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Notes -
I'm not sure if "Mass Formation Psychosis" explains it. I think a better fitting explanation is simply the shifting of the Overton window. Another pandemic-related example is the proposition that the virus escaped from a lab (note, not arguing about whether it was created in a lab or arose naturally, just that it escaped from a lab) being first branded as a nutjob conspiracy theory that only the crackiest of crackpots would believe in, before it eventually turned into something that you could reasonably discuss without fear of being censored. The vast majority of people are concerned about their reputations and will only discuss something once it becomes socially acceptable to do.
It's the control and manipulation of the Overton window that drives the narrative. Hence terms like Antivaxxer, which was updated to mean anyone who opposes any regulations or laws regarding vaccines. If you oppose three or more MRNA boosters for infants, congrats, you are an antivaxxer!
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