Lisztomania, Mass hysteria, collective behavior, contagion theory. A rose by any other name is still a rose. There's well documented spontaneous and irrational behavior that passes through the masses found in both humans and other animals. I don't think we can say for certain what causes it, but it exists, and there is plenty of evidence to suggest it. Why would a person want to pretend stuff like this doesn't occur? Cognitive dissonance, perhaps?

We could have taken any one of these subjects (including the one from the OP) and discussed it prior to the pandemic and you would not be nearly so quick to dismiss it. Can't say that with certainty, but I did it anyways.

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