Where do we Q from here? The broad question about the Q Anon movement has been asked by many recently, but with Joe Biden’s inauguration this past week, the foundation of the conspiracy theory has been knocked out from under its followers.
If you recall (and you probably shouldn’t, really) Donald Trump being president was sort of the crux of the theory — its raison d’etre. Now that he’s in Florida, presumably playing golf, there just isn’t a lot of swamp draining or deep-state-defeating going on in Washington, D.C. anymore. I say that in jest, of course, but to a not-so-insignificant group of people, this is their reality now.
I’ve taken on the unfortunate (or maybe fortunate?) NonDoc beat of covering this conspiracy theory for years now, and while it makes for great cartoon material, it has also provided me with insight into a part of society I don’t interact with much. Reading articles and watching videos on the subject has been… enlightening in ways. But at the same time, it has left me feeling concerned for the future.
When I look at Q followers, I see a group of people who don’t have a lot of history with civic engagement and often not a lot of history with social interaction either. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote that, to a lot of people involved with it, Q Anon has almost been like an adventure game they’re playing, or LARP. When the things Q promised would happen didn’t end up happening time and time again, many in this group were predictably upset. The reality, of course, is that politics don’t work that way.
So, where does this go from here? At this point in time, Q has not posted anything in months, leaving their followers to float aimlessly about the internet searching for answers. Many seem likely to disengage with the civic process without a solid network holding them together. My personal hope is that some of these people find positive things in their daily lives to latch onto and go from there. Time will tell.
Past Sundaze comics
Pop quiz: What is jeopardizing the state of Oklahoma?
Imagine the day-to-day life of the Q Shaman
The year that was: 2020 blew up the bathroom
All we want for Christmas is more COVID-19 vaccine
The coronavirus turns into a pumpkin at 11 p.m.
Day of fasting a brief end for endless breadsticks?
Farewell Steven Adams, OKC’s second Mr. Thunder
Thanksgiving 2020 should be all about perspective
Mixed messaging on masks still makes no sense
Power problems lead to weird rituals after 2020 storm
Halloween 2020 more of a trick than a treat?
No ICU beds: The spooky movie of the season
Students surely making most of extra screen time
Epic fail? Audit yields more questions on public money
Rough Saturday for Sooners fans
Budget blockbusters from the Cox Convention Center?
College football fun dampened by COVID-19 risks
It wasn’t Neese: An allegory for owning your audio
You’re doing fine in the red zone, Oklahoma
Snail mail: Slugging it out at the U.S. Postal Service
Norman elections always cause a flood of headlines
School 2020: Arts and crafts more like arts and masks
Ready for basketball from the Disney bubble
Kevin Stitt quarantine: Rest up, governor
PPP helps keep the proverbial pizza cooking
Imagine masks: Stitt starts fashion fad to emphasize eyebrows
Mike Gundy has shirt problems
Coronavirus spike: There’s still a pandemic out there
