

I have been tracking the Q movement for like you know a long time. I used to spend a lot of my life on 4chan and a terrible video game depression. I migrated there from something awful. I was looking for a new Guild for my video game addiction of Eve online. Anyway I know like the whole origin story of the whole Qannon thing and all that stupid shit but more importantly I'm upset that Simon didn't list the names of the people responsible for the terrorism or the actual expansion of this grotesque psyop. And it is a psyop. There are people involved in it now like Michael Flynn Michael Aquino PhD the Mercers use Cambridge analytica at some way to go and manipulate data or you know derivative companies of that since you know that's no longer a thing but the employees are still being hired by them just under a new company name anyways some little terrorist named Fred Brennan, (hotwheels) took the character and all the nazi shit bags over from 4chan to 8chan during the gamer gate thing. He als had a site called wizchan which is where the incels would hang out. so that incel terrrism we had. he helped make that too. I found fred because he wrote a paper on eugenics, back in the day that paper got him cred with storm frton ( that's an online nazi community) . From there fred brenean hooked up with him and ron wtakins. they wanted to make a fascist movement in the USA. They're thulians of some sort, oh yeah and cruypt billionaires. in 2015 they hoooked up with roger stone, he got them handshook with the boys at CamAnal and Flynne comes in on the job after he gets out of prison in 2017. the Q movement now is a pawn of some psyop groups. rogue government agents and private entitites that want to collapse democracy. I've heard Aquion tied to this groups drug smuggling ops. air america astuff liek that. his book sheries mind war and find far are also integral to all this because it's the stuff that these terrorist read. it's like a cult similar to L. ron hubbards formations. If you've gotten this far. I suggest you read on the Red Sea Conspriacy. channels called "expose the enemy" and the ghost of titus frust" have some great material on it all. I'm a bit of a doomsday profit. if you have gotten this deep. Go and read on John Dee. 5mysteries. The things these people set in motion. the illuminati, sabattai Zevi, the Fasci Bolsheviks. all of it, even now, yo ucan see their tags, Occults like Aleksandr Duggin in russia and his boys (the order of the nine angles) . LIke a real conspiracy. The "silver shirts" /summit lighthouse group also known as "the church universal and triumphant". Flynn is a part of that cult. i have listend to 100's of hous of their crazy i dug up prophecies. it's all an alistar crawley sham btw. her musings were my own, it's simple extrapolation. Anyways we got soem weird messianic cults in motion. have fun...this isnt' a robbit hole it's a gate to Agartha. LOL

[@ilarious5729]

Simons reaction is every European view, everything I've heard of them Is cray cray, I ended up lookin more about it all and US politics, talked with friends about it and oh damn we're not sure weather to cry or laugh.. it all looks horrifying from Finland

[@jackl4laughs]

@@tombirmingham7033 it may be used as a psyop and manipulation now, but originally it truly was just a joke to see how dumb of things the creators could get dumb Trump supporters to believe. And the only thing it had to do with Cambridge Analytica then was proof that Trump supporters were dumb to use that one "test" that gave all your friends info to them in 2016 on Facebook that inspired the joke.

[@whimai412]

@@ilarious5729 I honestly don't know if to laugh or cry either. And I have heard neighbors and coworkers spew that garbage. And there is no way to reason with them, or argue when they are that set in there ways. I really want to move out of the USA but don't really see that as practical. Even though its a dumpster fire...

[@grigorigahan]

Most people get surprised they missed a video by one of their favorite ytr's. Simon's viewers get surprised by missing an entire channel..

[@philipeanatsui6821]

🤣 he is KZbin. I keep thinking it’s a video I’ve missed but no…it’s a whole new channel. Brilliant comment. I thought it was just me

[@nettlarry]

When more people are involved in a conspiracy than are victims of it - there's no need for a conspiracy anymore. You can just tell them and laugh. There's nothing they can do about it.

[@illegalinstructiongames6939]

Can we all take a moment and appreciate that a vast chunk of the religious right was taking direction from the same place people traditionally went to get weird Pokemon h-ntai?

[@kenle2]

Dude, a "vast chunk" of everybody on the internet including "the Religious Right" didn't even know this existed until the MSM started setting their hair on fire because they noticed the trolls there and started believing they'd found the Fascist Conspiracy they always believed was secretly taking over the U.S.

[@angelortiz4631]

Pokémon what?

[@horrormoviereactions]

@@angelortiz4631 just google "pokemon hent" and let it autofill for you. Well... as long as you're over the age of 18, otherwise go to Club Penguin.

[@scotteagle3597]

The whole first minute while Simon is asking "Is this crazy thing really true?" over and over, I was just thinking, "Wow, I can't wit to see how he reacts when he finds out it's crazier than ALL that!"

[@monkeywrenchstudios3590]

The craziest part is that right wingers and left wingers both actually believe q qanon wasn’t just a giant troll 😂 what a bunch of stupid muppets

[@tatianagranger2427]

Same! And I was also so jealous that he can live somewhere else here u DONT know about it!

[@NoToAllOfThat]

Ron Watkins came in dead last in his attempt to get into congress in Arizona and I could not be happier about that.

[@jjcoola998]

Most transparent and uncharismatic politician I’ve seen in decades

[@corvuscorax7451]

A fun fact I've heard is that he, allegedly, was trying to run for US Congress and signed up for Arizona state Congress by mistake. This is, allegedly, extremely funny to me.

