The mystery of screaming schoolgirls in Malaysia

[ByGrabtharsHammarWhatASaving]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-48850490

Very interesting article on mass hysteria in Malaysia. Also interesting to see how the problem persists and worsens when the professed cause for the outbreak (like seeing an evil spirit) is affirmed and treated as fact (by performing cleansing rituals), rather than the people involved being encouraged to understand their experiences in the context of reality. Not surprisingly the article points out that this is a phenomenon almost exclusively affecting young girls, that it produces real physical symptoms, that it spreads quickly in places like schools, and that it is most noticeable in countries that have rigid gender roles which limit and oppress women.

What's also fascinating is that the author describes this phenomenon in places like Malaysia with a tone of pity, as if they are a backwards country and nothing like this could possibly happen in our enlightened Western society where science is everything. The TRAs always make out that a belief in biological sex is a form of colonial white supremacy and that anyone questioning gender must be a racist, but honestly could anything be more racist than looking at a country like Malaysia and saying "wow, look at those superstitious people believing that 100s of school girls are really possessed by Jinn, it's obviously mass hysteria caused by a stifling sexist conservative society" while simultaneously believing that the 1000s of school girls suddenly identifying as boys in peer clusters over here are really literally boys (even though that's impossible) and it's definitely not mass hysteria in response to our stifling sexist culture. Obviously only them forriners are susceptible to such delusions, while us Westeners are so progressive and enlightened that anything obviously bonkers happening here must in fact be based solidly in reality.

In addition to all that, the fact that these girls are being subjected to "cures" by faith healers and witch doctors also merits discussion. I've met several women during my time in places like Africa and South America who were taken to witch doctors to be "cured" of various things and it almost always included some form of sexual abuse. One woman said that when she had malaria a group of male faith healers were invited over to tie her up, strip her naked, blindfold her, and take it in turns to spit on her. Even if that isn't the case here the description of the girl being "treated" as "thrashing about wildly on the floor and screaming before being restrained by two men" is really upsetting.

Mass psychogenic illness is a real phenomenon that is not yet understood. There have been spontaneously arising cases in Tanzania, Nottinghamshire, North Yorkshire, Peru and many others. It is a largely unconscious phenomenon that affects mainly girls.

Recently listened to the audible series Hysteria which details many instances of this through the ages. From meowing middle age nuns to modern day hiccuping school girls. Very common in female only living quarters such as convents or boarding school. Worth a listen if you're an Audible member.

I can see what the Op is saying about how a social contagion is treated so differently when happening to predominantly westerners compared to Eastern cultures.

Middle age nuns refers to nuns in the Middle Ages not Middle aged nuns 😜

Thanks to everyone who understood the point I was trying to make. I'm very happy to be challenged on anything I say or think btw, I'm perfectly aware that my beliefs are not infallible and that I'm as capable as anyone at projecting my own biases onto data and finding patterns where there are none.

Very happy that you've joined the thread hoodathunkit, I find your research and insights on all such things really fascinating.

I am not particularly interested in that view, and I have no desire to hear any attempts to justify it.

Did you mean to be so rude?

Middle age nuns refers to nuns in the Middle Ages not Middle aged nuns

It was me that posted in haste hoodathunket

I'm not really sure that I have anything constructive to contribute except to say that the mass psychogenic illness highlighted in the OP and trans ideology obviously share one stark thing in common. They both relate to the relationship between the mind and the body.

It is clear that you have had experiences in this regard that most people on here will probably not be able to relate to. It is unfortunate that most people believe what they have been told at school, by their parents and on the media. They think that what is taught in universities is the truth.

This board is as it is because the trans ideology has begun to show some people that you cannot trust the 'authorities' to tell the truth. But still, most posters think that this is an aberration - that one day things will return to 'normal'.

How often do people use the phrase 'has the tide turned yet?' or assert that one day in the future we will look back at this as just a moment of madness. They cannot accept that we are witnessing a moment in history when humanity has decided they are going to break free of the bonds of biology. All we need is the technology to make our dreams come true. This is what is being worked upon now.

On another thread, one woman is claiming that women will be free when we are free of the bonds of our biology - when artificial wombs reduce motherhood to ashes. Someone pointed out that the bonds between a parent and child are fiercely strong and perhaps people don't want to lose this. These bonds, our capacity for love and our very identities are rooted in our biology. Also, people who demand that one group of people be freed from their biology have absolutely no right to demand that others are not given this right: they have no right to tell men that they cannot become women.

