Scary, viral Cat in the Hat trend on TikTok spreads to Texas
In these times of war, economic struggle and uncertainty, social media has given rise to something new to potentially fear — "The Cat in the Hat" viral hoax threat.
The TikTok phenomenon — which has spread into Texas — features potentially menacing messages along with images of a live-action version of the beloved Dr. Seuss character from the 1957 children's book "The Cat in the Hat."
In the trend, a person dressed as "The Cat in the Hat" is shown lurking outside windows, visiting local landmarks and standing or walking around at night in videos that apparently first emerged in the United Kingdom and Ireland, according to a CNN report on Aug. 25. Some of the videos were AI generated and appear to be in jest, while others were described as "creepy."
The hoax resulted in the additional police presence at schools in the George West Independent School District as a precaution on Monday, Aug. 31, in the small Texas town of George West, located between San Antonio and Corpus Christi.
A "Cat in the Hat" video circulating on social media included a reference to "coming to George West next." The video was later determined to be a hoax and there was no threat to students, staff or schools, George West ISD Interim Superintendent Sara A. Alvarado stated in a public letter to families.
The Laredo Police Department on Aug. 31 posted a warning about the "The Cat in the Hat" trend, cautioning against posting threats, even if intended as a joke or prank.
"We want to remind our community, particularly students and parents, that threatening posts are not a joke. Any social media post, message, image, or other communication that contains a threat or causes fear or alarm within our schools or community will be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated," the Laredo Police Department stated.
The online phenomenon featuring the humanoid cat in a red-and-white striped top hat and red bow tie has caused unease at schools across the United States. It has generally been found to be a hoax.
The Tennessee Office of Homeland Security's Threat Assessment Center was tracking the "Cat in the Hat" trend for potentially targeting Tennessee schools and students.
A high school in Louisville, Kentucky, was closed as a precaution on Aug. 31 after a "Cat in the Hat" post (later found not to be credible) had "threatening language or identified real schools and students," the Louisville Courier Journal reported.
In Louisiana, the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office was monitoring online posts about the potential for a costumed "Cat in the Hat" to visit Terrebonne Schools on Sept. 1, but found no credible threat, Houma Today reported.
https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/c...570055007/
In these times of war, economic struggle and uncertainty, social media has given rise to something new to potentially fear — "The Cat in the Hat" viral hoax threat.
The TikTok phenomenon — which has spread into Texas — features potentially menacing messages along with images of a live-action version of the beloved Dr. Seuss character from the 1957 children's book "The Cat in the Hat."
In the trend, a person dressed as "The Cat in the Hat" is shown lurking outside windows, visiting local landmarks and standing or walking around at night in videos that apparently first emerged in the United Kingdom and Ireland, according to a CNN report on Aug. 25. Some of the videos were AI generated and appear to be in jest, while others were described as "creepy."
The hoax resulted in the additional police presence at schools in the George West Independent School District as a precaution on Monday, Aug. 31, in the small Texas town of George West, located between San Antonio and Corpus Christi.
A "Cat in the Hat" video circulating on social media included a reference to "coming to George West next." The video was later determined to be a hoax and there was no threat to students, staff or schools, George West ISD Interim Superintendent Sara A. Alvarado stated in a public letter to families.
The Laredo Police Department on Aug. 31 posted a warning about the "The Cat in the Hat" trend, cautioning against posting threats, even if intended as a joke or prank.
"We want to remind our community, particularly students and parents, that threatening posts are not a joke. Any social media post, message, image, or other communication that contains a threat or causes fear or alarm within our schools or community will be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated," the Laredo Police Department stated.
The online phenomenon featuring the humanoid cat in a red-and-white striped top hat and red bow tie has caused unease at schools across the United States. It has generally been found to be a hoax.
The Tennessee Office of Homeland Security's Threat Assessment Center was tracking the "Cat in the Hat" trend for potentially targeting Tennessee schools and students.
A high school in Louisville, Kentucky, was closed as a precaution on Aug. 31 after a "Cat in the Hat" post (later found not to be credible) had "threatening language or identified real schools and students," the Louisville Courier Journal reported.
In Louisiana, the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office was monitoring online posts about the potential for a costumed "Cat in the Hat" to visit Terrebonne Schools on Sept. 1, but found no credible threat, Houma Today reported.
https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/c...570055007/
teachings of the Bible are so muddled and self-contradictory that it was possible for Christians to happily burn heretics alive for five long centuries. It was even possible for the most venerated patriarchs of the Church, like St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, to conclude that heretics should be tortured (Augustine) or killed outright (Aquinas). Martin Luther and John Calvin advocated the wholesale murder of heretics, apostates, Jews, and witches. - Sam Harris, "Letter To A Christian Nation"
