An interesting New York Times article released last Friday delves into the beliefs of a large community of people on the internet who call themselves “targeted individuals,” or T.I.s.  These individuals are organized around the conviction that they are victims of a conspiracy to harass Americans with mind-control weapons. Furthermore, they believe that they are being targeted by gang stalkers who are trying “to destroy every aspect of the targeted individual’s life.” According to mental health professionals, these are people experiencing psychotic symptoms — which in itself is far from being a remarkable phenomenon. The difference now is that they are able to band together on the internet on the basis of their shared paranoias. They raise money, hold awareness campaigns, host international conferences, and fight for their causes in courts and legislatures.

The New York Times article can be read here. Through videos and narratives the article provides an interesting look into the lives of some that are suffering from these paranoias as well as insight from professionals who have studied  the phenomenon.

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