I think you understand that we can't change our physical beings without drastically altering our psychological beings and that those people who want to exercise control over others realise that by destroying who we really are as rooted in our bio-psychological makeup, they create a rootless human being who will be so much easier to control. Perhaps in this world the state and the corporation will become the sole psychological and emotional source of support - the person will be completely reliant on these artificial constructs.

I think that our late democratic societies are becoming more like giant cults and anything that can be used to make people more compliant will be used.

If I am reading your posts incorrectly, I think that you are trying to warn people about what is happening based on your own experiences at the 'micro' level as it were. I think I hear what you are saying but much of this is very far out of other peoples' experiences. But I think that many 'lurkers' have had experiences like the ones you outline and I am sure you have helped a lot of people. I have found a lot of your links very interesting and useful.

Would you promise to actually engage with them and not simply disregard them on the basis that their foundational premise is different to yours and therefore you can disregard anything they write?

Why do you assume people don't already, and haven't already, done this?

I honestly don't know why people come and do what you are doing. All it does is show up to outsiders (and we know there are a lot of lurkers) that you don't have any argument.

This. It's really quite revealing of that. Anyone would be forced to conclude from the lack of evidence or rational argument for transgender ideology from its supporters that it really is just a faith based belief.

placemats they are all girls she knows who have an Autism diagnosis, it isn’t just her guessing or assuming.

@ByGrabtharsHammarWhatASaving

Good to be on board :)

@clitherow
I'm not really sure that I have anything constructive to contribute except to say that the mass psychogenic illness highlighted in the OP and trans ideology obviously share one stark thing in common. They both relate to the relationship between the mind and the body.

Absolutely.

As do allegations of satanic ritual abuse, which very commonly arise from various models of “body psychotherapy”.

People who suffer unexplained pain, fits / seizures and other physical symptoms would have, until very recently, been diagnosed with hysteria.

Nowadays they may be given a copy of the notorious book The Courage to Heal and / or one of its spin off titles which states that unexplained physical symptoms indicate child sexual abuse that has been forgotten by the mind yet retained in the body at a cellular level and can be recovered via psychotherapy. I am astounded at how many rape crisis centres are using quack therapies to treat survivors of rapes and sexual assaults. This terrifying situation has very likely contributed to innocent people being jailed for horrific sexual crimes they did not commit and will also, inevitably, result in real sexual predators evading justice.

Back to hysteria...

A surprisingly educational perspective on hysteria, including its symptoms and manifestations (including delusions of sexual violations) can be found in the absolutely wonderful silent film, banned for many years, Haxan (1922).

This film is worth watching in its entirety, however for those interested in hysteria I would suggest initially watching from 1.21:00 until the end, and then settling down to watch the entire film when you have a couple of hours to spare. This will not spoil the film as there are many fascinating themes with multiple areas of interest that do not need to be viewed in a linear manner.

This link is for the Swedish Film Institute restored version which is subject to copyright, however it is worth noticing that the film itself is in the public domain and non-restored clips and sections available via the Archive and on youtube that may be freely used by activists and filmmakers to create their own educational videos. For those wishing to use a soundtrack the Archive has a section on music recordings that are either in the public domain and can be used freely or are subject to non-commercial use.

I think you understand that we can't change our physical beings without drastically altering our psychological beings and that those people who want to exercise control over others realise that by destroying who we really are as rooted in our bio-psychological makeup, they create a rootless human being who will be so much easier to control. Perhaps in this world the state and the corporation will become the sole psychological and emotional source of support - the person will be completely reliant on these artificial constructs.

Actually what I want more than anything is for readers to feel curious and to feel inspired to think creatively about these very complex and difficult issues.

Your post shows that this is exactly what you are doing and so I would seriously encourage you to stay thinking. I have some further thoughts on your thoughts that I will share a bit later, as usual, pushed for time today. :)

I have developed a number of provisional hypotheses regarding what might be happening re the transgender agenda. My intent is not so much to persuade others that what I am positing is correct as to inspire others to create their own speculative hypothesis and, by doing so, to retain and develop the capacity to think.

Provisional hypotheses are not evidence of real things, but when confronted with a confusing, overwhelming barrage of completely irrational events it makes absolute sense to develop multiple provisional hypotheses and to then, over time, either nullify or validate them as evidence becomes available.

Later today I will share a hypothesis or 2 with you now that relate to the sudden emergence and acceptance of pseudo-scientific / illogical and blatantly false narratives regarding the transgender issue.

