I had been thinking over the past months that I should write something about the conspiracy theory mindset that leads people to believe in specific conspiracies. There’s a difference here, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen this difference explained and explored. Now, with the newest wackadoodle thinga-ma-bob of “QAnon” that has exploded over the past few weeks, I’ve been given a renewed nudge.
Conspiracy Mindset
Michael Savage Would’ve Liked the Japanese Internment Camps
Periodically I dip a toe into the toxic waters of the far right, or the alt-right, or whatever you want to call it. I’ll sometimes take a look at Laura Ingraham’s site or scout out the latest Breitbart headlines, and even (horrors!) peek at The Gateway Pundit or WorldNetDaily. And I do run across Rush Limbaugh sometimes. (The estimable Allahpundit over at HotAir had an article a day or two ago in which there was a clip of Rush bemoaning Trump’s “cave” over the wall. Pretty entertaining.)
I don’t descend so far as to read or listen to Alex Jones, but I do sometimes read what Michael Savage is saying, or whining. (“Weiner the whiner” is my nickname for him. I can’t stand to listen to him, so I read the transcript excerpts that are posted on his newsletter.) Savage/Weiner claims credit for Trump’s victory, by the way, as the “Godfather of Trumpmania.” I’d be careful about saying that, Michael! (Think I’ll call him by his first name so as to do away with the double last names. Yes, his real name is Michael Alan Weiner. Perfectly respectable name, so I don’t know why he felt the need to change it.)