In my fourth year of my PhD on schizophrenia and I'm currently writing up my thesis. I'm procrastinating right now so thought I'd do something useful with what I've been studying.

And no, schizophrenia is not multiple personality disorder.

Edit: I have to get dinner and run some errands. I'm really enjoying this so I will definitely get back and answer the rest of the questions.

  • StLangoustine [any]
    ·
    4 years ago

    Are all people on r/gangstalking schizophreniacs? Do you think there is a way to help them online?

    • Sidereal223 [he/him]
      ·
      4 years ago

      I have never heard of r/gangstalking before, but I just checked it out. My gut feeling says some of them probably are but I really have no idea lol.

      Second Q: I think that would be incredibly difficult, especially because most of them seem to be affirming each other's delusions.

      • StLangoustine [any]
        ·
        4 years ago

        Their delusions seem to follow the whole Influence Machine thing to the letter. Or is that one out of date?

        • Sidereal223 [he/him]
          ·
          4 years ago

          I've never heard of the Influence Machine before so I wouldn't know. Any further sources you have would be greatly appreciated haha.

          • StLangoustine [any]
            ·
            4 years ago

            I read the wikipedia page about it a long time ago and found it fascinating. There is a link to the original 1919 article on the wikipedia page.

            • Sidereal223 [he/him]
              ·
              4 years ago

              Oh right, actually I have heard of this Influencing Machine (one of the most well-known ones being the Air Loom). The funny thing about the Influencing Machine is that if you progress through different times and even cultures, there's almost an archetype of delusions. There are several different types of Influencing Machines, the most famous being the Air Loom. Television has been used before, I'm not sure what the current version of it is.

              • StLangoustine [any]
                ·
                4 years ago

                Yeah, if you browse through the gangstalking sub you'll find a whole bunch of modern ones. Like this guy is convinced he's being attacked by some sort of energy weapon.

    • warped_fungus [she/her]
      ·
      4 years ago

      well there went 2 hours of my morning. makes me wonder what things I might be believing just because people around me affirm it.

        • warped_fungus [she/her]
          ·
          4 years ago

          thats a whole lotta bots for little ol' me

          my human observers watching me play picross for 3 hours a day: make the numbers spell HELL BOOBS

      • StLangoustine [any]
        ·
        4 years ago

        Discussing those guys was a staple on r/cth for quite some time.

    • acealeam [he/him]
      ·
      4 years ago

      damn i havent heard of that sub before. what a sad place that is /: