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Last night I watched Billy Connolly recount the witch trials of Salem. It got me thinking.
At the time, witches were believed to be real. Mass hysteria ensued as a result. People concocted the most absurd & #39;evidence& #39; that someone was a witch to fit the belief they were real. /2
At the time, witches were believed to be real. Mass hysteria ensued as a result. People concocted the most absurd & #39;evidence& #39; that someone was a witch to fit the belief they were real. /2
2. Today, we are still prone to mass hysteria. On the flimsiest of evidence people are accused of being racists or right-wing extremists. This snowballs as hysteria builds, to the point where we& #39;re led to believe that racism/extremism is commonplace. /3
3. Similarly, hysteria is escalated by the choice of language. & #39;Global Warming& #39; became & #39;Anthropogenic Global Warming& #39; then & #39;Climate Change& #39; then & #39;Climate Crisis& #39; then & #39;Climate Emergency& #39; with some saying & #39;the world is burning& #39;.
Escalation fuels hysteria. /4
Escalation fuels hysteria. /4
4. Why must we create/over-exaggerate boogeymen: yellow peril; peak oil; coming ice age; global nuclear war; hole in the ozone layer; Y2K; Climate Change; SARS; MERS; COVID?
None has decimated mankind, yet all were predicted to. /5
None has decimated mankind, yet all were predicted to. /5
5. We used to fear God. Has the decline in formal religion created the need for us to fear other things?
Does humanity require a threat that also requires behavioural change, whether that threat is proven or not?
Why must we move from one doomsday scenario to the next? /6
Does humanity require a threat that also requires behavioural change, whether that threat is proven or not?
Why must we move from one doomsday scenario to the next? /6
