"Witch Hunt"

In the past couple of days, a term that has been frequently heard on Twitter is "witch hunt." I have been pondering why project parties use "witch hunt" to describe the plan to identify those non-authentic users. My curiosity led me to research the history of witch hunts.

Witch Hunts

Witch hunts began in the 12th century and reached their peak in the 16th century. Notably, in 1487, two individuals wrote a famous witch-hunting manual titled "Malleus Maleficarum" (The Witch's Hammer), which claimed that "witchcraft arises from the carnal desires of the flesh, which can never be satisfied in women. The devil knows that women love bodily pleasures, and thus he seduces them into allegiance through sexual temptation." Consequently, many women were accused of having sexual relations with the devil during trials at that time.

Moreover, it was rumored that the corpses of witches would turn into vampires, so executions were often carried out by burning. Even today, witch hunts still occur, often among the ignorant or uneducated. Even in 1692 America, the infamous Salem witch trials took place. When the actions began, a large number of orphans were accused of witchcraft, and neglectful mothers were also accused by their daughters, followed later by well-dressed women of high society.

Without the need for any evidence, anyone could be pointed out as a witch. Their homes could be burned under the pretext of being unclean, their pets could be killed as agents of the devil, and their property could be confiscated at will.

The Salem Witch Trials

In February 1692, the daughter of a minister and his niece in Salem Town fell ill with a strange disease. The two began to exhibit a state of stupor, sometimes screaming and throwing things; at times, they would convulse and moan in pain. Subsequently, other girls began to show the same symptoms, and panic engulfed the entire town.

The minister prayed for the afflicted, but there was no improvement. He then believed that someone in the crowd was using witchcraft to afflict these poor children, leading to accusations against others. Eventually, the number of accused individuals reached over 200. Initially, those accused were slaves or members of the lower class, but later, people from all walks of life, regardless of wealth, farmers, and merchants, were also accused, with no one escaping the label of witch.

By January 1693, the last trial for witchcraft concluded, but by that time, 19 people had been executed by hanging, one was crushed to death by stones, and five died in prison due to the trials.

In Conclusion

It is hard to imagine that in today's society, there are still many people who hold the concept of "witch hunts" in high regard. When there is an opportunity for trial through popular courts, witches are bound to be burned. We need to imprison witches behind iron bars to prevent them from practicing witchcraft. It is also necessary to disinfect the residences of witches to ensure that evil spells vanish without a trace.

I initially intended to write more, but then I thought about it; I am just someone who has recently escaped from a place filled with witches.