… but this seems like the most reasonable explanation (in light of a complete and utter lack of any evidence of any toxic substances) for the “bus poisoning” debacle.
Dr. Richard Mathias says it’s very possible there was never any noxious or toxic substance on the bus, where several people became ill. And he says the incident is almost a textbook case of mass anxiety.
Emergency workers examine bus “An unknown substance which turns out to be harmless, somebody getting sick.” he says. “Nausea, vomiting, all of those kinds of things are associated with this.
“Somebody starts to get sick and then it rapidly spreads to other people. (It’s) quite a classic presentation for this sort of thing.”
Granted, there was likely some agent (food poisoning or illness) that initially made the driver sick – but how often do we find ourselves blaming anyone or anything for the ill that sometimes befalls us? And really, they found DIRT AND WEEDS in those “mysterious pellets” – perhaps some serious spring allergies triggered it all?
What do you think?
This is why I would love to take Sociology. Group behaviour facinates me.
Speaking from a hypocondriach’s point of view, I know for a fact I would have acted in such a fashion. I’m paranoid about stuff like that and I can imagine the most horrific symptoms. I’m sure that I would have thrown myself into convulsions had I been on that bus. *lol*
I think the difference lies in *who* got sick during the bus ride, and the circumstances surrounding it. People get sick. We all know that.
But when the driver gets sick, after being threatened, and the bus *has* to stop, people get a chance to stop and think. Not that bus drivers never get sick, or threatened – but both together, along with an unknown (albeit harmless) suspicious entity is enough to turn anyone’s mind (and stomach) toward panic.
I’m sorry, I just don’t think a bus full of people is the type of situation prone to that sort of mass hysteria.
Think of it this way, a bus (especially a BLine) is full of people going places. They’re concerned with getting where they’re going. They’re focused on their jobs, school, appointments, etc.. That seems like completely the wrong pot for brewing mass halucinations/hysteria/anxiety/whatever you wanna call it.
The other day someone puked on the 98 BLine and while people were grossed out there was almost a unanimous desire for the bus to continue its route. All of the passengers were upset that the bus was pulled off of the route (this was 2 days before the “poisoning” incident) for cleanup as the bus driver insisted that it was a “biohazard”.
I like Dr. Mathias’ theory. I think as a society we’re a little too jumpy about the whole terrorism/chemical warfare thing, and people – usually fuelled by the media – have a tendency to blow things way out of proportion.