Originally posted by Yoda411
This post is possibly the best example I can show which supports the hypothesis that; ATS can contribute to mental health issues.
A boy named Jeff Weise contributed to the following threads under the user name "Weise":
"The White Owl" - Link
1.) It was an Owl, sitting in plain site in the brush near the road, I saw him/her clearly, and to boot it was White. A White Owl in the middle of the
day sitting next to the road.
I didn't think too much about it till about two months later, I asked my grandmother about it.
They were sitting in the casino playing their favourite game when my grandmothers friend (same one who had witnessed the Owl), fell the to the ground.
She had had a heart attack, long story short she didn't make it. Period.
I always heard seeing an Owl during daytime was an Omen of some sort, since Owls are a night bird, but doing some research on the net I didn't find
out what exactly they are an omen for, but rather, that they have always (for the most part) been associated with evil forces.
I would just like to state why specifically the "White Owl" thread has significance in proving ATS contributed negatively towards his mental health
issues.
This is a statement from the ABC article which this story directly relates to:
According to MacDonald, most delusions begin with general, unexplained feelings of discontent that are caused by a problem with the brain. It's only
when someone tries to search for an explanation for their feelings that a delusion forms.
In this scenario, Jeff Weise was searching for an explanation for his unexplained feelings of discontent. Upon searching for the explanation of seeing
the White Owl, he was informed that it meant his death. "Then over time, the delusions become crystallized -- meaning they take on particular
narratives, story lines and people's motives begin to be fleshed out," said MacDonald. The delusion that this White Owl was representative of death
eventually took on the narrative of his grandfather and grandmother - whom originally told him this was representative of death. The individual who
posted first in this forum jokingly referred to suicide. He did indeed commit suicide after murdering his grandparents, an unarmed security guard, a
teacher, and 5 students.
Was this proof of a delusional mindset supported by ATS? I think this is proof of disregard for the sincerity of an individual seeking real answers to
explain his real mental illness. He was told, "Well you did try to commit suicide as I read it. Sounds like you're pretty much screwed
".
It reminds me way too much of the individual who killed himself streaming it over his live web cam. He was fueled by those who watched on in suspense,
egging him on to do it. I believe this is a similar scenario. Not that anyone is to blame, but this individual came here seeking answers for his
delusions. Instead, he was blatantly mocked for his past suicide attempt.
There is without a doubt a connection between deranged individuals such as Jeff Weise and ATS as the delusional come here to seek an explanation for
their unexplainable mental illness.
Another thread in which he started where he attempted to seek explanation for his feelings is
National Socialism and the Muslim-SS.
In this secondary example, he attempts to seek answers as to why the Nazi SS is recognized and spoken openly against vs. why the Muslim SS is not
scrutinized in this way. In my opinion this was Weise seeking an answer to why he is in support for the Nazi SS, through the responses of those who
are against it.
This obviously isn't an everyday occurrence here on ATS, but it does provide a credible example of a deranged individual seeking out guidance from
conspiracy theory forums. In seeking explanations for his emotions, caused by his mental illness, he was mocked for his suicide attempt on our own ATS
and further pushed into the delusional state by his grandmother's interpretation of the "White Owl". This delusional state lead him to eventually
murder his grandmother, grandfather, 5 students, an unarmed officer, and ultimately himself.
Is ATS to blame? No. It merely provides the connection between the delusional and conspiracy theory websites. I doubt this is the only example of a
deranged [mentally ill] individual seeking guidance for his unknown feelings, emotions, and paranoia from conspiracy theory websites. I also doubt
this is the only example of the proposed deranged individual being further deranged by myths, legends, folklore, and conspiracy.
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