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Cody Dawg · May 13, 2006, 03:53 PM

Link to article

Pictures

I'm not sure what I think of this. It's truly bizarre.

Dork. · May 13, 2006, 04:14 PM

Sounds like an X-Files episode....

Doofy · May 13, 2006, 04:17 PM

Spliff · May 13, 2006, 04:21 PM

It's a mental condition. There are no "wires" coming out of their skin . . . they only believe that there are. The internet just feeds a hypochondriac's paranoia and obsessiveness.

From a Popular Mechanics article on this so-called "disease":

Widespread reports of the strange fibers date back only three years, to the time they were first described online, at www.morgellons.org.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/scie...e/1662162.html

itistoday · May 13, 2006, 04:27 PM

OK. I was considering making this thread myself, but decided against it due to the 'controversy'.

My question is spelled out thus:

Why do so many people doubt the existence of Morgellons Disease? Is there any logical reason to do so? Why is everybody so up in arms shouting "PSYCHOSOMATIC!!!!"?

Spliff · May 13, 2006, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by itistoday

OK. I was considering making this thread myself, but decided against it due to the 'controversy'.

My question is spelled out thus:

Why do so many people doubt the existence of Morgellons Disease? Is there any logical reason to do so? Why is everybody so up in arms shouting "PSYCHOSOMATIC!!!!"?

Because there were no reports of the "wires" or "fibers" emerging from the sufferer's bodies until 3 years ago . . . the same time the Morgellon's website went online. In other words, these delusional hypochondriacs read about symptoms of the disease online and they started claiming/imagining/believing that they had the same disease. The emerging fibers or wires symptom is a fake or imagined symptom.

The real disease here is a mental one or one that causes hallucinations or paranoia.

Cody Dawg · May 13, 2006, 04:36 PM

Did you see the www.morgellons.com website?

There definitely ARE fibers coming out of those pieces of flesh.

Any of you feel itchy right now?

awaspaas · May 13, 2006, 04:39 PM

Occam's razor: 1) its symptoms match those of a known psychological disorder (bugs under skin or barbs coming from skin), 2) patients treated with an antipsychotic medication usually recover, 3) a lab has yet to culture any interesting bacteria, virus, or fungus from the patients, 4) doctors have not witnessed these fibers coming from the skin, only clothing fibers sitting ON the skin.

If that's all doctors have to go by, then for now, yes it is psychological. If any of the above change, the prevailing opinions will change. That's how science works.

Cody Dawg · May 13, 2006, 04:41 PM

These DOCTORS say it is real.

Now I feel itchy all over...

itistoday · May 13, 2006, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by Spliff

Because there were no reports of the "wires" or "fibers" emerging from the sufferer's bodies until 3 years ago . . .

So... now there is evidence to support it.

The real disease here is a mental one or one that causes hallucinations or paranoia.

Now who's jumping to conclusions? From wikipedia on Schizophrenia:

The lifetime prevalence of schizophrenia is commonly given at 1%; however, a recent review of studies from around the world estimated it to be 0.55%

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia

I think it's ridiculous that people jump up and claim that these people are delusional, imagining it, and that the visible scars are self-induced. Such behavior is simply very rare. From what I've read, there are several hundred reports of this going around, with very similar symptoms, AND it is largely restricted to certain regions, primarily those of California, Florida, and southern Texas (as stated in the linked article). Let's also not forget that there are doctors that attest to this disease's validity (though for some reason most think it's fake).

Chuckit · May 13, 2006, 04:43 PM

And to top it off, even the people who made the site closely associate it with mental illness.

Spliff · May 13, 2006, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Did you see the www.morgellons.com website?

There definitely ARE fibers coming out of those pieces of flesh.

Have you ever seen the alien autoposy video? That was fake, too. Made by a special effects artist. Yet, lots of crazies over the years have believed it was real just because it was on video tape.

Photographic hoaxes are common and have been around for decades. Don't believe everything you read or see on the Internet.

Cody Dawg · May 13, 2006, 04:46 PM

I don't think it's fake.

Just like the man in your sig, Spliff, has Filiariasis or is that fake too?

Chuckit · May 13, 2006, 04:46 PM

If there is a widespread disease, why aren't we seeing widespread evidence of fibers actually growing out of people's skin rather than a half-dozen "Morgellons doctors"? That's suspicious as ****.

itistoday · May 13, 2006, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by Spliff

Have you ever seen the alien autoposy video? That was fake, too. Made by a special effects artist. Yet, lots of crazies over the years have believed it was real just because it was on video tape.

One thing that this is most definitely NOT is people trying to fool other people. Whatever they have, whether it be in their head or not, it is most definitely real. Real enough to cause Travis to kill himself because of his suffering. They most definitely have something.

The Travis mentioned in the article posted on this forum:

WARNING: THIS FORUM HAS SOME EXTREMELY F*CKED UP MEMBERS. MOST DEFINITELY NOT SAFE FOR WORK:
http://www.genmay.net/showthread.php?t=628005

Spliff · May 13, 2006, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

I don't think it's fake.

