Trusted (Mis) information: An Essay

If the audience accepts it, a lie is an objective truth. And leaders know this. This essay gives a brief background on QAnon and other extremist groups, but shows this mindset is present in arenas not traditionally seen as conspiratorial. This is a conceptual essay that is not only looking for answers but wants to inquire why people are not asking questions. The findings are bleak. There is no way to accept that misinformation does not shape people, but this essay looks at how it can mold an audience at a core level. This is evidenced by shifts in public reactions influenced by lies or deniable plausibility, and the results are seen on election days. Focusing on the commonality between extremist groups and how and why the general population has voted may not be a pleasant thought, but it must be examined.