Homokaasu
Encyclopedia
Homokaasu is a fictitious poisonous chemical substance
, that is supposedly an odorless and invisible gas
at room temperature
. It originates in a story and a conspiracy theory
apparently created by a single Finnish man, and is often the subject of running gags on Finnish Usenet
newsgroups.
s of the Roman Catholic Church
to gain a subliminal control
of the victims. The substance is usually leaked into rooms and areas in which the victim spends time – the home, workplace and psychiatric ward
s, for example. It also may be mixed in foodstuffs
and beverages
to the same effect.
The concept of homokaasu was introduced to the public in a series of crank pamphlets distributed in Helsinki
, Copenhagen
and Los Angeles
in the 1980s. The reports themselves claim to have been written and distributed by an alleged victim of the supposed operation. The reports contemplate the motives, mentioning that the Roman Catholic Church
might be attempting to convert the victims to homosexuality.
and hearing
, diarrhoea and aches in various parts of the body. These symptoms supposedly disappear soon after the exposure has been discontinued.
In addition to the symptoms above, the victim is supposedly harassed in various ways. They experience for example constant re-occurrence of accident
s and near-misses, and abnormal
sexually charged encounters of various degrees.
The name (gay-gas) originates from the suppression of social interaction and the abnormal sexual encounters arranged in the operation.
.
The story itself was created by an obviously paranoid person spreading tracts about homokaasu. Nevertheless, it is widely perceived as both hilarious and bizarrely original, and it has persisted in Finnish Internet folklore. (Mikrobitti (11/2005): Oddball conspiracy theories include also a long-term favourite of the Finnish internet culture, the gay gas report that is circulating in the net for the 2nd decade. The absolutely reliable document reveals the hideous attempts of Vatican to convert the people of Finland to homosexuality by leaking gas into the air in houses and into the bubbles in soda.)
Coincidentally, a "gay bomb
," conceptually reminiscent of homokaasu, was investigated by the US military.
An episode of the American television show "30 Rock" incorporates the "gay bomb" as part of the plot.
Chemical substance
In chemistry, a chemical substance is a form of matter that has constant chemical composition and characteristic properties. It cannot be separated into components by physical separation methods, i.e. without breaking chemical bonds. They can be solids, liquids or gases.Chemical substances are...
, that is supposedly an odorless and invisible gas
Gas
Gas is one of the three classical states of matter . Near absolute zero, a substance exists as a solid. As heat is added to this substance it melts into a liquid at its melting point , boils into a gas at its boiling point, and if heated high enough would enter a plasma state in which the electrons...
at room temperature
Room temperature
-Comfort levels:The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers has listings for suggested temperatures and air flow rates in different types of buildings and different environmental circumstances. For example, a single office in a building has an occupancy ratio per...
. It originates in a story and a conspiracy theory
Conspiracy theory
A conspiracy theory explains an event as being the result of an alleged plot by a covert group or organization or, more broadly, the idea that important political, social or economic events are the products of secret plots that are largely unknown to the general public.-Usage:The term "conspiracy...
apparently created by a single Finnish man, and is often the subject of running gags on Finnish Usenet
Usenet
Usenet is a worldwide distributed Internet discussion system. It developed from the general purpose UUCP architecture of the same name.Duke University graduate students Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis conceived the idea in 1979 and it was established in 1980...
newsgroups.
Conspiracy theory
Homokaasu is supposedly used on specific people by secret agentSecret Agent
Secret Agent is a British film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, loosely based on two stories in Ashenden: Or the British Agent by W. Somerset Maugham. The film starred John Gielgud, Peter Lorre, Madeleine Carroll, and Robert Young...
s of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
to gain a subliminal control
Mind control
Mind control refers to a process in which a group or individual "systematically uses unethically manipulative methods to persuade others to conform to the wishes of the manipulator, often to the detriment of the person being manipulated"...
of the victims. The substance is usually leaked into rooms and areas in which the victim spends time – the home, workplace and psychiatric ward
Psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental hospitals, are hospitals specializing in the treatment of serious mental disorders. Psychiatric hospitals vary widely in their size and grading. Some hospitals may specialise only in short-term or outpatient therapy for low-risk patients...
s, for example. It also may be mixed in foodstuffs
Foodstuffs
Foodstuffs is a group of three New Zealand grocery and liquor retailers' cooperatives based in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch which collectively control an estimated 57% of the New Zealand grocery market...
and beverages
Drink
A drink, or beverage, is a liquid which is specifically prepared for human consumption. In addition to fulfilling a basic human need, beverages form part of the culture of human society.-Water:...
to the same effect.
The concept of homokaasu was introduced to the public in a series of crank pamphlets distributed in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
and Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
in the 1980s. The reports themselves claim to have been written and distributed by an alleged victim of the supposed operation. The reports contemplate the motives, mentioning that the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
might be attempting to convert the victims to homosexuality.
