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Authors of the new Springer book identify mass psychogenic illness as the likely cause of Havana Syndrome, a mysterious condition affecting American and Canadian diplomats stationed in Cuba between 2016 and 2019.
Dozens of embassy staff reported an array of complaints that have baffled the medical community, the most prominent being concussion-like symptoms without head trauma. U.S. Government physicians have promoted the theory that the diplomats and their families were the victims of a sonic attack. Studies of the embassy patients have been inconclusive. In their book Havana Syndrome: Mass Psychogenic Illness and the Real Story Behind the Embassy Mystery and Hysteria, the authors Robert W. Baloh and Robert E. Bartholomew observe that the outbreak is notably similar to the appearance of 'shell shock' and other combat syndromes. The two medical experts conclude that neurological complaints from an overstimulated nervous system have been misdiagnosed as concussions and brain damage when the real cause is stress.
[Source]: Springer Book
However, I think this mystery is far from solved. For example: Why were diplomats & embassy staff, predominantly from the US and Canada, affected?, Why not other American citizens? Why only between the years 2016 and 2019? Why not before or after? What do you guys think about this?
[Ed Note: Fixed date in last paragraph. Thanks c0lo!]
(Score: 5, Interesting) by bzipitidoo on Friday July 10 2020, @07:24PM (1 child)
No, this was working for the government during the George W. Bush administration, which was nearly as bad. I was a defense contractor. The military boys put on a real gung-ho, tough guy act. Pushed us hard to do the impossible. They wanted unbreakable computer security, for themselves only. They wanted everyone else's security to be breakable, preferably only by them, but breakable by a few others might be okay.
Simply could not get through to them that security doesn't play favorites like that. Either everyone can have unbreakable security, or no one can. But they kept weaving and hammering and pushing, bullying everyone to come up with some way somehow, that it could be done. And it was that way, during WWII, but only because the Axis was too arrogant in believing in the supposed unbreakability of their Enigma system.
Tell them it's impossible, and their reply was 1) you're a super genius, you could do it if you really wanted to, doc. Why don't you want to, huh, doc? Do you hate America? Are you a liberal? You voted Democrat, didn't you? Are you, maybe, even a traitor? Thinking of selling out to the Chinese? And 2) if you won't do it, we'll fire you and hire someone who will.
So there you go, an additional hook to keep you from leaving the job from Hell. Leave, and you might even be suspected of treason. That possibility was never mentioned. It didn't have to be.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by anubi on Saturday July 11 2020, @12:38AM
I feel for you. I get a strong idea what happened.
Engineers deal in controlling THINGS and maximizing bang for the buck.
MBA deal in controlling PEOPLE.
Some treat US just like we treat things. So what if I monkeyed up a screw? I simply replace it.
MBA are paid enough they don't have to rely on kindness and compassion to get things done for them, they control money flow to compel what they want. Not much different than my controlling forces of nature to achieve my goals.
Except the stuff I work with has no feelings, emotion, and can be created or destructed at will. That's the thing I liked so much about engineering... I could bend things as I wanted, and not be an ass for compelling others against their will. It's a "God thing" with me... To me it's flat wrong to impose myself on others. You know, that do unto others as you would have others do unto you. And that includes the ignominy of being compelled to make shoddy product.
I was for a while in the MIC industry, where we had an overabundance of MBA, and a dearth of seasoned engineers. We had lots of newbies that did not yet have enough experience and too much debt to stand up to a MBA.
Not all MBA are so destructive, but their privilege of rank puts them in position to destroy any innovation and creativity any subordinate may offer.
I am out of the game now, so I can tell it as I saw it without fear of being blacklisted by the men who are empowered to accept anything I may have to offer.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]