I had lunch with progressive friends today and I brought up the topic of the ABC debate rigging affidavit. I’ve examined the document several times and noted several instances and details that don’t explain away possible credibility, but the instances and details were unusual to me.

I’ve not speculated on the veracity of the affidavit claims because there are too many examples of inconsistencies, hyperbole, debunked accusations, incendiary rhetoric, strangeness, illogic, and straight up cheating this election. The variables are too involved to support even mild speculation. Several on this list of “hmmm…” apply to the alleged validity of the affidavit.

It’s satisfying my progressive friends noticed nearly all the same oddities in the document as I did. Where we parted is they had heaps of speculation at the ready, using the same data set. The theme of the speculation is to debunk the affidavit, and for me it was kind of dizzying keeping up.

The affidavit began circulating social media on Sunday, so we’ve had only four days to generate their reasoning. It was apparent they’d had lots of discussion on the topic given only four days. It seemed most of this discussion occured on social media.

Again, their discussions were debunking the affidavit. They’d put in a great amount of speculation.

Being their ideological contrarian friend, I commented on how many debunking theories they had considering only four days having past since we’ve become aware of the affidavit. My comment solicited reiterations of the debunking talking points, and when everyone had finished re-expressing a high certainty the affidavit is a hoax, I asked just one question:

“You’ve all given this a lot of thought. Are you afraid the affidavit real?”

Two friends spoke up near simultaneously and immediately. They replied:

Friend 1: “Yes.”

Friend 2: “Yes. It will ruin everything.”

They keep me around because they get similar ideological insights as well.