Just thought I would put this out there, and to tell my story of escaping the fringe, something that happened when I was 20 years old (the time I got recruited)
I was inducted into the fringe at age 20 after being linked (they ALL DO THIS!) to an article. So I started reading it. I then started exploring the website. Then the greater range of those by researching these things they talked about.
Little did I know, I would be falling victim to the mental trap, the cult, and the many of it’s factions. Little did I know how difficult it would be, to escape from it. Little did I know, PTSD would result later on and last for a few years.
I followed their video/blogs for a long time, and without realising, was spreading their misinformation (I recall only sharing it a few times, however it was awful now that I realise it).
It went fucking deep. By the time I got deep into and had hundreds of bookmarks in the browser, I started having problems going outside.
Problems finding and holding onto a steady job. Problems interacting, trusting and forming relationships, including retaining friends. Problems with becoming increasingly paranoid about everybody around me.
Eventually it took a while to begin fact-checking everything being linked to me on Twitter (where it all started), Facebook and youtube, including the hashtags.
Once I discovered none of it even made sense within the first week of fact-checking, I started questioning it. Why wasn’t it on the news, specifically, in Canada? I realised most of it was relevant only to the USA.
Once I figured things out, I knew something was wrong with all of their websites, YouTube videos (watched plenty of those!) including their information. It didn’t point to verifiable, credible, reliable, fact-checked sources. Only to other blogs, YouTube videos (they made themselves, or reposts, or compilations) or other, past, older posts, or more fringe bollocks.
After 6 years of it, I had enough. I silently stopped reading it, removed all bookmarks, quit giving them clicks or watch time. After a year of doing that, the PTSD set in.
I had big time problems leaving the house. Looking over my shoulder, in constant fear of “being watched, followed, spied on, tracked or harmed”. As time went by, I figured it wasn’t going to happen. It stopped. The paranoia mellowed out and went away. So did the irrational fear.
I realise nobody can escape the same way I did, without professional help (though, I did seek it online when I was scared to death to walk outside), and at baby steps. This took a year, almost two.
The fringes goals are to suck in, induce and trap anyone into their entrenched, delusional/lunatic mindset. It is a cult by definition.
It can be harrowing to escape. You think the world is against you, the media is a propaganda machine (in some regards, but not at all the way they make you think it is), the Police, RCMP (in Canada), “government”, CIA, CSIS FBI, NSA is after you, tracking your every movement, including fictional organisations the fringe create to further trap people.
Cellular networks, wireless (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AM/FM/SW, transceivers, etc.) equipment is hazardous to everyone’s health (I had a cellphone, so I knew that was bollocks).
However none of it is true. I “woke up” to realise they are the problem, trapped in their own mindset, their own cult. Victims of whoever got them trapped to begin with. Either their friends, neighbours, family, parents, co-workers, anybody who followed such unhealthy delusions, was/is ripe for trapping.
Another edit: The fringe go by other names: Qanon, Truthers, anti-vaxxers, Conspiracy Theorist(s), Awoke, Woke, Awake and Awakened. Do not be fooled. They are one in the same. Those are just a few of many factions they’ve created (there’s about 60+).
There are also hundreds of fronts created for recruitment, often using misleading links, deceptive articles and emotional bait.
That’s why I wanted to come out and write this. You have insight into the cult influence, into a period of time when I got trapped myself. I’m done with it all, however continue to fight the misinformation (and disinformation) to this day.
I thought I should update this post again with more details.
They will call anyone one or more of the following if challenged:
Shill, spook, kook, spy, agent, plant, black hat, informant or operative of <insert batshit conspiracy theory or government/corporation/FBI/CIA/CSIS/NSA/RCMP/Police service and/or organisation of authority or fictional entity here>
Thank you for reading.