[@magic9810]

And then moved to Australia 😂

[@chadcuckproducer1037]

How do you feel about lake?

[@NoToAllOfThat]

@Chad Cuckproducer lake? Like the body of water?

[@madmonkee6757]

He should just have community service?!?! I was thinking that he got a third of what he deserved. 15 years, minimum!

[@bluejane6358]

I was also shocked to hear Simon say that!

[@s-c..]

@@bluejane6358I was shocked to hear him say that Fox News is a “legitimate” news source.

[@ryguy-qh2qk]

I don’t think anyone has ever gotten even close to 15 years for breaking and entering

[@frankguy6843]

I'm glad I learned briefly about ARG's in college, it made Qanon very easy to identify as one

[@johnevans1613]

ARG? American revolutionary group ?

[@assassinplayerx8677]

​@@johnevans1613 late, but its "alternate reality game" like Pokemon Go. Basically the gathering of people in the real world mixed with the online communities of the same people all following sum1 who gives them an objective to achieve some "grand finale of finale's."

[@steveriley6458]

my brother is a Q believer. I never did credit him with an overabundance of brains. Now that you've filled me in on what Q is all about, I believe he has even less.

[@philobetto5106]

Qanon... SEE EYE AEY disinformation and smear campaign

[@steveriley6458]

@@philobetto5106 CIA disinfo campaign? Yeah, I spelled it out since you're so stupidly paranoid. For WHO?!? To make republicans look bad? They don't need the help!! By the democrats? They're too INCOMPETENT. No, my child, Qanon is a real thing invented by megalomanical psychopathic conspiracy theorists who've lost all grip on reality. The end.

[@TheGuiltsOfUs]

Show him that Q = Ron Watkins

[@teamdoghouse7920]

I am sorry about your brother. I am not quick to question another person's intelligence these days, as I am no genius myself, but I must admit that I have known some highly intelligent people that are very educated who have fallen for qanon conspiracy garbage. In my opinion, common sense and critical thinking should allow most people to cut right through the BS Qanon puts out there. I will admit that there are some conspiracy theories that are floating around that I have thought sound plausible, but most of it just sounds too far-fetched.

[@ashleelarsen5002]

Dude! I think my brother is too- I stopped talking to him around the insurrection time. I think it is going to end up being some crazy with D.I.D.

[@esteemedmortal5917]

Anyone who believes in QAnon has a wild optimism of the competency and impeccable communication skills that those of us who work in the government find adorable.

[@jennaxoxox4821]

I’ve had to explain to my dad multiple times that I am what these people call the deep state. 😳

[@jesthered7966]

Yesss man we can't even organize a potluck properly either 4 kinds of samosas or 4 potato salads...

[@michaelhendricks9462]

"competency and impeccable communication skills" You're actually trying to say that people who work for the government actually have either of those things, to people who actually deal with government employees?

[@TheDolphace]

@@michaelhendricks9462 try reading it again. With an overlay of amused pity with a hint of patronising.

[@burntearth85]

Right?! Most of our offices can barely plan a BBQ, let alone anything nefarious

[@vojtechpribyl7386]

The fact that WWG1WGA people call everyone sheeple when their motto is the ultimate expression of a herd behaviour is just pure perfection.

[@lukaslambs5780]

Simon is just such a beast on this platform, he just pumps out so much quality content like an absolute unit. Inspiring.

[@lorenblaine5275]

Simon is great. On this chanel, since he is reading the script sight unseen, you have to give a lot of credit to the writers.

[@rhov-anion]

As someone who has family still trapped in the rabbit hole, I saw the slow descent into madness. It's a religion to them. No cult opens with the crazy part. They open with "Are you worried about the safety of your children? Do you feel society is falling into corruption? Would you like to see a future where humanity can do better? Well, the Bible has a message of hope, and I would like to read you this scripture and hear your thoughts. For more soothing words about our Lord and Savior, you can come to our Sunday meeting." And before you know it, you're handling snakes or refusing medical treatment or sending your children off to "camp."

[@theSemiChrist]

Christianity or QAnon?

[@jonathanrabcewicz6191]

@@theSemiChrist both

[@--enyo--]

Damn. Yeah, I have a colleague who’s sig other and some family friends who fell into the QAnon morass. It’s really heartbreaking for the families and those around them. Also often the choice of whether to cut them off completely or having to withstand their endless ranting.

[@shiftymcgee9359]

My dad. We avoid him now and let him sit on the couch day and night listening to Q and similar insanity on KZbin. I limit conversations with him to how is your health and do you need money 10 minutes a month. The man is completely mad otherwise.

[@JayBandersnatch]

This is a great example of why we need strong epistemology. When people ask what harm does it cause to believe in a god even if it doesn't exist... this is it! When people learn a method of belief which is based on anecdotal, non- demonstrable evidence, then that method carries over to other nonsensical beliefs. It is no coincidence that the Qanon crowd are also very very religious.

[@the-chillian]

5:00 -- As Winston Churchill once said, "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried..."

[@vulcanmemes9770]

He never said that

[@KatelynDombach]

sure you "have a newsletter" I've been on that list for ages and I don't think I've gotten a single message

[@Anglomachian]

Conspiracies appeal to those who want to feel like they know something that other people don’t. You don’t have to be smooth brained to believe it, you just have to have an itch to scratch.

