1760 year
Residents of European countries began to massively remove from their houses, town halls and churches, recently appeared lightning rods. The reason - again, unreasonable panic. It seems, what could have prevented such a useful invention? And the fact is that the pastors called the lightning rods heretical rods that prevent God from expressing his righteous anger.
Moreover, the church referred to earthquakes and other disasters, the number of victims of which was reduced thanks to human inventions. And then, not realizing his anger with the desired force, the Almighty, allegedly, "rewards" humanity with larger-scale catastrophes. Years later, they decided to return the lightning rods to the roofs of houses. However, it is clear that from year to year mankind believes any rumors and is ready to make life as bad and uncomfortable as possible with its own hands.
1870 year
Peasants in the Penza, Poltava, Oryol, Kharkov and Moscow provinces began to destroy the icons en masse. People suddenly felt that the shrines before which they had worshiped were written "with the soot of hellish ash and the blood of Satan." According to rumors, the icon painters sold their souls to the devil and created icons under the guise of devils.
Promotional video:
So, believers, thinking that they are praying to God, worshiped the devil. As usual, information spread out instantly. Many icons that could have become priceless historical heritage were destroyed. And this, considering that in 1870 the Internet and other means of prompt dissemination of information did not exist. Takeaway: People don't need a cell phone, television, or social media to spread panic! We are doing pretty well without the help of gadgets - this is a fact.
1899 year
In the northeastern United States, city dwellers began to poison all flying insects. The reason is the fear of fictional killer beetles. Interestingly, no one had a fear of disrupting the natural food chain.
Panic was again triggered by a rumor that beetles attack people and people die in a couple of hours. Moreover, in fact, the usual series of articles about an allergic reaction to tick bites prompted a mass hysteria. It's amazing how, in a short amount of time, people can turn a tick allergy into an excruciating death from killer beetles!
1937 year
Soviet schoolchildren refused to wear campfire-shaped pioneer tie clips. The reason is the encryption of the supposedly counter-revolutionary code in the logo of the clips. As a result, schoolchildren of the entire Union abandoned clamps and began to tie ties on a knot. And this despite the fact that the authorities conducted an investigation and completely denied the rumor about the presence of an enemy code on the terminals. But the hysteria could no longer be stopped. Schoolchildren and their parents continued to assert:
And wearing a clip with a symbol of enemies of the people on your chest is not suitable for a real pioneer!
And the fact that the investigation denied the information no longer interested anyone, as, indeed, always …
1948 year
In the United States, people began to burn comics on a massive scale. The reason was the serious concern of the parents of pupils, teachers and priests that comics corrupted children, encouraged sadism and openly propagandized violence.
The way to rid the country of the magazines propagating cruelty was chosen instantly. The schoolchildren themselves were forced to go to the homes of residents of the country, take comics, and then massively burn them in the courtyards of schools and churches. Such a ceremony, in my opinion, strongly resembles the medieval Inquisition. Only instead of witches - children's magazines … It is strange that over hundreds of years people often do not adopt the experience of previous generations and fall into panic at the slightest opportunity.
1949 year
In the capital of Ecuador, Quito, a real panic began. The fact is that the townspeople mistook HG Wells' war of the worlds radio show for a real news report. People decided that the city was attacked by aliens, and the rumor about this, of course, scattered at the speed of light.
Thousands of people decided to isolate themselves and spent a day in the mountains … By the way, when it became clear that the alien attack was a fiction, the listeners burned down the radio station. And no one thought that gossip and the herd instinct of people were to blame. Also, no one recognized himself as an alarmist and a person who finds it easier to believe gossip than to take a sober look at the situation himself.
1973 year
There is a shortage of toilet paper in the United States. The situation arose due to the fact that one popular TV presenter just joked that America was about to shortage of toilet paper. As a result, the Americans began to buy up tons of these products necessary for the economy.
Stores even introduced a sales limit of 2 rolls of paper per person. And manufacturers have doubled the price. This excitement lasted more than 4 months. Later, the TV presenter apologized for misleading the country. But, as is often the case, the media have already spread information and spread widespread panic. The plus, naturally, turned out to be the manufacturers of toilet paper, who decided to enrich themselves on the panic of people, and the stores themselves.
2002 year
In the eastern part of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, residents began to massively claim that they were attacked by aliens, mutant insects and terrorists with laser weapons. When one person says such a thing, one can decide that he was not himself, but when hundreds say this, one involuntarily believes.
The result - a massive panic, the storming of the local police station, the murder of one citizen and several wounded. The aliens, by the way, never appeared. And scientists are still speculating: what could excite people in this way … Is it possible that the idea of an alien invasion, realistic only for science fiction films, could massively take over the minds of hundreds of people, and this is in 2002, for a minute!
year 2009
Residents of Saratov completely bought up drinking water in city shops. In addition to the water, the stationery tape left the shelves cleaned up. It's okay to buy water during a panic, but scotch tape or, as it is today, toilet paper … Why? Reason: "Apocalypse, the end of the world in our city …" - the TV channels of Saratov trumpeted. By the way, gauze bandages then in Saratov were also worth their weight in gold. And the reason that frightened the people so much was the rumor that pneumonic plague was raging in the city. The government intends to treat streets and houses with chemicals that will enter apartments through drinking water and windows. That is why Saratov residents need a lifetime supply of water, scotch tape and masks - the puzzle came together! Moreover, the authorities did not declare an emergency, and panic was caused by a radio message of one trainee doctor.
By the way, after reading this collection, you need to remember the panic due to the prediction of the end of the world in 2012.
End of the world 12.12.2012
Probably, there are no people who would not have heard about the prediction of a disaster on this symbolic date. It's good that in our age there will be no more dates with the same digits for the day, month and year! According to forecasts, on this day the world was waiting for a global cataclysm, a fundamental transformation of the Planet was to take place. This date was considered as the last in the 5125-year cycle of the Mesoamerican calendar (Maya), built on the basis of a long count. Moreover, despite the fact that many authoritative sources considered the date as a symbol of the spiritual renewal of mankind and reaching a new level, this did not prevent global panic. Only, unlike the fear of the coronavirus, people did not buy buckwheat and toilet paper (unless they were stocked up with drinking water). Probably, people realized powerlessness before the power of nature and the irreversibility of consequences … Therefore, everyone just waited,12/12/12 with bated breath. Although there were some "optimists" who built underground shelters, hoping to be the only ones to survive the end of the world and continue the human race.
Once again, we urge you not to succumb to panic, hysteria, herd instinct and not to get depressed! It's time to learn from the mistakes of previous generations and not step on the same rake. And even if the coronavirus is not killer beetles or UFOs, do not forget that not all rumors are true, and many are exaggerated or even false. As practice shows, mass panic, like any armed war, is always beneficial to someone: ordinary people suffer, and those who push people to aggression or hysteria make money.
Author: Yana Mazur