United States of Paranoia: A growing tribe of troubled minds
I'm a psychiatrist. When I went to med school I thought I would go the radiology route, because that's where all the cool tech is, but one of the things that drew me in was the unexpected consistency in the themes of severe mental illness.  Paranoia is, on an academic level, a fascinating phenomenon. It also causes a lot of suffering.<p>Please remember that these kinds of communities have sprung up in the context of the ongoing stigma of mental illness, and the limitations of present medications for psychosis (most have unpleasant side-effects). Other contributors are a mistrust of authority, and the always-complicated balance between individual liberties and involuntary treatment.<p>Finally, a plea for some compassion. Many of these people live a deeply tormented life, and feel like they can't trust anyone. It's a hard existence for both them and their families. It might seem like a humorous phenomenon, but there's a lot of suffering here.