[@stephengrant4841]

Yep, it appeals to people's superiority complexes.

[@bedazzledmisery6969]

I used to work for a pretty huge lab a few years ago. The supervisor for billing department was named "Rick Roll." I genuinely thought it was someone just trolling and making a reference to the joke. Nope, was just the dude's actual name. "Rick Roll: Billing" was how all the interoffice mail envelopes were addressed and had me chuckling every time I saw one addressed to billing. 🤣

[@littleblackcat2273]

I bet he never let you down though!

[@willmfrank]

@@littleblackcat2273 He's the supervisor for billing; he's never gonna give you up, either...at least, not until you pay!

[@bedazzledmisery6969]

He sure never let us down or deserted us! I really wonder what he's doing nowadays...

[@FurtiveSkeptical]

Saw one of the invoices for a corporate customer at our business..... The company name was " Ball Holdings Ltd"....(no joke). I pondered company slogans for them all day, that day...🤣 "Put your eggs in OUR basket..." "You're in good hands" ennh that's taken... "Let US handle YOUR business, today!"

[@darthcarnage6734]

Everyone is trying to Rick roll q

[@sufficientphrase7769]

I'll never be able to understand how broken someone's brain has to be to light a torch about ethics, then threaten someone with various methods of assault/murder and/or associate with people that do.

[@lainhikaru5657]

I have a thesis that they're not all broken,some are just "smartasses in their own way." I mean,some who spreads misinformation not aways believe the misinformation they spread,but they spread it anyways because it could benefit them.in some ways.

[@jackkennedy1936]

Like anti-abortionists that shoot doctors, you know, because killing another "person" is wrong. But they don't adopt any of these unwanted childern themselves..

[@meganoob12]

@@lainhikaru5657it‘s just like flat earth… there are the big vocal „famous“ guys who spread the lies whilst never really believing this shit and then there are the followers who are dumb and buy the lies.

[@rod2274]

@@lainhikaru5657 it’s not misinformation if you don’t know 100% n you don’t

[@aisjda2600]

@@rod2274 right, world definitely got tons of rich pedos. Think we’ve seen enough proof of all that, all the specifics idk who knows

[@denisbainbridge4813]

An Australian author called Van Badham wrote a book called Q Anon and On which covers all of the territory here but in the greater detail that a book permits over a clip. An interesting section within it examines whether there is a common pre-disposer to falling into conspiracy thinking and one large common factor was of people who had fallen into some kind of situation of precariousness. The situations were broad ranging, including things like failed or failing small business ventures, substance dependence or borderline dependence, relationship and employment precariousness, societal anxiety (the pandemic, political polarisation anybody?). Something that makes a person feel like the earth under their feet is not stable. Seeing as most people experience one or more of these at some stage of their lives it is no wonder that so many fell down the hole.

[@CFootprints]

ITT: man who knows nothing about early Internet culture reads a script written for him talking about early Internet culture.

[@teenacharm]

THANK YOU. The top comments were troubling but you saved me

[@glenhayman8722]

4chan was descrided to me as the internets " dirty back alley, compared to redit's being that rundown mall on the edge of town " love this video thank you all

[@gavine8013]

Reddit is nice though

[@SEMIA123]

@@gavine8013 reddit is where 4chan ideas go mainstream

[@domgag1756]

Please don't insult "dirty back alleys" this way.....

[@gavine8013]

@@SEMIA123 Reddit has subs for everything, I rarely see 4chan type weird stuff and if I do its because I visited a weird community

[@MegaKat]

Which is why it's amazing when 4chan does something downright good, like the several times they doxxed animal/child abusers. I've also gotta admit that their iPhone pranks are hysterically funny. Like the rest of the internet, 4chan can be bad or good, depends on the users. Unfortunately, it's mostly shitposting and neckbeards.

[@Blake-jl8lh]

"Simon are you anti qanon?" Yes. Yes he is. Because he's not a bell end.

[@katwitanruna]

New shirt idea

[@Blake-jl8lh]

@@katwitanruna oh a not a bell end shirt would be amazing

[@jsnsk101]

i disagree,simon has clearly been a complete bell end on several occasions

[@katwitanruna]

@@jsnsk101 when was he a bell end?

[@vancakes4500]

@@katwitanruna He's a total out and proud bell end on Brain Blaze. But he always does it in a tongue and cheek way and sometimes after saying something truly bad he cracks up and says "man I'm such a dick". So mostly not serious.

[@taylorellestad1773]

I've never cared avoid the q-anon thing but Simon makes all topics interesting. Another great one!

[@JayJDubya]

Great video mate..! I am subscribed to a couple of channels, love your humour and banter, just wanted to say my appreciation👍

[@kwohlmut]

One of my favorite jokes from Chapo Trap House: Matt was discussing Q-Anon and said, "There are so many layers and levels to this thing, it's like a Tiramisu of Stupid"

[@lordfizzz]

LOL

[@LotusAuer]

As apt as that is, tiramisu doesn't deserve to be even mentioned around Q bs

[@totalyfakenews]

@@LotusAuer have you ever just used the archive yourself ? Its statically impossible q was not an authentic influence operation. Its debatable abouts its accuracy or intent. But to pretend an influence op that is four years old and still active is fake. Fbi nsa cia no one found them yet?

