[martin-adams]

The thing that I remind myself is that you can receive a phone call and get bad news. This will put your body into shock, a physical response such as low blood pressure or high heart rate. Not everything needs a physical impact to have a physical response.

[jacquesm]

How hard would it be to figure out if 'the phone call' could exist? The call that, upon hearing of it you drop dead or become insane. Sort of a real-world SnowCrash. After all, it's not too much of a stretch to imagine that someone already weakened would get a heart attack as a result of the effect you describe.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081203/

'Murder by telephone', only then without a device, just a text.

[boomlinde]

This documentary proves the concept beyond reasonable doubt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwbnvkMRPKM

[jacquesm]

Hah, of course :) I won't spoil it so whoever clicks the link will surely die, especially if they understand German.