[mcphilip]

I do have some hope that the more extreme conspiracies pass in time and don’t permanently damage the psyche of those involved. Growing up in the Bible Belt during the Satanic Panic, I was legit afraid of being caught and sacrificed by satanists after a friend’s dad had us watch a movie about the “Pagan Invasion”. Satanists out to kidnap kids for ritual sacrifice was a Big Fucking Deal that many people actually believed —- Paradise Lost is a good documentary from that wave of hysteria.

I know of very few people that are terrified of satanists any longer.

[pavlov]

Q seems to be a direct continuation of the satanist panic. Not only are the satanists real, but they control the government, rape children, drink their blood etc. etc.

[mcphilip]

It actually is an interesting topic to look at the history of Blood Libel and see the Satanic Panic and QAnon as the evolved/remixed version with different actors.

I think with the advent of the internet, things are shifting away from ritual murder to sexual exploitation of minors as the big fear, but “that group of people you don’t like is out to get your children” is quite the enduring narrative.

[lwhi]

Communication has become weaponised. It either helps the cause, or hinders it. The content is irrelevant.