Looks like half of the world's (human) population is infected by mind controlling parasites. I hope this answers some of those mysteries about your neighbors' behaviors.
Half of the world's human population is infected with Toxoplasma, parasites in the body—and the brain. Remember that.
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Oxford scientists discovered that the minds of the infected rats have been subtly altered. In a series of experiments, they demonstrated that healthy rats will prudently avoid areas that have been doused with cat urine. In fact, when scientists test anti-anxiety drugs on rats, they use a whiff of cat urine to induce neurochemical panic.
However, it turns out that Toxoplasma-ridden rats show no such reaction. In fact, some of the infected rats actually seek out the cat urine-marked areas again and again. The parasite alters the mind (and thus the behavior) of the rat for its own benefit.
Oh my god, mind controllingOh my god, mind controlling parasites. run. RUN! For the love of god, run for your lives!!
I don't know about the reportage here, Toxoplasma is a big problem for kids-yet-to-be-born (read: fetuses, or as I like to say, feti), hence the warning to stay away from cat litter and gardening when pregnant, but Im not sure the theory here matches well with evolution by natural selection.
But all the same, did you hear--MIND CONTROLLING PARASITES!!-great gophers! RUN.
Stupid stuffI don't need the parasites in my head to prompt me to go towards danger, I can do stupid stuff without prompting.