Is There Something in the Water?

Is crazy contagious?

Asking for a friend …

I’m not talking about “real” mental illness because obviously that’s a serious diagnosis and

NOTHING to joke about.

Ever.

I’m talking about the distortion of reality for otherwise sound and mentally stable

individuals who all of a sudden have bat sh*t crazy views.

Did you know it’s going around? Kinda like the flu. Or worse yet, an incurable illness.

UGH…

I need to emphasize once more — this isn’t about true mental illness.

This is about a kind of “crazy” that has reached a whole new level in society.

Let’s call it actually what it is:

HATRED.

People are so angry. So, so angry. Like scary angry.

Think teenage hormonal daughter who hasn’t eaten — but worse.

At this point, I’m half-expecting the CDC to issue guidelines: “If someone near you starts

ranting about conspiracy theories involving leprechauns, a microwave, and their neighbor’s Wi-

Fi —maintain a healthy distance and offer snacks …

Snacks deescalate most situations.

Well, at least they do for me. But they have to be the right ones.

You know what I mean, right?

Honestly, it’s like we all slipped into an alternate dimension where logic took a sabbatical and

left chaos in charge.

One minute you’re discussing what secret ingredient makes banana bread softer, and the next,

someone’s declaring war over certain religions like it’s a NATO summit.

And the worst part?

You can’t even tell who’s been exposed until it’s too late. They look normal … they smile normally … and then — BAM — they casually drop a line like, “Birds aren’t real and btw, Israel needs to be taken off the map.”

So I ask again:

Is crazy contagious?

Because if it is, I need to know if I should be burning sage or just locking myself in a room with

Grey’s Anatomy reruns until the storm passes. And sadly, if this is literally our new reality, I

wouldn’t be surprised if “crazy hatred” shows up as a syndrome on WebMD:

Symptoms include: extreme outrage over so many things, nonstop shouting into the void of

social media, and an irresistible urge to cut off your cousin because he liked the wrong

Instagram post. And oh yeah, the biggie: religious intolerance and thinking bigotry is the new

cool kid on the block.

While we’re on the topic of this contagious brand of crazy, can we talk about how

antisemitism seems to be making a comeback like it’s a vintage fashion trend?

Except it’s not fashion.

Nope.

It’s hate.

Ugly, tired, recycled hate.

Suddenly, blaming Jewish people for the world’s problems is back on the menu in

some circles — as if we haven’t literally been down this dark road before. It’s not

“edgy,” it’s not “just a different perspective,” and it’s definitely not new. It’s

ancient, it’s ignorant, and it’s dangerous.

People are dressing up hate-fueled messages in memes, misinformation, and faux-woke

language — and too many are eating it up like it’s last night’s leftovers.

Spoiler alert: It’s not.

So no, antisemitism isn’t popular. It’s just louder right now. And if we don’t call it out — loudly,

clearly, and often — it only gets bolder.

Hatred isn’t a personality. It’s not a vibe. And it’s never the answer.

If you’re out there jumping on that bandwagon?

Unfollow me.

Block me.

Do what you need to do — but take your hate somewhere else.

Because over here, we still believe in decency, humanity, and calling BS exactly what it

is.

I mean honestly, is there a vaccine for this? A booster shot? A salt circle I can draw around my

house?

Because it’s starting to feel like we’re living in a group project run by people who think

TikTok is a primary information source and emotional maturity is optional.

People are out there ending friendships like they’re unsubscribing from an annoying email list.

People are cutting off lifelong friends like they’re expired coupons.

Families are imploding over group chats.

You can’t even say “I liked that movie” without someone accusing you of destroying democracy

and three endangered species.

So yes, I think crazy is contagious. And no, I don’t want what they’re having.

We live in a world where there are more sheep than shepherds, more followers than leaders,

more mirrors than windows.

We have Bluetooth connection but no inner compass.

Go figure…

I’m seriously tempted to hide under a weighted blanket and avoid eye contact with humanity

until further notice. And if anyone starts a support group for the Sane & Slightly Sarcastic,

count me in.

Honestly? I’m tired. But in all seriousness I will never hide.

I’m watching people I respected suddenly morph into keyboard warriors with the

emotional range of a dial tone. Like — where did you even get this angry? Was there a

half off sale?

I didn’t sign up for this emotionally unstable version of “Survivor: Society Edition.” I just want to

binge-watch baking shows and occasionally disagree with someone about whether the person

in the passenger seat gets to control the music.

But hiding has never been the answer, and it’s not now. So while crazy and hatred seem to be going around — I don’t know if they’re in the water, the air, or the algorithm — I am not

participating.

I’m just over here trying to protect my peace and my religion like it’s the last avocado at Trader

Joe’s.

I’m sidestepping drama like I’m on Dancing with the Stars, preserving my sanity and

family like they’re a limited-edition Journey vinyl, and politely declining the invitation to

your hate parade.

If anyone needs me, I’ll be practicing kindness, deep breathing, setting boundaries, and

resisting the urge to respond to that one Facebook comment.

That’s my latest Reveal.

Love,

Karin