"Mass Hysteria"

[GeeGee]

I didn't know where else to put this, so I guess this would be the most fitting place to put it.

I was just watching MonsterQuest, and this episode was about encounters with werewolves/wolfmen. At the end of the show, they of course have the skeptic's take on it, and he states "all these witnesses were possibly subject to mass hysteria." This got me thinking, does mass hysteria even exist? Personally I find this term a little ridculous. The only way tons of witnesses could be subject to mass hysteria is if they were drugged and/or drunk. How does a crowd of people see the same exact thing, and yet it can still be a creation of the mind? Sounds silly to me.

[DreamTime]

We watched the same program tonight, GeeGee. I found it especially interesting since I am from Wisconsin and now live in Michigan. As to your question on mass hysteria, I would think that it would only be possible if all the people saw the same thing at the same time. I can't see how people seeing the similar thing over a period of years could be considered 'mass hysteria.'

What say you, crowd?

[GeeGee]

I definitely agree with you that seeing unexplainable phenomena for over a period of years can't even be considered "mass hysteria", yet I still don't see how it's possible that a crowd of people can see the same thing and call it "mass hysteria". I do see how a crowd can be deceived(IE, hologram), but they're gonna tell us everyone was hallucinating at the same time, and seeing the exact same thing? Doesn't make sense to me.

[DreamTime]

Nor me. But you have to remember, "they" are not going to admit to anything that they can't explain away by science.