5 ms·

This happens all the time. See: drone sightings right now. Previously: Havana syndrome.

idontwantthis 2y ago
Best example: A whole town thinking Bigfoot AND aliens were invading at the same time https://medium.com/@weirdones/the-pa-ufo-bigfoot-invasion-of-1973-9e34e7ad3875 https://medium.com/@weirdones/the-pa-ufo-bigfoot-invasion-of...
oldgradstudent 2y ago
Havana syndrome can have a far less charitable explanation. There is no objective test for Havana syndrome, but being diagnosed with it grants significant financial and non-financial benefits.
- gopher_space 2y ago
  The veterinary world has a specific term for a condition they can’t diagnose, and I appreciate the intellectual honesty behind that.
  - itronitron 2y ago
    do you know the specific term, or does your intellectual honesty prevent you from saying that you do?
    - pdntspa 2y ago
      "Idiopathic"?
    - gopher_space 2y ago
      Ain't Doin Right.
ghurtado 2y ago
Also: killer clowns every few years. That one is a cultural icon by now.
zitsarethecure 2y ago
Another good one is the "Mad Gasser Of Mattoon" incident. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_Gasser_of_Mattoon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_Gasser_of_Mattoon
- BLKNSLVR 2y ago
  But the "Illinois Enema Bandit" was real: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_H._Kenyon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_H._Kenyon (coincidentally, the "Mad Gasser" was also in Illinois). I only know about this because of Frank Zappa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=352dVmsn7y4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=352dVmsn7y4
- whatevertrevor 2y ago
  And also the Monkey Man of Delhi (though that urban legend wasn't confined to Delhi): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey-man_of_Delhi https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey-man_of_Delhi
metabagel 2y ago
[flagged]
- InsideOutSanta 2y ago
  "House Intelligence leaders" are not exempt from hysteria.
  - Cthulhu_ 2y ago
    Indeed, that's an obvious appeal to authority fallacy, and "appears increasingly likely that a foreign adversary is behind some cases" is just weasel words; it's vague and meaningless but articles like this position it as pretty much factual. Sure, they don't explicitly say it's a fact, but it's enough for many people to be "sold" on the idea that it's foreign adversaries.

Best example: A whole town thinking Bigfoot AND aliens were invading at the same time https://medium.com/@weirdones/the-pa-ufo-bigfoot-invasion-of-1973-9e34e7ad3875 https://medium.com/@weirdones/the-pa-ufo-bigfoot-invasion-of...

oldgradstudent 2y ago

Havana syndrome can have a far less charitable explanation. There is no objective test for Havana syndrome, but being diagnosed with it grants significant financial and non-financial benefits.

gopher_space 2y ago
The veterinary world has a specific term for a condition they can’t diagnose, and I appreciate the intellectual honesty behind that.
- itronitron 2y ago
  do you know the specific term, or does your intellectual honesty prevent you from saying that you do?
  - pdntspa 2y ago
    "Idiopathic"?
  - gopher_space 2y ago
    Ain't Doin Right.

ghurtado 2y ago

Also: killer clowns every few years. That one is a cultural icon by now.

zitsarethecure 2y ago

Another good one is the "Mad Gasser Of Mattoon" incident. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_Gasser_of_Mattoon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_Gasser_of_Mattoon

BLKNSLVR 2y ago
But the "Illinois Enema Bandit" was real: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_H._Kenyon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_H._Kenyon (coincidentally, the "Mad Gasser" was also in Illinois). I only know about this because of Frank Zappa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=352dVmsn7y4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=352dVmsn7y4
whatevertrevor 2y ago
And also the Monkey Man of Delhi (though that urban legend wasn't confined to Delhi): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey-man_of_Delhi https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey-man_of_Delhi

metabagel 2y ago

[flagged]

InsideOutSanta 2y ago
"House Intelligence leaders" are not exempt from hysteria.
- Cthulhu_ 2y ago
  Indeed, that's an obvious appeal to authority fallacy, and "appears increasingly likely that a foreign adversary is behind some cases" is just weasel words; it's vague and meaningless but articles like this position it as pretty much factual. Sure, they don't explicitly say it's a fact, but it's enough for many people to be "sold" on the idea that it's foreign adversaries.