Effects
Regular exposure to homokaasu supposedly makes social interaction difficult for the victim. Regular exposure also has various health-related effects on the victim, such as deterioration of eyesightVisual perception
Visual perception is the ability to interpret information and surroundings from the effects of visible light reaching the eye. The resulting perception is also known as eyesight, sight, or vision...
and hearing
Hearing (sense)
Hearing is the ability to perceive sound by detecting vibrations through an organ such as the ear. It is one of the traditional five senses...
, diarrhoea and aches in various parts of the body. These symptoms supposedly disappear soon after the exposure has been discontinued.
In addition to the symptoms above, the victim is supposedly harassed in various ways. They experience for example constant re-occurrence of accident
Accident
An accident or mishap is an unforeseen and unplanned event or circumstance, often with lack of intention or necessity. It implies a generally negative outcome which may have been avoided or prevented had circumstances leading up to the accident been recognized, and acted upon, prior to its...
s and near-misses, and abnormal
Taboo
A taboo is a strong social prohibition relating to any area of human activity or social custom that is sacred and or forbidden based on moral judgment, religious beliefs and or scientific consensus. Breaking the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society...
sexually charged encounters of various degrees.
The name (gay-gas) originates from the suppression of social interaction and the abnormal sexual encounters arranged in the operation.
Cultural impact
Homokaasu is a widespread in-joke among Finnish net-users, and is the origin of the name of the Finland-based web community called "The Sect of Homokaasu." Moreover, there are recurring references to it on the web pages of known Finnish Internet personalities, notably Niilo PaasivirtaNiilo Paasivirta
Niilo Paasivirta is a Finnish Internet personality, who has become known for the Internet writings that parody fundamentalist Christian views. In Finland, he's best known for the essays called "Oikeat Mielipiteet" , and elsewhere for the "Love Thy Neighbor" and Game of Satan pages, that parody...
.
The story itself was created by an obviously paranoid person spreading tracts about homokaasu. Nevertheless, it is widely perceived as both hilarious and bizarrely original, and it has persisted in Finnish Internet folklore. (Mikrobitti (11/2005): Oddball conspiracy theories include also a long-term favourite of the Finnish internet culture, the gay gas report that is circulating in the net for the 2nd decade. The absolutely reliable document reveals the hideous attempts of Vatican to convert the people of Finland to homosexuality by leaking gas into the air in houses and into the bubbles in soda.)
Coincidentally, a "gay bomb
Gay bomb
The "halitosis bomb" and "gay bomb" are informal names for two theoretical non-lethal chemical weapons, which a United States Air Force research laboratory speculated about producing, which involved discharging female sex pheromones over enemy forces in order to make them sexually attracted to each...
," conceptually reminiscent of homokaasu, was investigated by the US military.
An episode of the American television show "30 Rock" incorporates the "gay bomb" as part of the plot.
See also
- James Tilly MatthewsJames Tilly MatthewsJames Tilly Matthews was a London tea broker, originally from Wales, who was committed to the Bethlem psychiatric hospital in 1797, and is considered to be the first fully documented case of paranoid schizophrenia....
- Mind controlMind controlMind control refers to a process in which a group or individual "systematically uses unethically manipulative methods to persuade others to conform to the wishes of the manipulator, often to the detriment of the person being manipulated"...
- Tin-foil hatTin-foil hatA tin foil hat is a piece of headgear made from one or more sheets of aluminum foil or similar material. Alternatively it may be a conventional hat lined with foil...
- SisuSisuSisu is a Finnish term loosely translated into English as strength of will, determination, perseverance, and acting rationally in the face of adversity. However, the word is widely considered to lack a proper translation into any language. Sisu has been described as being integral to understanding...
- Chemtrail theoryChemtrail theoryThe chemtrail conspiracy theory holds that some trails left by aircraft are actually chemical or biological agents deliberately sprayed at high altitudes for purposes undisclosed to the general public in clandestine programsdirected by government officials...
External links
- The Sect of Homokaasu is a popular Finnish website and online community built around the purported purpose of spreading the word about the threat of homokaasu. Some of the website content is homokaasu-related, in order to justify the distinctive look and feel of the website.
- Inquisition is active again, did they murder Olof Palme? (English language translation of the original gay gas report)
- Inkvisitio on toiminnassa jälleen, tappoiko se Olof Palmen? (The original gay gas report, in Finnish)
- Homokaasu-related comic strip from Sosiaalisesti rajoittuneetSosiaalisesti rajoittuneetSosiaalisesti rajoittuneet is a Finnish webcomic written by Ossi Mäntylahti and Pekka Piira and drawn by Jukka Piira.The comic is about a fictional software company and IT industry in general...
.