Just like the man in your sig, Spliff, has Filiariasis or is that fake too?

That is a squirrel, the Fark.com nutsack squirrel. It's photoshopped. A Fark cliché, an internet meme.

I'm not arguing that these people don't have anything wrong with them. There is clearly something wrong with them. They just don't have fibers coming out of there skin. It's bullshit. They only believe that they have fibers or wires coming out of there skin. When a cast is put over the area that is supposedly affected, all the symptoms disappear and the "lesions" heal. In other words, the sufferers can't scratch or cut their own skin (i.e., cause their supposed symptoms).

itistoday · May 13, 2006, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by Spliff

I'm not arguing that these people don't have anything wrong with them. There is clearly something wrong with them. They just don't have fibers coming out of there skin. It's bullshit. They only believe that they have fibers or wires coming out of there skin. When a cast is put over the area that is supposedly affected, all the symptoms disappear and the "lesions" heal. In other words, the sufferers can't scratch or cut their own skin (i.e., cause their supposed symptoms).

Is this really true? Where'd you read this?

Cody Dawg · May 13, 2006, 04:58 PM

Then how come in the PICTURES that are magnified under a microscope you can see the network of fibers deep within the skin - growing OUT of the skin? They're very involved and below the surface of the skin.

Spliff · May 13, 2006, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by itistoday

Is this really true? Where'd you read this?

From the Popular Mechanics news article I linked to above:

Another prominent dermatologist, who insisted on anonymity out of concern for his safety, says he has diagnosed 50 or so Morgellons patients with cutaneous dysaesthesia--a neurological disorder that can result in the sensation of scuttling insects. And the spiny things? "In every case I've seen it's a textile fiber, and it's on the surface of the skin," he says. He typically puts a cast over the lesions to prevent further irritation and after four weeks removes it. "Guess what?" he says. "The lesions are healed."

Spliff · May 13, 2006, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Then how come in the PICTURES that are magnified under a microscope you can see the network of fibers deep within the skin - growing OUT of the skin? They're very involved and below the surface of the skin.

It's a website. You have no easy way of proving who took the photos or where they came from. They could be electon microscope scans of dustmite hairs or something else entirely.

Cody Dawg · May 13, 2006, 05:01 PM

The picture speaks for itself.

That's not some fiber laying on top of skin. The fibers are DEEP.

Cody Dawg · May 13, 2006, 05:02 PM

Do you have this, Spliff? Why are you so adamant that it is not Morgellons?

itistoday · May 13, 2006, 05:02 PM

Cody, I'd remove that picture if I were you, otherwise Tooki might sh*t on your face if you don't. It's wayyyyyyyy too big. Oh, and those could be pictures or regular hairs btw.

Edit: Nice job on the resize.

Spliff · May 13, 2006, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

The picture speaks for itself.

That's not some fiber laying on top of skin. The fibers are DEEP.

Fiber of what? You have no way of proving that. Where did the photos come from? Who took them? From what patient? What was their medical history? Who was their doctor? What is his or her credentials? Is he or she a respected doctor or a quack? Are those even fibers? Maybe their hairs? Is that human skin? Or is it from an animal or an insect?

****, these are basic questions that anyone should ask.

Cody Dawg · May 13, 2006, 05:06 PM

I don't think that a few thousand of vicitims, doctors, and other people are going to make this up, Spliff.

IT IS ON 3-YEAR OLD CHILDREN.

Spliff · May 13, 2006, 05:06 PM

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Do you have this, Spliff? Why are you so adamant that it is not Morgellons?

I'm a skeptic. I try not to be suckered into believing everything I read or see in the internet.

Do you believe the UFO photos just because they look real and convincing? What about those photos of George W. Bush reading a book upside down? Sure looks real to me. And Bush is an idiot, so of course he would be reading a book upside down.

Spliff · May 13, 2006, 05:11 PM

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

I don't think that a few thousand of vicitims, doctors, and other people are going to make this up, Spliff.

IT IS ON 3-YEAR OLD CHILDREN.

Okay, now I think you're just baiting me for fun. Either that, or you're crazy and exceedingly gullible.

Cody Dawg · May 13, 2006, 05:13 PM

This is a bit different.

This is TANGIBLE.

This guy seems to have an idea about it...

This guy takes pictures of it.

These are weird sores.

Chuckit · May 13, 2006, 05:40 PM

Britney Spears is tiny. Make a Web site about it.

itistoday · May 13, 2006, 05:43 PM

Nice one Chuckit.

Chuckit · May 13, 2006, 05:53 PM

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

This is a bit different.

This is TANGIBLE.

This guy seems to have an idea about it...

A theory involving invisible nematodes genetically engineered by the government. (For those who didn't read the link: No, I'm not making this up.)

goMac · May 13, 2006, 05:53 PM

Dear Cody,

I am from Africa and worked for the ROYAL ACADEMY OF TRAINING 3 YEAR OLDS in Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, THE EVIL GENERAL ZERGFACE shut down the academy, leaving me with monies of US 3 BILLION DOLLARS.