[@StopItGarrison]

I fucking live Matt Christman

[@enneract9]

Communists aren't people and killing them isn't murder.

[@alexfortin7209]

“You need to be insane to fully understand the thoughts, words and actions of someone insane - therefore be careful when trying to ‘understand’ them” - my father, a psychiatrist

[@alexhernandez6643]

Great video man! You have a very nice way of providing a healthy ratio of facts, statistics, and data to your videos, as well as still having bits where you drop jokes or curse! It comes off more realistic and relatable that’ way, and this episode had me cracking up, honestly. Keep up the great work, and thank you for providing top notch content! Wishing you major success and best wishes. I do expect a future where I will be able to see you at the top of the industry, doing what you love and do best!

[@jeffcarlin5866]

My aunt owns a Q-Anon nail file. Yep. You read that correctly: The Q-Anon folks have personal hygiene and cosmology products.

[@sarahvanorden670]

My incredibly smart friend literally sat me down and said “Mark my word, JFK Jr is alive, going to make an appearance and be announced as Donald Trump’s running mate for 2024” I was like “JFK Jr died in a plane crash in 1999, and his body hasn’t been recovered because it’s in the Atlantic Ocean…”

[@imnotyourfriendbuddy1883]

you don't have to call your friend incredibly smart anymore. Idiot savant at best.

[@johnathanheatherman6438]

You sure JFK Jr isn't the reincarnation of D B Cooper? He totally could have survived

[@sarahvanorden670]

@@johnathanheatherman6438 Well the DB Cooper incident happened in 1971, When JFK Jr was only 11, next time he talks crazy to me I might try to see if I can outdo him

[@johnathanheatherman6438]

@@sarahvanorden670 if u wanna make his mind explode point out how Levitucus 18:21 mentions Molek so Levitucus 18:22 is actually talking about Baal & Pedophilia and has been mistranslated (it actually has that part is probably true) and the Cananites purposely mistranslated it to hide their master plan. It'll have him deep in a rabbit hole

[@Mr101beers]

Your friend wasn't really understanding QANON because this was incorrect on purpose. One cannot just absorb every post as true or the deep state can counter with things we were told don't exist like shadow banning and hotlines from the FBI to twitter to ban people or remove correct information by calling it false. When you see how far they went to ban an idea that prayer is dangerous to pedophiles and crooks you begin to understand why QANON are happy to mislead MSNBC about comet pizza.

[@stevenhopkins4118]

This is my favorite of Simon's MANY channels because I feel like we get the most of his true personality/takes/sense of humor. Keep at it, fact boi!

[@taliaryn3699]

This one and Brain Blaze are my top fav's

[@thomaskessler855]

i personally like the casual criminalist the most because i think his personality shows the most there

[@rhov-anion]

Brain Blaze is Simon first thing in the morning, full of caffeine and Magic Spoon cereal (and maybe cocaine, allegedly). Decoding and Casual Criminalist are Simon just after the caffeine high wears off and he's more "normal," still peppy and his brain is firing on all cylinders, but not hyper and full ADHD. Top Tenz and Today I Found Out feel more like Simon almost needing a 2nd cup of coffee. They have the impression of a work email sent at 3PM, still totally fine, professional, informative, but lacking that wildly carefree "personal" experience we get here.

[@raphrom4022]

@@thomaskessler855 agree

[@patrickduffy8632]

Man you would’ve loved old school Business Blaze

[@Rabbinicphilosophyforthewin]

Excellent video! With a massive hole-the growth of the movement was essentially dismissed as “somehow it took off.” This seems monstrously insufficient for such a widespread phenom, and stands out especially much for those of us who are familiar with the growth.

[@akosbarati2239]

How it took off is easy to explain. Republicans always had trouble correctly branding the virulently racist and deeply misogynistic part of their voters, until Q came along. Suddenly becoming Mrs. Lovejoy was a mating call, but even then, they couldn't and still can't hide their bigotry.

[@AngelAteem]

Simon's confidence in people's ability to think logically in regard to completely wild conspiracies is almost sweet.

[@spacerat111]

Simon thinks someone who takes a pizzeria hostage and fires off shots around families should only get community service? Uh... would not have bet money on that take.

[@xionmemoria]

From the way the script was written, it would be easy to assume this was some 2am op with nobody around. I believe that was Simon's assumption.

[@gladeloy3341]

and that a, "stray" bullet, destroyed the computer hard drive in the closet

[@pastForgetting]

The shot could have killed someone sheltering in the computer closet. It was attempted murder. He assumed a pedophile was behind the locked door.

[@matthewirwin6134]

Churchhill said "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others." Smart dude.

[@nickxii]

The worst thing you can hear from any government is "We are here to help you"

[@LostTimeLady]

One of my favourite Churchill quotes. Wise words.

[@joecoolioness6399]

I tell people, "because someone works for the government, it doesn't mean they are smarter than you, and more often than not, it's the opposite".

[@JoshSweetvale]

​​@@nickxiiHoly affluenza.

[@Kalahridudex]

The republican elements of our form of government are more important than the democratic ones 😂

[@Koniving]

It's heavily right wing because the right wing tends to be easily misled.

