Did we become, de facto, associate members of a secret society by participating in (and supporting) the Q op?

I am more concerned about organized crime than secret societies. If members of secret societies are criminals, then it seems like it would be in the interest of the secret societies to expel them before they bring the house down. I am not in any secret society, this is simply my observation.

Most of these secret societies are organized crime by intention. The have no interest in expelling 'smart' criminals (though they may sacrifice some dumb ones to keep non-corrupt police at bay). The lower rungs of members may not be aware but the upper echelons are gangsters.

I understand what you are saying and while I can see the logic in this perspective, I also think it is natural for people to form groups to protect themselves and their interests. This happens everywhere whether it be gangs, or the local nonprofit for this ethnicity or that ethnicity, or the church, or the HOA, the fraternity, sorority, humanist group, or the gardening club. Do we consider them secret societies or organized crime because unless you belong to those groups, and many of them do have criteria to belong, do you really know what they are doing or what they are about and whether you would agree with what they are doing? (Did you buy a home where there is an HOA?) What is the difference between what we call secret societies and similar groups that we do not call secret but we have no idea what they are doing or maybe we do and we can see it is not beneficial but they are doing it in your face because nobody is stopping them?