Unfortunately, I can't move the US 3 BILLION DOLLARS out of the country myself. If you send me $4,000 however to bribe officials here, I can move the money. In return, I shall transfer the monies of US 1 BILLION DOLLARS to your bank account.

Please let me know what you say,
Thank you

(Lame, I know, but I gave it my best shot.)

subego · May 13, 2006, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by awaspaas

bugs under skin

Also known as "formication".

I just love that there's a word for it.

davesimondotcom · May 13, 2006, 06:04 PM

I have fibers growing out of my skin over about 90% of my body. Some are more coarse. Some are curly. Some are straight.

What's more, I have it on good authority that the color and texture of the fibers are genetic.

Oh, wait, those aren't fibers, they are hairs....

Thank jeebus, I'm cured!

Doofy · May 13, 2006, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by subego

Also known as "formication".

Unless those bugs are red hot, in which case it's "califormication".

subego · May 13, 2006, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by Doofy

Unless those bugs are red hot, in which case it's "califormication".

Well, yeah. I also love that it sounds like that other word.

Chuckit · May 13, 2006, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by goMac

Dear Cody,

I am from Africa and worked for the ROYAL ACADEMY OF TRAINING 3 YEAR OLDS in Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, THE EVIL GENERAL ZERGFACE shut down the academy, leaving me with monies of US 3 BILLION DOLLARS.

Unfortunately, I can't move the US 3 BILLION DOLLARS out of the country myself. If you send me $4,000 however to bribe officials here, I can move the money. In return, I shall transfer the monies of US 1 BILLION DOLLARS to your bank account.

Please let me know what you say,
Thank you

(Lame, I know, but I gave it my best shot.)

Strangely, the one constant I have always seen in the Nigerian scam — whether in English, French or anything else —�is that the money is always specified like "US $10,500,000.00 (TEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND US DOLLARS)".

Just felt like pointing that out, because it always struck me as weird.

ghporter · May 13, 2006, 06:49 PM

Considering the source of the first article (MySA.com), I would say that it's not something just about anyone has to worry about. MySA, and the TV station they're affiliated with, are about the WORST in tabloid journalism in South Texas, and that's saying something.

Further though, if you can take pictures of stuff coming out of a patient's skin, IT AIN'T PSYCHOSOMATIC. What is it is a good question.

awaspaas · May 13, 2006, 07:02 PM

We don't know what those pictures are of though. When I see that in a peer-reviewed journal, then we'll talk. The CDC and the path labs mentioned in the Pop. Mech. article have seen no such evidence of this being anything other than a psychological disorder.

MindFad · May 13, 2006, 07:13 PM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

A theory involving invisible nematodes genetically engineered by the government. (For those who didn't read the link: No, I'm not making this up.)

Oh, I was done after the first sentence.

Oh, and:

ghporter · May 13, 2006, 07:19 PM

Have you looked at the Morgellons web site? Take a look at the "Publications" tab on that site. You may be surprised. I have a lot more respect for medical information published in journals like American Journal of Clinical Dermatology and Advance For Nurse Practitioners than I do for information published in Popular Mechanics (which the Morgellons web site cites, by the way).

Mithras · May 13, 2006, 07:21 PM

hint to spliff: have you ever tried nailing a jellyfish to the wall? if so, how did it work out?

greenamp · May 13, 2006, 07:36 PM

Spliff · 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by ghporter

Have you looked at the Morgellons web site? Take a look at the "Publications" tab on that site. You may be surprised. I have a lot more respect for medical information published in journals like American Journal of Clinical Dermatology and Advance For Nurse Practitioners than I do for information published in Popular Mechanics (which the Morgellons web site cites, by the way).

Wow, impressive. They have two entire articles that seem to be from legitimate sources. I'm convinced. I was so wrong before. It must be true.

BTW, if you looked, you'll see that both articles were written by the same people and contain much of the same information. They also reference the Morgellon's website. And finally, the authors are actually board members of the Morgellon's website. That's some impartial medical research.

analogika · 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by ghporter

Further though, if you can take pictures of stuff coming out of a patient's skin, IT AIN'T PSYCHOSOMATIC. What is it is a good question.

I see absolutely no images of patients with that condition on the website.

Why?

Every other skin disease on the planet is documented with photographs of the affected skin area - especially on a dedicated website.

Edit:
A google image search reveals a total of THREE images of patients.

Here they are:

From www.bibleprobe.com

From www.freenewmexican.com/news/36346.html

The article (from Dec. 14, 2005) details how a certain Dr. George Schwartz has been focussing on Morgellon's Disease after hearing about it on a talkshow.

and

From www.freenewmexican.com/news/36345.html

That article in turn (also from Dec. 14, 2005) details how a certain Dr. George Schwartz, who's been focussing on Morgellon's Disease, is about to "lose his license to practice medicine for failure to maintain adequate records for at least 55 patients and not being able to account for more than 1,000 doses of controlled substances," mostly opiate painkillers he's prescribing to patients he's allegedly trying to ween off narcotics.

That there is Dr. Schwartz, btw.

I have no further questions.