[@TIENxSHINHAN]

The 21st century literally just started 24 years ago, let's get at least halfway through the century before we start saying things like this. I promise you that there will be crazier conspiracy theories.

[@eefaaf]

52:49 It's not 'reports of 460,000 missing children' but '460,000 reports about missing children'. So, a say 16 year old boy running away from home after an argument gets reported first as missing, then, when he turns out to have returned home through the back door is reported a second time as being found. And then that happens 2 or 3 times again the same year. So, 1 child, 8 reports. Other cases can include divorced parents fighting custody, not great for the child either, but quite different from being abducted by a stranger.

[@dmdave2512]

I'm American and I couldn't even start to describe how to explain how half of the OAnon theories are supposed to work out. Most people here just read them for a good laugh. I was a counselor at a crisis center for several years and one thing we always told new staff is that you only observe and contain the really unstable ones. When it comes to their delusions you never try to explain it away, you never try to identify with it, and you most certainly never try to argue with it. That last one is how you get stabbed with a pencil or body slammed into a television. I got stabbed with a fork to learn that one.

[@Lion-rf8xi]

That's how the psychopath's in that field get away with tormenting clients no one believes the crazy person is actually being *"ucked with. It also draws sadistic people in it's a position of power where the other person is just "delusional."

[@dmdave2512]

@@Lion-rf8xi No that's how you keep your clients safe when you have a mixed group of people with vastly varied symptomology and behaviors. Triggering one client's aggressive behaviors is an excellent way to get one or more clients and staff injured. I don't have a clue where you pulled that it means tormenting or *ucking with people out of anything I just said. If you had a valid point to make you pretty much just blew past it trying to put words in my mouth.

[@BlazeBuds]

There was truth to half of it. Like the corruption and all that. But Super Trump is going to save the world? After what he did i doubt it. What made me realize it was bs was all these prophets saying God chose Trump lol uh yeah I don't think so

[@noiselord4280]

I think they are saying someone who is psychopathic can get into the field and mess with people without being detected because the people are already “crazy”.

[@ElysetheEevee]

​@@dmdave2512 While I definitely agree with your sentiment, I feel you got offended with what they were saying for no realistic reason. To me at least, it didn't sound like they were trying to put words in your mouth. It sounded more like a generalized PSA-toned comment where they are saying that that kind of system also has its gaps for abuse to slip in, as listed out by the comment prior to mine. I've actually encountered this very thing on the patient end in psychiatric care and outpatient clinics for substance abuse. I've lived in residential mental hospitals several times in my teenage years and adult years. It's very true that a staff member could be abusing you, but some would never care because they consider you "crazy" either due to the fact that you're a patient there or due to your specific illnesses/disorders. Hell, we had an overtly sexist, harmful doctor nobody wanted to do anything about for similar reasons. Even other staff working with him tried to corroborate the harm he was doing but the higher-ups didn't care. This doctor gave me, purposefully, a medication I am allergic to and told him several times as much, simply because of his ego and narcissim. So, it definitely happens in these kinds of environments. I feel like getting upset at someone the second that they say something due to your own perception, and without sitting down to consider other avenues for reasoning on why someone is saying something, isn't exactly helping that ideology.

[@Char12403]

Ngl it's kind of wild how little Simon knows about these topics despite having access to the internet

[@judywong9412]

I agree

[@05Rudey]

I still have no idea what QAnon is.

[@Ozymandius_corn_maze]

One interesting case related to forensic linguistics is the Unibomber. Of course, it was his brother who recognized his writing rather than an investigator. I definitely wouldn't take forensic linguistics as sole evidence, but it has a little bit of merit.

[@golferorb]

Not that it really matters but I thought it was his brother's wife that noticed the similarities.

[@RealElongatedMuskrat]

this just reminded me of a documentary I watched once that involved Ted K's brother. Poor guy was tormented by the guilt of handing in Ted whilst still knowing he had to it to save other people. He's befriended a guy who did the same (tipped off the police about his brother), but that guy's brother was killed I believe, and he felt he'd betrayed his brother who was mentally unwell. They both lost a brother in doing the right thing, but then regained one in each other.

[@haleyguthrie3113]

@@golferorb I thought it was the handwriting that his brothers wife recognized? Maybe?

[@trishapellis]

Yeah, forensic linguistics can at least put you on the right path of whom to investigate in millions of people, and also, if Simon considers it wishy-washy, he might want to look at all those "Casual Criminalist bingo" lists people are putting out where half the entries are literal phrases and words he often repeats. People just have their own style of speaking, words and phrases that they gravitate to, specific errors that they keep making, and the combination of those things can definitely exclude a whole lot of people from being likely suspects.

[@movingforward3030]

@@trishapellis where do I get these bingo cards?

[@thunderK5]

As an aside on Pizzagate, in the US many places have a sentence enhancement if you fire a gun while committing a crime. Hence the 4-year sentence for the offender.

[@megsley]

not to mention dude crossed state lines to shoot up that pizza place 🤦‍♀️

[@gypsydanger1013]

@@megsley that place and/or it's owner was balls deep in creepy ass pedo shit. Q Anon was a schizophrenic laarp, but don't pretend cRoSsInG sTaTe LiNeS mUh FaMiLy FrIeNdLy PiZzA pLaCe is a valid point

[@captainspaulding5963]

Sentence enhancement doesn't apply here, he took a plea deal, this is all Public Information that nobody wants to actually look up before posting about it.

