  Short Stories
This week: Mass Psychogenic Illness Edited by: Shannon  
More Newsletters By This Editor 
1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions
Welcome to the Short Stories Newsletter. I am Shannon and I'm your editor this week.
Keep reading for your chance to claim an exclusive trinket! |
| ASIN: B07K6Z2ZBF |
Product Type: Kindle Store
|
Amazon's Price: $ 4.99
|
|
“A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my face, and yours, Danforth! For them that quail to bring men out of ignorance, as I have quailed, and as you quail now when you know in all your black hearts that this be fraud. God damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together!”
~Arthur Miller, The Crucible
According to Lisa Fritscher, "Mass Hysteria Is a Dangerous Form of Groupthink" (1) -- a term coined by George Orwell in his dystopian classic Nineteen Eighty-Four, but what does it mean?
Mass hysteria (also known as Mass Psychogenic Illness) is an imagined or assumed threat that causes physical symptoms among a large number of people, and there are multiple examples of this strange phenomenon throughout history:
 The Dancing Plague of 1518: "The hysteria kicked off when a woman known as Frau Troffea stepped into the street and began to silently twist, twirl and shake. She kept up her solo dance-a-thon for nearly a week, and before long, some three-dozen other Strasbourgeois had joined in. By August, the dancing epidemic had claimed as many as 400 victims." Exhaustion, heart attacks, and strokes ensued (2).
Salem Witch Trials: young girls began having fits. The devil was blamed. Hundred were accused of witchcraft, and over 20 people were put to death (3).
The Holinwell Incident: in 1980 children across Great Britain gathered for a marching band competition. "Band members began to collapse. At first in ones and twos and then by the dozens. One witness on the day, Terry Bingham remembers, 'They fell down like nine pins. We didn't know what was happening'" (4).
2016 Clown Sightings: while this panic started with ill-advised pranksters, the panic was real. Originally confined to cities across America, the "sightings" and subsequent hysteria quickly spread to other countries (5).
Spring-Heeled Jack: "Before Jack the Ripper terrorized London, Spring-Heeled Jack was tormenting citizens with his claws and tight-fitted clothes" (6).
In 1844, a French nun began meowing like a cat. Rather than saying, "Hey, Sister Mary, what the heck are you doing?" all the other nuns in the convent joined in. This simultaneous meowing continued for hours at a time and days on end. The freaked-out neighbors finally reported the creepy behavior and soldiers responded to the scene, threatening to literally whip the crap out of the nuns if they didn't start behaving normally, at which point the nuns were miraculously "cured" (7).
These stories seem crazy, ridiculous even, but for the people involved they were very real and very scary. I've always been fascinated by things like this; incidents such as these awaken one's creativity.
Have you written a story about mass hysteria? Do you specialize in Mass Psychogenic Illness or have you suffered its effects? Submit your thoughts, ideas, and stories and I will share them in next month's newsletter.
Thank you for reading.
P.S. Every registered author who shares their ideas and/or creative endeavors relating to or inspired by this week's topic will receive an exclusive trinket. I will retire this month's limited-edition trinket at 11:59 p.m. WDC time on Tuesday, October 29, 2019, when my next short stories newsletter goes live.
Sources:
1. Mass Hysteria Is a Dangerous Form of Groupthink
2. What Was the Dancing Plague of 1518?
3. A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials
4. Holinwell Incident
5. Coulrophobics Beware: America's Creepy Clown Problem Continues
6. The Legend of Spring-Heeled Jack, The Victorian Demon Who Terrorized London
7. The Strange Story of Nuns That Meowed Like Cats and 7 Other Cases of Mass Hysteria
Further Reading:
1. The History of Satanic Panic in the US--and why it's not over yet
2. Babysitters Accused of Satanic Crimes Exonerated After 25 Years
3. Mass Psychogenic Illness: Risk Factors and Treatment
4. Why Are Females Prone to Mass Hysteria?
5. List of Mass Hysteria Cases
|
I hope you enjoy this week's featured selections. I occasionally feature static items by members who are no longer with us; some have passed away while others simply aren't active members. Their absence doesn't render their work any less relevant, and if it fits the week's topic I will include it.
Thank you, and have a great week!
| |  | The Fixer (E)
“Because Doc, I’m the fixer. I’m the closer, always have been, always will be."
#904580 by Rasputin  |
|
Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
Don't forget to support our sponsor!
| ASIN: B07NPKP5BF |
Product Type: Toys & Games
|
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
|
|
The following is in response to "Birthday Blessings" :
~  ~
Mara ♣ McBain  writes: "How awesome to see the first webpage and it is really amazing to think that our home here at WDC followed less than 10 short years later and is still kicking today! Thank you for the jaunt down history lane!  " You're welcome! Thank YOU for taking the time to read and comment. 
~ ~
Quick-Quill  writes: "WOW your last NL got people to comment. I loved reading all the responses. I too have a lot of love for Wdc. I wouldn't be the writer I am without all the wonderful people who have editing, reviewed and critiqued my work. Each birthday that passes means more and more people are joining the ranks of a loving community. Thanks for thoughts." Agreed. 
~ ~
Osirantinous  writes: "Somewhat oddly I don't remember being 19. I remember 18 since I turned 18 as I flew to the US on student exchange and did an extra year of schooling. But turning 19 when I came home and doing my first year of uni doesn't seem anything special in my memory. I suppose 19 is just one of those years after you stop being a minor and before your 21st!!! To have WDC going for 19 years speaks to the amazing dedication and attitudes of SM and SMs and every member. It's such a fabulous place for us introverted 'lonely' writers to be with other introverted 'lonely' writers and realize we're not really that introverted or lonely - we just needed like-minded souls to hang out with!" Love, LoVe, LOVE your last sentence, Osirantinous, and I couldn't agree more.
~ ~
eyestar~*  writes: "YOU had me at the Dr. Seuss Poem, so easy to recognize! I know little about the early days of World wide web so this was cool to hear about. And yep 19 years is magical. I appreciate you dedicating this letter to our second home and your generous gift of a trinket! The link to birthday swing made me smile. Thanks for sharing such Good fun and for all you do to make the site sparkle and shine. " Aw, thank you, eyestar~*! 
~ ~
StephBee  writes: "Great Newsletter! I agree - It's been 14 years for me, but WDC is such a warm, supportive, and encouraging community when it comes to writing and developing your skills as a writer. Have a great birthday month, WDC!" Yes! Thank you for reading and commenting. 
~ ~ |
| ASIN: B07P4NVL51 |
Product Type: Toys & Games
|
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
|
|
To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.
|
Short Stories: October 02, 2019 Issue [#9784]
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
