[InsideOutSanta]

This happens all the time. See: drone sightings right now. Previously: Havana syndrome.

[oldgradstudent]

Havana syndrome can have a far less charitable explanation.

There is no objective test for Havana syndrome, but being diagnosed with it grants significant financial and non-financial benefits.

[gopher_space]

The veterinary world has a specific term for a condition they can’t diagnose, and I appreciate the intellectual honesty behind that.

[itronitron]

do you know the specific term, or does your intellectual honesty prevent you from saying that you do?

[gopher_space]

Ain't Doin Right.

[pdntspa]

"Idiopathic"?

[zitsarethecure]

Another good one is the "Mad Gasser Of Mattoon" incident.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_Gasser_of_Mattoon

[BLKNSLVR]

But the "Illinois Enema Bandit" was real: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_H._Kenyon

(coincidentally, the "Mad Gasser" was also in Illinois).

I only know about this because of Frank Zappa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=352dVmsn7y4

[whatevertrevor]

And also the Monkey Man of Delhi (though that urban legend wasn't confined to Delhi):

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey-man_of_Delhi

[idontwantthis]

Best example: A whole town thinking Bigfoot AND aliens were invading at the same time https://medium.com/@weirdones/the-pa-ufo-bigfoot-invasion-of...

[ghurtado]

Also: killer clowns every few years. That one is a cultural icon by now.