[@realleon2328]

Ive been goatse'd so much that at this point i find the image genuinely hilarious

[@MyIncarnation]

The irony of those who claim to have taken the red pill is that they are the most likely to be the first to enter a virtual reality world.

[@MBJK_baby]

My mom is a Q believer and dear god that woman is too smart for her own good. She triple majored in college, alongside a double minor I think, she graduated with all A’s, a few B’s, but B’s in honors/AP is better than A’s anyways. And yet she’s so curious that she ends up being naïve and it’s sad to see the naïvety of such a logically smart person.

[@KageTheKiwi]

That's why you have to arm the naive with logic 😂 easier said than done, but is definitely possible Some top end percentile creatives, as an example, grow more or less naive over time, depending on agreeableness/disagreebleness

[@poodlefluids]

There is a big difference between intelligent and smart.

[@KageTheKiwi]

@@poodlefluids being smart is more or less being versatile/conscientious in most scenarios, intelligence is way less easier to accurately pinpoint

[@poodlefluids]

@@KageTheKiwi I think it's a bit more complicated than that, but yeah, pretty much.

[@KageTheKiwi]

@@poodlefluids ofc! Anything can be complicated if we make it so, it's how we interpret said complications that is integral, but also at times, is detrimental to us all Kinda cursed, that part of all humans

[@ashleylieberg5033]

Actually, Fox classifies itself as "entertainment," thereby dodging any requirement for what used to be called "journalistic integrity." They can say literally anything they want, no guidelines (legal or otherwise) need apply

[@KingBrandonm]

And when taken to court FOX argues that no reasonable person would take what they say seriously

[@adamholloway8873]

Same with msnbc and CNN, that's sadly the state of mainstream news sources in the US

[@TheLifesentence2278]

like the Maddow defamation defense?

[@martythemartian_]

@@adamholloway8873 oh no mainstream news? boohoo

[@osier769]

Gotta bring in those advertiser dollars and keep shareholders/owners happy. Thanks to a whole lot of nothing much happening here in Australia, this is the route our media has taken, half the _news_ here is from overseas, sensationalised and largely irrelevant to Aussies. And most print media are just opinion pieces passed off as legit news articles.

[@thegrumpyoldmechanic6245]

Cue the devotees of the Very Stable Clairvoyant 215lb Genius.

[@charlesc7723]

I applaud you for trying to explain this as best as you could. It was an interesting watch, but it shows how far we have fallen. This is simply because you can’t experience anything from a computer. You have to get out and see the world for yourself. Most people that tell you someone else is trying to control you, are also trying to control you, fear makes it easier.

[@mollywantshugs5944]

The thing about people being resistant to changing their minds is called “belief persistence” in psychology.

[@Charles_Anthony]

The dems definitely have that problem

[@Vaeldarg]

@@Charles_Anthony You're demonstrating another psychology concept. "projection".

[@Charles_Anthony]

@@Vaeldarg: I used to be a liberal so I've definitely changed unlike most libs. Try again, buddy.

[@Punishthefalse]

@@Charles_Anthony You just switched rabbitholes that conforms to your pre-existing beliefs, dude.

[@Charles_Anthony]

@@Punishthefalse: LMFAO... Sure, whatever you say. I used to hate this land and all who inhabited it when I was a kid. Now I love this country so try again.

[@RealElongatedMuskrat]

I've always assumed that whoever was behind it was just taking the piss. It seems like a lot of energy but you should never underestimate the time, money and effort that 4chan users have put into causing a bit of chaos for shits and giggles. Internet Historian has done a few videos covering their escapades over the years and I have to say, batshit as they are, damn they are committed. And resourceful.

[@MachelTheDestroyer]

Like the Shia LaBouf thing. That was wild.

[@RealElongatedMuskrat]

@@MachelTheDestroyer I was JUST thinking about that. They identified the location of a damn flag from flight paths, and then by the angle of the sunlight coming through a window in a room that they 3D modelled themselves based on clues like the pattern of the quality of light shifting, the timing of these shifts, and the angle of the camera. At that point, shit. That's a job well done.

[@user-cr4pz5yg7y]

More than one person in my neighborhood is a full on believer. I have been given random documents to try and prove to me that hilary and biden died years ago and that eric and don jr are actors. Etc., etc., etc.. I feel bad that i cannot respect people i used to like. I was tol this today, so not going to go away.

[@felicitybywater8012]

Yep. From the word go, it has the distinct odour of someone taking the piss. Then it got away from them & they're probably still sobbing in a corner somewhere, poor sod.

[@RealElongatedMuskrat]

@@felicitybywater8012 when you fall too hard down the meme hole, you end up almost toppling the damn government in the pursuit of a piss take, I guess.

