Face Coverings and QAnon

Someone posts "Face Masks Don't Work" and pastes copy from a cited article. Within the copy, it is kinda clear they are talking about the influenza virus. The assertion is this is 'official' from the CDC as of May, and insinuates it's related to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. At least poster did provide a link [https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/5/19-0994_article]. Following that link, you find the quote is from a piece originally published February 6, 2020, included in the May 2020 magazine issue, talking about the H1N1 and H2N3 flu virus, based on metadata from studies conducted from 2005 through 2019. It has zero, zippo, nada to do with the new coronavirus. In February, few beyond official government channels were even aware of a threat from a new virus. Is the poster confused, or maybe just careless? Or is the poster deliberately trying to mislead the reader? 

This kind of thing goes on daily, across social media platforms and private blogs. Why do conspiracy theories thrive in some circles? No one is immune, but some are more susceptible than others. Perhaps being told by your religion and social support group that wisdom comes from a supernatural, paranormal being has some bearing. A "don't believe the wisdom of the world, but only the wisdom of god" kind of thing. Apparently, there's a 'QAnon' poster who started a rumor to uncover some secret government.. something... IDK  It is maddening that there's enough audience to keep flat earth, anti-vax, and such ridiculous ideas going. It doesn't help any that the current resident of the White House of the U.S. encourages this sort of thing. This has been going on since at least 2016. It is troubling that it's become more mainstream; some of its adherents are even running for office.

Scientific literacy is your only protection against those who try to deceive you. 'Wisdom' from any 'god' is only as good as the knowledge and wisdom of the human shepherds and story-tellers who wrote those tales. Today's story-tellers are usually well versed in human psychology -- knowing how to manipulate people who want to be 'smarter than everyone else' (hence, "To readers: Contact --- Governor --- with this information. He can use the ammunition. He’s issued an order against mandatory masks." and a phone number). It is easier to believe something that reinforces something you already believe -- it's called "confirmation bias"... 'See, I was right' feels so much better than admitting when you're wrong. We are all wrong sometimes. Learn from it and move on. All that energy spent reinforcing your erroneous position could be spent informing and sharing truth and accurate information. The earth is not the center of the universe. The current pandemic was not created in or released from a lab in China or anywhere else -- but even *if it were*... it would change *nothing* about how to prevent its spread. The virus is opportunistic -- it needs a carrier. Don't be that person. Wear a mask. Physical distance from strangers. Be a good neighbor. It's the least you can do.