Are the Swooners Possessed?

[The post which inspired the Cult of Skinner]

February 21, 1996

I've been learning about female spirit possession cults in my anthropology of religion class, and as I reflected upon the events of this weekend while trying to stay awake in class (not having had a chance to crash since returning home), I noticed a number of correlations between the actions of the Skinner Swooners and the typical rituals associated with spirit possession in the religions around the world.

You may think I'm crazy, and I can't deny I was sleep deprived when I came up with this, but just look at the list:

  1. A group of women with a common interest separate from their normal (household) duties and congregate.

  2. They spend hours performing an agreed-upon ritual, something with which they are all familiar and have come to expect. (The All-Skinner Channel.)

  3. They are prone to moaning, shrieking, sighing, and making other inarticulate sounds to express themselves.

  4. Self-flagellation. ("You can violate my civil rights!")

  5. Mutual comfort. (Hugging, backrubs, the "huddle of pain.")

  6. Focus on the "other," something external to the self that provokes one's unusual actions (Skinner).

    Special clothing and ornaments ("I Swoon for Skinner" badges).

So, what are your opinions on this? (And remember, I'm not talking about anything demonic here, just normal religious practices in other cultures.) I just thought it interesting that what we would call being "fannish," other people might consider being possessed.

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