Share Your Experience of Losing a Loved One to QAnon or Far-Right Conspiracy Theories
Thankfully, the holiday season has drawn to a close, sparing us from the familiar diatribes of certain family members convinced that the election was stolen.
Regrettably, it has become all too common in our contemporary era for friends and family to succumb to the allure of far-right ideologies, QAnon, or even conspiracy theories propagated by media outlets like Fox News or their Facebook feeds.
If you have experienced the disheartening loss of a loved one to such ideologies, we invite you to share your story. Reflect on what the person was like before they delved into these beliefs. When did the change become apparent? Was it a gradual shift marked by vaccine hesitancy or discussions about alleged pedophilia rings in unsuspecting pizza shops?
Did you attempt to engage in dialogue with them, and what were the outcomes? Did they steadfastly adhere to their convictions, or did they display a willingness to consider other perspectives? How has their overall personality transformed as a consequence, and what impact has it had on your relationship with them?
Consider your current relationship status. Perhaps you chose to sever ties entirely, or maybe they made that decision. It’s possible that both parties opted for a tacit agreement to avoid discussions about “politics,” only to realize that their interpretation of the term extended far beyond yours. For instance, they might now categorize seemingly unrelated subjects, such as Xbox or Legos, as “woke.” Perhaps you managed to discover common ground, or maybe your interactions have evolved into a daily struggle. Or, on a more hopeful note, there’s the chance that they reconsidered their stance and reverted to the person you once knew.