[@nicholasorr6051]

"That was a way long rant about sponsorships which noone's interested in." Au contraire, I found your insights on that point fascinating. Sponsored content is so much a part of daily life for anyone spending time online nowadays, I'd actually be really interested in a 'behind the scenes' kind of look at how it works, maybe that would be a great Sideprojects or Today I Found Out video (or maybe it's a better fit for Into the Shadows or the Casual Criminalist? :P). And I'd say noone can speak on that with much more authority than the OG FactBoi :) You make it, I'll watch it. ;)

[@PaulDurdle]

“The ad dollars on this video will probably be lower than average because it’s about QAnon and conspiracy theories”. Implying advertisers will avoid it. *immediately sees an ad from Super 8 Motel* 🤣

[@thehumanperson7448]

Simon: "Kevin! Why are your intros so long!!!!!" Kevin: Finally writes a short intro Simon: *doesn't notice*

[@tolkienfan1972]

Rather than "always try to change your opinion" I'd say "always be willing to reevaluate the evidence". Sometimes your perspective changes. Sometimes you learn evidence you had was from an untrustworthy source, and sometimes there is new more reliable evidence. But some people simply don't rely on evidence. 🤷‍♀️

[@Lodrik18]

I really dont know about that. I am from germany and we have the saying that you need a bachelor in history to be able to argue with Nazis because the crap they say goes so deep into the rabbit hole that its impossible to disprove them without in depth knowledge... (like "they couldnt have killed that many people in the holocaust because the death chambers were far to small..." but they use ~2m² per person in the calculation! You cant argue with that kind of crap, they use it as a basic fact and no normal person will understand why its just wrong!)

[@tolkienfan1972]

@@Lodrik18 there is nothing better than evidence.

[@Lodrik18]

@@tolkienfan1972 but what counts as evidence? To have a honest discussion we take a leap of fate that the "evidence" is real because its impossible to know if the other person is honest with you. QAnon believers dont do that, they believe everything that doesnt fit their narrative is fake (same problem with modern politics). You have to trust a person to have a proper exchange of opinions and conspiracy theorist abuse that trust... (like 4chan had dozens of users that posted crap like the first QAnon predictions and once youtubers ect got in this spiraled out of control)

[@ris2ani]

well said

[@TruthAwareAustralia]

you keep decoding the unknown ;) ur doing great haha

[@softkitty775]

Thank you! I've wanted to hear someone to cover this, it answered a lot of questions. Many I was right about some actually made me laugh. Love you brilliant sir.

[@rachelwitherspoon4394]

Thanks so much Kevin and Simon!! Ive wanted both of yalls takes on this insanity for a good while. This crap is batsh*t insane!! Btw, love the Futurama refrence!

[@golferorb]

This comment section is gonna be wild lmfao

[@gyrozeppeli4862]

@@golferorb yep

[@aaron_brown7324]

The world could use bender bending Rodriguez right now

[@ThatWriterKevin]

This is technically a reply, the best kind of replky

[@wolfwoodphreak]

Technically you noticed the reference. the best kind of noticing. lol

[@thefisherking78]

It continues to amaze me that no matter how many of these insane claims fail to come true, people continue to believe the next one

[@thomashelmka6438]

the duck on wheels made me laugh more than it should

[@bobhale7302]

Have you ever done a video on any of your channels about forensic linguistics? It's a really intersting topic that people might like.

[@hkbandit1]

"...Dietary supplements are so shady..." Well there goes his Athletic Greens sponsorship

[@Corpo_Recruiter]

Fear and Loathing is actually found in non-fiction sections. It was 100% autobiographical...written by someone who was tripping balls on enough drugs to kill most normal casual drug users. Also Thompson probably got adrenochrome from Aldous Huxley, who first referenced it in his 1954 book The Doors of Perception, where he also described as being similar to mescaline. If I was to put money on it, I would say that Thompson was fucking with his readers to a greater or lesser degree for his personal amusement.

[@melissawickersham9912]

Adrenochrome was also in A Clockwork Orange as “drenchrom”.

[@armyofthewolves]

Simon's commentary about forming opinions and then refusing to change them is so very applicable to the writer's summary of gamer gate

[@DarrenOrtego2708]

Bro stop Siri turned in in my truck both times you did it 😂

[@ymirs4400]

Simon, 400000 children may be reported missing each year, but the overwhelming majority are found within 24 hours and 98% of the time it’s a parent or a family member who did the kidnapping, so these numbers may seem sinister at their face, but in reality children kidnapped and trafficked by strangers is incredibly rare

[@joshm3484]

Even most child "trafficking" is teen girls willingly working as prostitutes. That doesn't make the men who use them any less guilty, but the fantasy many people have about young children being kidnapped by strangers, smuggled out of the state or country, then sold in some sort of international pedo ring is just that. A fantasy.

[@Charles_Anthony]

2% of 400,000 is still an incredibly high amount of kids.

[@justsomeguy5628]

@@Charles_Anthony the US has an enormous amount of missing people, mostly because people get kicked out or they become homeless. We aren't exactly a developed nation economically in many ways.

[@Charles_Anthony]

@@justsomeguy5628: We're one of the most developed. The problem is people demanding higher minimum wages which literally drives up the cost of everything from food to rent.

[@dandylionsloth446]

@@Charles_Anthony We aren't, most developed nations don't let people die from preventable illnesses because they care more about money then citizens. Minimum wage was meant to be a living wage, and that is also something other nations manage. But I guess America is just uniquely unqualified for all those things.

[@Sir_Uncle_Ned]

I'm glad you decided to make this episode because I love it. It's a dive into the minds of Qultists without actually diving into their swamps.

