How One QAnon Believer Escaped The ‘Grand Unified Theory Of All Conspiracy Theories’

October 2, 2020 qanon

For nearly two years, a Redditor named Jitarth Jadeja got deep into QAnon, the Far Right conspiracy theory founded on the idea that President Trump is secretly waging war against a satanic cabal of pedophiles who control the world. “I was kind of an addict… All I could talk about was Q,” Jitarth says. But then, all of a sudden, something snapped him out of it. “That was the moment that I realized it was all garbage.”

In this episode, we trace Jitarth’s journey into and, ultimately, out of, QAnon.

Background:

QAnon is an online conspiracy theory born in the aftermath of the 2016 election. Since then, it has grown in influence and keeps creeping further into mainstream consciousness. It’s come up in recent White House press briefings and there are current congressional candidates promoting QAnon messages. There have also been murders, armed stand-offs, and kidnappings motivated by the conspiracy.

Thanks to Redditor rucu52 for this week’s featured art, “Down the Rabbit Hole.”

FILE - In this Aug. 2, 2018, file photo, a protesters holds a Q sign waits in line with others to enter a campaign rally with President Donald Trump in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Candidates engaging with the QAnon conspiracy theory are running for seats in state legislatures this year, breathing more oxygen into a once-obscure conspiracy movement that has grown in prominence since adherents won Republican congressional primaries this year. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File) — FILE – In this Aug. 2, 2018, file photo, a protesters holds a Q sign waits in line with others to enter a campaign rally with President Donald Trump in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Candidates engaging with the QAnon conspiracy theory are running for seats in state legislatures this year, breathing more oxygen into a once-obscure conspiracy movement that has grown in prominence since adherents won Republican congressional primaries this year. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Show Notes:

“ReQovery,” a Reddit community dedicated to supporting ex-QAnon believers
“QAnon Casualties,” a Reddit community dedicated to supporting loved ones of QAnon believers

Support the show:

We love making Endless Thread, and we want to be able to keep making it far into the future. If you want that too, we would deeply appreciate your contribution to our work in any amount. Everyone who makes a monthly donation will get access to exclusive bonus content. Click here for the donation page. Thank you!

Story continues below