Mass Hysteria!

Post #305,402 by Another Scott 3/12/09 7:44:24 AM Reply	Mass Hysteria! It's actually a real problem now in Nicaragua: http://www.newscient...tral-america.html An outbreak of mass hysteria is reported to have struck three indigenous communities living near the river Coco in northern Nicaragua. A total of 43 people have reportedly fallen ill with what is known locally as grisi siknis ("crazy sickness"). Doctors, anthropologists and sociologists who have studied previous cases of mass hysteria Â also known as mass psychogenic illness Â have so far failed to come up with any clear explanation for the phenomenon. [...] Interesting. It must be terrifying for those afflicted, and those around them. Cheers, Scott.
Post #305,404 by boxley 3/12/09 8:33:58 AM Reply	why rule out demonic interference?
Post #305,407 by beepster 3/12/09 8:35:48 AM Reply	To not give away the real truth... ...the the news and Hollywood are actually the same. Demonic possession will be the movie of the week. I will choose a path that's clear. I will choose freewill.
Post #305,414 by mhuber 3/12/09 9:39:40 AM Reply	You can't, that's the problem Non-falsifiable hypothesis. My other problem with this story is that Nicaraguans usually speak Spanish, not bad English. Sound out "grisi siknis". At best, the authors apparently couldn't be bothered to find a speaker of the rare and exotic language spoken in Nicaragua in order to conduct decent interviews.
Post #305,415 by boxley 3/12/09 9:44:21 AM Reply	a lot of nicaraguans barely speak spanish out in the countryside they speak mayan
Post #305,418 by drook 3/12/09 10:21:20 AM Reply	Sure you can. "Rule out" != "Formally disprove" -- Drew
Post #305,481 by imric 3/13/09 7:07:27 PM Reply	Re: Sure you can. "Rule out" != "Formally disprove" Just tell us the rule then? What percent unlikely? How do you judge? grin

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