[worrycue]

Depends on the kind of posting IMHO.

Contributing to a rational civil discussion? Maybe.

Flaming, downvoting, and “collectively bullying” someone with a different opinion to enforce an echo chamber? Not so much.

The latter just drives everyone who disagrees away so the likeminded can reinforce their beliefs, pat each other on the back, and feel good about themselves.

[BHSPitMonkey]

Through posting alone, the right-wing conspiracy movement (which QAnon is one extension of) has expanded from relative obscurity into a fairly mainstream base with millions of members worldwide over the course of only about 5 years, and has already captured in just the U.S. a number of congressional seats and at least one SCOTUS judge by the looks of it. The format has a rather persuasive appeal that (in my opinion) seems to be more effective at advancing intellectually dishonest positions and worldviews.

[worrycue]

I was thinking about it from the perspective of changing people’s minds.

With right wing conspiracy movements, are they really converting anyone or just organising people who already lean in that direction and just need a rallying flag.

To go off on a tangent, I think a lot of people believe in conspiracy theories because they choose to. To quote Alan Moore,

“The main thing that I learned about conspiracy theory is that conspiracy theorists actually believe in a conspiracy because that is more comforting. The truth of the world is that it is chaotic. The truth is, that it is not the Jewish banking conspiracy or the grey aliens or the 12 foot reptiloids from another dimension that are in control. The truth is more frightening, nobody is in control. The world is rudderless.”

I think we all do that to some extent, e.g. in relationships; see “positive illusions”.