Paul Fricker Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 https://blasphemoustomes.com/2020/09/22/special-conspiracy-theories-and-cults-part-1/ In our recent episodes about cults, we mentioned how social media has blurred the line between cults and conspiracy theories. Phenomena like QAnon display many cult-like attributes but lack formal leadership. We thought it would be interesting to dig into this a little more. As none of us knows much about modern conspiracy theories, we turned to our good friend Bence Szlamka for help. Those of you on our Discord server will know Bence as TRNSHMN, one of the moderators there. While Bence is clear that he is not a scholar, he has spent a great deal of time studying conspiracy theories. Scott talked to Bence for a couple of hours, delving into the darker corners of QAnon, the anti-vaccination movement, flat-Earthers, and other cult-like conspiracy theories. While we tried to keep the tone relatively light, some of these conspiracy theories revolve around unpleasant ideas. QAnon, especially, embraces various beliefs about the abuse, trafficking and sacrifice of children. We avoid going into too much detail, but be warned that we at least touch upon these subjects. In the end, however, this is an RPG podcast, and our focus is to find inspiration for our games. This turned into quite a long discussion, so we have split it into two episodes. Join us in a fortnight for the conclusion, when Bence and Scott talk about some even stranger contemporary conspiracy theories. Links Things we mention in this episode include: Knowledge Fight podcast Alex Jones QAnon Bill Cooper The Satanic Panic The Shaver Mystery Theosophy The Protocols of the Elders of Zion David Icke 4chan Q clearance 8chan Sovereign citizens Moloch Witch panic Changelings in fairy folklore Blood libel Adrenochrome QAnon Anonymous podcast Sealed indictments PACER 2018 Horizon Air Q400 incident Apophenia Jim Watkins Sound of My Voice Project Looking Glass John Titor Art Bell Incels GamerGate Alt-right Love bombing Michael Flynn Michael Flynn’s QAnon influenced oath of duty 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Fricker Posted October 6, 2020 Author Share Posted October 6, 2020 Part 2 out now: https://blasphemoustomes.com/2020/10/06/special-conspiracy-theories-and-cults-part-2/ This is the second part of our discussion with our good friend Bence Szlamka about the murky grey area between cults and conspiracy theories. Those of you on our Discord server will know Bence as TRNSHMN, one of our moderators. While Bence is clear that he is not a scholar, he has spent a great deal of time studying conspiracy theories. Our last episode largely focused on QAnon, which dominates the modern conspiracy landscape. In this instalment, Scott talks to Bence about some of the weirder aspects of modern conspiracies, including, mole children, flat Earth adherents, and the role of Jesus in network security. While we try to keep the tone relatively light, some of these conspiracy theories involve unpleasant ideas. QAnon, especially, embraces various beliefs about the abuse, trafficking and sacrifice of children. We avoid going into too much detail, but be warned that we at least touch upon these subjects. In the end, however, this is an RPG podcast, and our focus is to find inspiration for our games. We will be back next week with a regular episode: the second part of our journey into the weird west. Links Things we mention in this episode include: Anti-vaccination movement Alex Jones Save the Children Rallies Thimerosal Mole children under Central Park Adrenochrome Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S Thompson “The Rats in the Walls” by HP Lovecraft Praying Medic John F Kennedy Jr conspiracy theories The murder of New York mob boss Franceso Cali Other violent crimes committed by QAnon followers Marjorie Taylor Greene The Omega Kingdom Ministry Dominionism Comet Pizza conspiracy theory Prosperity Gospel Bastard Operator From Hell The King in Yellow Flat Earth Mark Sargent Sovereign Citizens Bad faith rhetoric GamerGate Cambridge Analytica Internet Research Agency COINTELPRO Stuxnet Bot farms Apophenia “The Call of Cthulhu” Canadian Flat Earth Conference “The Broadsword” from Occultation and Other Stories by Laird Barron Delta Green Control Global Frequency 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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