Please do not think that I am in possession of “the truth”. I cannot make any such claim. However I would like to share some hypotheses so that, over time we can prove or disprove them. Also I completely accept that I am not omniscient and there are many things I accept I do not know.

Please accept my apologies for not replying sooner, I desperately needed some time away from the computer and a rest from all of this. I have been working very hard on this issue and sometimes I get exhausted.

Will be back later :)

This is something I have been thinking about for a while, just thinking aloud...

Any readers interested in mass hysteria and the link to psychosomatic illness and to social-political issues including FGM and other genital mutilations would do well to read up on the Zar (also spelled Zaar) cults. There are obvious comparisons to be made between spirit possession experienced in the Zar cults and DID/MPD. There are also issues that resonate with the trans issue.

I am very far from an authority on Zar cults however I understand that FGM is a feature of at least some of the societies in which the Zar cults flourish.

I used to have an academic anthropological book about Zar cults and FGM many years ago. I gave it away and cannot for the life of me remember what it was called. My memory of the description of the Zar rituals was that they consisted mostly or exclusively of women and were lead by a female spiritual leader. The Zar rituals consisted of drumming, singing and dancing parties that would go on all night over several days. Vast quantities of cannabis were consumed and all involved entered a state of ecstatic trance. These rituals were created to pacify djinn that possessed people (mostly women) and during the rituals the possessed woman was the centre of attention for several days and nights. The possessing djinn would demand gifts. In the book I read examples of gifts were beautiful dresses and perfume. Once he djinn’s demands for attentions and expensive gifts had been satisfied the djinn would stop causing illness in the affected woman and life would return to normal until such time that the djinn became agitated and started making demands again.

There are aspects of this phenomena that resonate with both DID/MPD and the trans issue. People diagnosed with DID and / or with gender dysphoria may experience oppression and may suffer from emotional distress but some also receive all manner of gains resulting from their diagnosis.

The gains obtained by these patients include but are not restricted to: state benefits, help with housing, regular psychotherapy / support groups with others who share their diagnosis, the permission to keep pets as therapy animals and access to expensive medical treatments denied to others whose illnesses / diagnoses are less exciting and fashionable. Many people who identify as trans or as having DID gain significant attention, support and a degree of fame via social media. There is an industry of people generating financial revenue and receiving gifts from YouTube subscribers and there are many videos of people claiming to have DID unwrapping gifts sent from subscribers and well-wishers. Some of these social media accounts generate significant revenue for their owners.

some videos of interest

The Zar cult in Sudan
The anthropologist in this video describes how the Zar cult and rituals provided a supportive environment in which disempowered, marginalised people (mostly women) who suffer from psychosomatic illnesses can gain relief from their symptoms

Zar cult in Iran (males and females involved in these Zar video clips). The issue of mysterious / unexplained illnesses that doctors cannot cure is raised early in the video. At 16.28 a male sufferer of apparent psychosomatic illness and the kind of dissociative states / dissociative amnesia typically described in DID/MPD describes his illness and his involvement with the Zar. In the final footage this young male is shown shaking and trembling uncontrollably during the Zar ritual. This shaking resembles “hysterical tremors”
WARNING:
the video starts with approx 45 seconds of loud, piercing noise so you may want to turn the volume down , also there is footage of animal sacrifice (chicken) between 13.50 - 14.00

Here is a video of a professional Iraqi dancer incorporating traditional Zar moments into a performance.

I included the above video as it demonstrates very clearly dance moves found in African and Middle Eastern Zar dances.

It is interesting to compare some of these moves with archival footage of hysteria patents.

In this video of a hysteria ward in 1935 the video begins and ends with what doctors used to all the hysterical arc or hysterical bow, an obviously ecstatic / sexual position with the head thrown back and the spine deeply arched.

It is interesting to compare the dance moves with this heartbreaking video of shell-shocked soldiers from WW1. The video contains an interesting example of hysteria transmitted via imitation / social contagion at 6.00 however the whole video is interesting as it demonstrates unusual, dance like gaits considered at the time to be indicative of hysteria

To conclude re Zar cults, one does not need to be particularly intelligent or sensitive to appreciate how women in a deeply patriarchal society would be drawn to a cult in which they get to party, sing, dance, get high and receive desirable gifts from time to time. All the women (and more rarely men) have to do is manifest the illnesses and the djinn and the ecstatic dancing and gifts will soon follow.

I have started to wonder whether the various quack therapists, peer support groups and social media networks focussing on transgender issues and SRA/DID/MPD operate as a kind of Zar cult providing relief to modern hysterics.