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| Member |
It started with the last election. My friend was never a big political person (his family was, mostly because they're all small business owners) but he went from 0-200mph in 10 seconds for Trump's re-election. He started following different conspiracy theorists posing as "news" or "information" pages on the web and the rest is history. Here's a partial list of things that he's tried to discuss with me: Trump was never going to give up the Presidency, he was going to use martial law to keep the Presidency. After Trump left, there were 2 or 3 "key dates" where he was going to prove election fraud and retake office. The moon landing was staged. The vaccine is going to kill everyone in 6 months (that was 9 months ago). The vaccine has microscopic robots/computer chips in it that attaches to our DNA and will allow "trojan access" by our Government. Pearl Harbor was staged. Every celebrities/Politicians are pedophiles/deep state. I can't talk about any sport, movie, tv show or politician without someone being a Pedophile and he won't watch/support them because of it. Ted Cruz and Ron Desantis are part of the deep state. The Earth is flat. Yes, he actually tried to argue this with me. The list goes on. He's isolated himself because all of his other friends don't want to hear it and dropped him. I only talk to him once a month since I moved but he always steers the conversation to some ridiculous topic and that's when I say goodbye. I get at least 3-4 texts a week to links of videos that "prove" this stuff and those videos are 2-3 hours long. I'm not wasting my time on that crap and have told him so. What concerns me is that lately he's talking about getting a gun because with the "revolution" that's coming he needs one. He's sending me links to different guns to get my opinion and frankly I don't think he should have one. He's the type of person in one of those dash cam vids shooting at others because he felt threatened and everything else be damned. He also has some of the worst road rage of anyone I know and if he ever got a gun it would only be a matter of time before he lands himself in jail for using it. Thankfully he's a huge procrastinator and he can only afford items over $500 if they have a credit/payment plan so between the two of those things he probably won't ever get a gun. That reminds me: he's a huge pothead. He always smoked premium weed and lately he's gotten into waxes. I don't know, I don't do that stuff but it's incredibly potent and he spends a lot of money on it. I've read about lifelong users of marijuana developing paranoia and other mental issues after 20-25 years of regular usage and my friend is right around that 25 year mark. What kills me is that he's a genuinely good guy which is why we were close friends for 20+ years and I hate to throw all that history away. Prior to all this stuff he was a fun guy to be around, had tons of friends from all backgrounds and got along with just about everyone. However, that's all changed and while I could easily cut him off and let him fend for himself I'd like to at least be there for him the moment he decides to pull himself out from all this nonsense. I know it only happens if he has the desire to change and if that day comes I want to support him. Till then, what would you do and how would you handle the gun thing? | ||
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Fire begets Fire |
You need to tell him this. Even if it means reading this post verbatim to him. At least I would expect my friends to bitch-slap me silly if I was spewing such bullshit. GL "Pacifism is a shifty doctrine under which a man accepts the benefits of the social group without being willing to pay - and claims a halo for his dishonesty." ~Robert A. Heinlein | |||
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| Member |
I've called him out on the conspiracy theory stuff. When he started telling me about him losing friends and being ostracized at work I straight up told him that he needs to stop infecting his mind with such garbage. Told him it was no different than any other addiction and when he starts to lose friends, family members and coworkers he's the problem, not them. He simmered down but I can tell that he's back on the train full speed ahead. Truth is he needs therapy but will never get it. I can't force him to go and I have a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that the only way he's going to change is when something bad happens to him. | |||
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| Official forum SIG Pro enthusiast  |
Sometimes the pain and damage of our mistakes are the only things that can give us enough perspective to change. If he doesn’t want to change and doesn’t have the ability to see the impact and damage it is having there might be little you can do to fix this. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The price of liberty and even of common humanity is eternal vigilance | |||
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| Member |
You didn’t mention his age. He’s not old enough for early onset dementia, is he? The marijuana aspect could explain it, but might want to rule out any medical issues just in case. | |||
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delicately calloused |
His confidence in what he perceived previously has been shaken by what he perceives now after the election. If an election can be corrupted what else is a lie? Now he can’t trust anything he knew or is told. I believe the election was corrupted. I can see how previous elections have been corrupted. But I still have a grasp on reality and understand not everything is a lie. Occam’s razor dictates that most conspiracy theories are not true though some aspects might be. The basic premise of the 9/11 theory is flawed, but since the flaw is an omission, it is not easily seen. Ultimately, there may be nothing you can do. He’ll have to run his course. If you oppose him, you’ll be in on the conspiracy. You’re a lying dog-faced pony soldier | |||
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| Fire begets Fire |
Well said stickman … "Pacifism is a shifty doctrine under which a man accepts the benefits of the social group without being willing to pay - and claims a halo for his dishonesty." ~Robert A. Heinlein | |||
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| Member |
Great point, he'll be 41 this year. Also important to note that he's recently divorced (divorce had nothing to do with this stuff, she cheated on him with a coworker before the election) and has joint custody of his 5 year old daughter. I'm concerned that this stuff is going to affect her psychologically over time. I went back for Thanksgiving and from what I saw they had a typical father/daughter relationship. Reading books, watching cartoons/kid shows, silly conversations about nothing, etc. but what happens when she gets to the age to learn about US history that he believes is staged? | |||
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| Get my pies outta the oven!  |
He must have been listening to the same nonsense that my Dad was, because he was repeating this same crap for months last year. Finally he gave up on it and I haven't heard anything about it for a while. I don't get it  | |||
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| Member |
