DoomsdaysCWInteresting piece about #ToxicFog reports, and the psychology behind them. Obviously, there are times when chemical companies have accidents, and don't report them right away -- so that creates mistrust to begin with -- on top of the anxiety many folks are feeling right now...
#MysteryFog Sparks Fear Across America
The psychology behind the strange fog unsettling Americans.
Posted January 4, 2025
"Over the past week, social media has been buzzing with reports of a mysterious fog that has enveloped large swathes of the United States, sparking concern that it may be part of a terrorist plot or government experiment. An array of illnesses have been linked to the fog, which has triggered an avalanche of conspiracy theories on TikTok, X, and other social media platforms.
"The scare began during the last week of the year and 'blew up' on social media on December 29, when a flurry of postings appeared. Many people claimed that they could detect a chemical-like odor and that it coincided with flu-like symptoms.
"Other witnesses said they had had trouble breathing. A Florida woman reported that after she encountered 'the fog,' she began sneezing and soon felt feverish and had stomach cramps, and her eyes became puffy. Some people have dubbed their symptoms '#Fogvid' after Covid. A family in Colorado who had been experiencing sore throats, lethargy, and stomach upset initially thought they had food poisoning, but after seeing the many posts they became suspicious that the fog was responsible for their symptoms.
"After the swarm of postings, people in Canada and the United Kingdom soon reported similar experiences after an eerie fog set in where they were. Several posts drew a connection with the recent spate of drone sightings in the U.S., with some suggesting that the machines may be dispensing chemicals into the atmosphere.
"A resident of St. Petersburg, Florida, said the fog left a 'toxic' taste in his mouth that he described as 'super weird.' Others said its appearance coincided with odd behaviors by their pets. A woman in Texas posted that her dog began acting strangely after being let outside and that it kept sniffing the air. She also said her eyes began burning and she experienced a headache and stomach pain.
"Some of the media headlines appeared ominous. The Daily Mail proclaimed: 'Mystery as Thick Fog Sweeps the US with Reports of ‘Burning Chemical Smell’ in the air.' YouTube also perpetuated the scare with alarming videos, such as one from Tampa, Florida, which read: 'Alert!! Strange Fog!! 4 days!! Weird Chemical Smell Sticky Particles.'
"Some media outlets such as The Economic Times contributed to the scare by reporting that 'no official explanations have been provided.' One man posted, 'This fog isn’t natural…there’s something off about it. Too dense. Too controlled. I’ve seen enough to recognize patterns, and this feels engineered.'
"It may be no coincidence that the appearance of the 'mystery fog' coincided with the National Weather Service issuing heavy fog advisories in several states across the country. Much of what is being reported appears to be advection fog, which is common over parts of the U.S. during winter. It forms when warm, moist air 'advects,' or moves horizontally, over a cooler surface such as snow, ground, or a body of water. As the air cools and reaches its dew point, thick fog can result. It is well-known that water droplets in fog can trap air pollutants, giving it a chemical smell. [Also woodstove smoke]
"While some nefarious agent may be lacing fog with chemicals intent on making Americans sick, a far more likely explanation is that fog is trapping air pollution—something that has been happening ever since humans began the industrial age."
Read more:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/its-catching/202501/mystery-fog-sparks-fear-across-america
