301 Week 3 The Canon Phenomenon: The Storm Has Always Been Among Us

In what way was the January 6, 2021 Capital riot unique?

It was the first insurrection facilitated by social media.

According to Mike Rothschild, which of the following applied to QAnon? Cult, Internet scam, hate group, trope for fascism, all of the above.

All of the above

Why did QAnon rely upon social media?

QAnon used social media to reach a mass number of people from different backgrounds with various motives.

According to the author, QAnon is the digital fulfillment of _____ and _____.

Political sabotage and dirty tricks

What is the operational strategy of QAnon?

To reshape public opinion through online channeling of disinformation.

The Overton Window thesis is another way of describing _____.

Opinion creep

What feature of prophecies can make them in principle unfalsifiable?

The general nature and vagueness of prophecies make them unfalsibiable for the most part.

Which of the following were conspiracies that QAnon claimed? A computer virus will unleash the total collapse of the US utility grid. Celebrities harvest adrenochrome from children's bodies. The world would be struck by a 20 ton meteor in 2027 President Trump was secretly preparing a mass arrest of government officials and celebrities.

Adrenochrome harvesting and a secret mass arrest.

What were the two greatest single drivers of participation in QAnon according to political scientist Robert Pape?

A belief in a "great displacement" against whites and the belief in the existance of a global Satanic pedophile cult.

According to Robert Pape, what were two primary news sources for the participants in the 2021 Capitol insurrection?

NewsMax and One America News Network

List four common characteristics of those who attach themselves to fringe groups and their conspiracies according to Uscinski.

Cognitive dissonance, Confirmation bias, The need for uniqueness, Intolerance of uncertainty

What theory of Leon Festinger arose from his study of a doomsday cult in 1954?

If the doomsday prophecy fails to occur, then its most committed believers will double down on their beliefs, while those on the fringe would separate themselves from the cult.

According to the author, how important was social media to the QAnon movement?

The contributions to the growth of QAnon from social media was decisive.

According to the author, how does QAnon achieve opinion creep?

QAnon moves public opinion in a certain direction. They then received backing from politicians fishing for votes and financial support.

The author lists eight features of social media that makes it useful for cult building and tribal reinforcement. List four of them.

Scalability, granularity, geographical transparency, and filter bubbles

What was the Omphalos hypothesis?

The Earth was created 6,000 years ago by a creator who left false evidence regarding the history of the planet.