The 1954 Seattle Windshield Pitting Epidemic: A Case of Mass Delusion
2024-12-18
In April 1954, Seattle and surrounding areas were gripped by a mysterious phenomenon: countless tiny pits appeared on car windshields. Panic ensued, with theories ranging from cosmic rays to nuclear fallout and even sand flea eggs. Official investigations were chaotic, experts disagreed, and mass hysteria gripped the public. The truth, however, was far less dramatic: the pits were already there, unnoticed until widespread attention and media fueled a collective delusion. The event became a textbook example of mass delusion, highlighting the dangers of misinformation and the power of groupthink.