At first, I did stories on people who were maybe just eccentric. Omar was a natural progression from that.
Jon RonsonSuddenly, madness was everywhere, and I was determined to learn about the impact it had on the way society evolves. I've always believed society to be a fundamentally rational thing, but what if it isn't? What if it is built on insanity?
Jon RonsonI wondered if sometimes the difference between a psychopath in Broadmoor and a psychopath on Wall Street was the luck of being born into a stable, rich family.
Jon RonsonWe want to see ourselves as curious and open-minded and smart and understanding things in terms of context and nuance, but when someone tries to do that in the midst of a shaming they're turned on.
Jon RonsonIt is slightly chilling to realize there are rational, functional people up there employed to spot, nurture, and exploit those down here among us who are irrational and can barely cope. If you want to know how stupid youโre perceived to be by the people up there, count the unsolicited junk mail you receive. If you get a lot, youโre perceived to be alluringly stupid.
Jon Ronson