[@nebulysses7124]

Qultists? Lol

[@camrose306]

@@nebulysses7124 a mix of Q- Anon and cultist. Lol

[@nebulysses7124]

@@camrose306 lol wasn't sure if it was on purpose or not.

[@rod2274]

Not as far from reality as you think

[@kevindesmet7217]

Eens goed gelachen! Bedankt om mijn dag wat op te vrolijken! 🤣🤣

[@thegreatwebstar]

I like the fact i can listen at 1.5 speed and your enunciation makes it very understandable still. Thanks for the radness broseph

[@cynt.6348]

You know Decoding the Unknown is covering a spicy topic when the KZbin context banner pops up under the video to link the Wikipedia article on the topic.

[@tubensalat1453]

I don't see it. Maybe yt figures I'm hopeless... ;)

[@joshm3484]

I disagree. That guy absolutely deserved his sentence. Choosing to believe something obviously fake and stupid isn't an excuse to commit multiple felonies.

[@taliaryn3699]

Agreed

[@RealElongatedMuskrat]

I agree, just because he didn't hurt anyone doesn't mean he couldn't have. Someone could've been in that area and could've been seriously injured or killed because of his actions.

[@bswantner2]

Yeah. Let's keep the lack of understanding regarding psychological disorders going in the US. PUNISH. LOL. I live in the 49th worst state for mental healthcare in the worst first world country for mental healthcare. Our prisons are full of people who needed psychological help, but are now in Crime University in the most populated prison system per capita in the world. PUNISH THEM. Let the shitbags live on the streets with nobody seeming to care. PUNISH THEM ALL. Couldn't agree less with you. I'm totally sure this person was well and knew just what they were doing and is a CRIMINAL. Now let's watch the corporations get away with the worst crimes AND make record profits during a pandemic. PUNISH THE WORTHLESS PLEBS. Get it together and stop wanting to hurt people so much. It's not healthy. People need help in this trashy, untruthful society, not a prison cell.

[@zackdaripr]

Tell that to a leftist… Qanon is crazy, but it’s not mainstream and widely believed and preached on major networks like Blueanon is.

[@RealElongatedMuskrat]

@@zackdaripr what in the heck is Blueanon? I am a confused European in all this 😂😭

[@mikesaxon6086]

"Paranoid? Why yes, I am. But am I paranoid enough?"

[@ThomasJHorrego]

"or is there" lol , the rant on sponsors was funny.

[@lincolnpascual]

I can respect when someone hops up on video and openly admits he's gonna be talking out of his ass. Far too many people try to pretend they're experts about everything they talk about (I'm looking at you, Fact Fiend) even if they're completely off about what they're talking about. It's refreshing. Please never lose that honesty.

[@gaylord263]

noooo i loved fact fiend do they really just be sayin shit 😭😭😭😭 im so depressed rn

[@darthcarnage6734]

Too bad it’s a video of misinformation and lies to try to steer people away from the truth

[@art-is-awen8842]

I'm ..... pretty sure that was just a bit.

[@sharkyjones]

Dunning Kruger effect

[@zeliavoss]

You reacting as you learn all this crap is absolutely gold

[@devonjenkins6829]

If you think he doesn't no all this already and isn't already trying to lead you away from the truth by not giving you credible sources that may prove these conspiracy theories true.

[@zeliavoss]

@@devonjenkins6829 lmfao yea literally the entire world is in on the cover up. You know, to hide the truth about the random person who has made hundreds of predictions, none of which came true, but is so dangerous everyone needs to lie to cover up his power. Read a book about critical thinking, my friend.

[@kellyturnbull3257]

@@devonjenkins6829 the proof is in front of your eyes if you just OPEN them! They said Hellary had been arrested and had an ankle bracelet. Biatch went to India THE NEXT DAY! How stupid do you have to be to not realise that if she was out on bond she would not have been allowed out of the City she was charged in never mind leave the country! Obama was in Gitmo AND a basketball game?! Y'all are just plain STUPID!!!!

[@devonjenkins6829]

@@kellyturnbull3257 ARE YOU SLOW?? Did you not read my post Im not even talking about any of this??.

[@aliciasnavely5109]

It would be tremendously concerning if this fully grown ass man didn’t already know about these thIngs.............🙃

[@mapratt]

Never underestimate the lack of education in the United States

[@LoudAngryJerk]

I love how careful Simon was to not say (from the perspective of 4chan users) "we love CP" so as to avoid it getting gifed out of context

[@nobody2655]

There's been so much misinformation and craziness around this. I am deeply grateful to all of you for straightening these kinds of things out.

[@jackl4laughs]

It was a prank that was meant to bring as many lunatics together as possible together as Trumps base, to win future elections, because now if he doesn't win the 2024 primary he'll demand his followers don't vote or he'll run 3rd party. The GOP needs some time to reflect on the past century of economic failure and moral corruption, so they got the best example a bunch of violent idiots who are so greedy for power they'll rip each other apart for it.

[@TheKalaxis]

When Simon mentioned advertisers who will advertise on anything, I was really expecting him to rip on Raid Shadow Legends 😂

[@SamIAm2000]

Gently tapped. That was a super enjoyable episode.

[@CostlyFiddle]

Whenever I get a suspicious msg from a friend or family I reply with a request for confirmation by asking a personal question an imposter wouldn't know the answer to. 😂😂