My favorite part is when it didn't happen the "date" just got pushed back a few weeks/months. Then he'd try to talk it up from now until then. He believed it so much that he wanted to bet me real money. Some people say I should have taken the bet, I didn't because that just complicates things even more. However, I do tell him "hey remember when you wanted to bet me $300 that Trump would be back in office by January ____? Or that half the world would be dead by now because of the vaccine?" Rather than take the medicine he'd counter with a "well, if you watched the videos I sent you you'd understand why it's pushed back." It's lose lose for me and if I didn't care about our friendship so much he'd be gone in a heartbeat trying to pull this crap. This is low key stressing me out so I'm going to the beach to give my dog his daily swim and crush some beers. I'll be back later to follow up and get your thoughts. Thanks in advance. | |||
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| Member |
I'm sorry you have to watch your friend do this to himself. Two stories. First story: I was a firefighter/first responder a long time ago, first due on medical emergency with combative patient. He was a danger to himself and us. We had to wait until he was unconscious to treat him. Second story: I represented a young woman deeply involved in the use and manufacture of methamphetamine. Her family loved her very much, but she was not in a fit state to live with them, or accept help from them. It took charges that carried the potential for two consecutive life sentences for her to get into rehab and back into the real world. All her family could do is wait for her to come back, then love and support her once she decided to fix herself. Your situation feels similar to both: he isn't in reality and is a danger to you. Perhaps you can't help now, but you /can/ wait for him to come back and help support his reintroduction into a normal, functioning reality when he's ready for you to do so. "I love you bro. I'll be here for you when you've unf---- yourself. But I can't be here for you while you're f---ing yourself up." You will save yourself a great deal of heartache (and potential violence/criminal behavior) this way. | |||
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| Member |
I know people like this. I have family like this. I had family ask to use my home as a place to stay for the J6 marches. I can't give you an answer. Pot just like alcohol and guns do not mix. Period. I don't know how to pass that on to him, but the federal laws for pot use and guns are well spelled out. As for the election stuff. I have told my contacts enough, if it hasn't changed yet, it won't change. Focus on the next election, focus on the future, not on what has happened. | |||
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Member |
Maybe some medical help might be worth a try. A late friend of mine went off the deep end 180turn from normal, finally got to doctor, had lesions in his brain, began treatment and returned to himself, unfortunately cancer metastasized and he passed but bizarre behavior was a result of the illness. | |||
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Member |
I have a couple of family members who've gone full on conspiracy, NWO, and new age nuts, even as far as the lizard overlords. One of them was at J6 and got a visit from the FBI. Makes for some interesting family gatherings! . | |||
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| Cruising the Highway to Hell  |
I also have a friend who is still in the election denial and swears daily that it will be overturned. He spends most of his time reading conspiracy stuff. I've told him to look towards the future, and think about what this is doing to his family. “Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves.” ― Ronald Reagan Retired old fart | |||
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| Member |
I know some people like this. For them, there's literally nothing in life that hasn't been associated with a conspiracy of some kind and there's no conspiracy that's too absurd to believe. You can't reason with them, its hopeless. No one's life, liberty or property is safe while the legislature is in session.- Mark Twain | |||
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| Just because you can, doesn't mean you should |
If this is exactly how you describe it, and I'm not doubting it, and there is no responsible family members to discuss it with to try to intervene in some productive way, I'd have to consider a visit to the local authorities. I wouldn't ever consider that option lightly. You have to ask yourself at some point, how are you going to feel and how will this effect others that could be harmed, if he acts out on this. This sounds like someone that is truly mentally disturbed and needs expert help to have any chance to recover. This isn't just a friend talking to him type of situation. ___________________________ Avoid buying ChiCom/CCP products whenever possible. | |||
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blame canada |
When it comes to firearms, either he is a legitimate danger to himself and others, or he is not. Firearms ownership is a right. Tread lightly when it comes to taking steps that infringe on other people's rights. IF you really suspect he is a danger to others, then consult with the appropriate professional. If he gets help, he'll thank you on the other side. If he doesn't, then you can sleep knowing you did the right thing and it is in a professional's hands. The rub comes when attempting to find the right professional who isn't just going to push a personal agenda themselves. There are kernels of truth in much of his faulted beliefs. Some people when they finally wake up and realize how the real world actually is, swing a bit heavy on the pendulum. The answer for reasonable and intelligent people is to patiently continue to point out the truth and encourage research into credible sources. Give textbooks and historical sources that are credible and accurate and help him reach his own conclusions. Remember that even wackos have the right to defend themselves. Until they infringe on others' rights...don't facilitate or start acting out some pre-emptive minority report bullshit because you think he is crazy. Nothing pushes a person on the edge past the edge faster than having some of their fears come true. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "The trouble with our Liberal friends...is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so." Ronald Reagan, 1964 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Arguing with some people is like playing chess with a pigeon. It doesn't matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon will just take a shit on the board, strut around knocking over all the pieces and act like it won.. and in some cases it will insult you at the same time." DevlDogs55, 2014  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ www.rikrlandvs.com | |||
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| Freethinker |
I am curious what sort of bizarre behavior you witnessed. Development of beliefs of the sort described? “I can’t give you brains, but I can give you a diploma.” — The Wizard of Oz This life is a drill. It is only a drill. If it had been a real life, you would have been given instructions about where to go and what to do. | |||
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Member |
Do you have an Employee Assistance Program where you work? It might be helpful to get some professional guidance on how best to handle this. Tell the counselor everything you told us here. "If you’re a leader, you lead the way. Not just on the easy ones; you take the tough ones too…” – MAJ Richard D. Winters (1918-2011), E Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil... Therefore, as tongues of fire lick up straw and as dry grass sinks down in the flames, so their roots will decay and their flowers blow away like dust; for they have rejected the law of the Lord Almighty and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel." - Isaiah 5:20,24 | |||
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