Pin Prick Attacks: The '90s Urban Legend

The 1980s saw the HIV/AIDS epidemic.The HIV/AIDS epidemic gripped the country. Doctors did not know the disease or how it spread. After discovering it was a blood disease, mostly spread through gay sex, a huge social stigma attached itself to the disease.People called it "dirty," and there were several myths about how it spread. Because of this, rumors about bad people spreading the disease began to spread.

The AIDS epidemic of the '90s created a scary atmosphere. People started studying the disease, but there was almost no information on transmission. Also, conflicting stories left the public confused and scared.One scary myth circulated: "AIDS Mary." In this story, an unsuspecting guy hooks up with someone at a bar or party. In the morning, when he uses the bathroom, he sees something.The guy sees "WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF AIDS" scrawled on his mirror, often with red or pink lipstick.

In the female version, AIDS Harry takes a naive young woman and infects her the same way. A small item or envelope gives her instructions not to open it until she gets home. Instead of lipstick on a mirror, the young woman gets a miniature coffin or a coffee mug.

The mug or coffin has the message “WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF AIDS” on it.Another common, nearly true urban legend warned people to watch out at gas pumps. This warning pointed out how "evil" AIDS-spreaders hid HIV-infected needles under gas pump handles to stick unsuspecting customers.This myth became real in 2017 when Jose Medina got stabbed in the finger by a hypodermic needle while getting gas in San Bernardino, California. As of October 2017, Medina had not tested positive for HIV.

AIDS Harry takes a young woman, who is naive, and leaves her with the same condition. He gives her a small token or envelope. Instructions tell her not to open it until she reaches home. Instead of lipstick on a mirror, the young woman gets aEvery time this rumor grows, the media sends photos of needles in movie theater seats, spreading fear to people.Payphones were popular in the '90s for communication, carrying a frightening myth. Nearly everyone had a beeper, and people needed a payphone to return calls. People often checked the payphone coin slot for change, just in case the caller before them forgot it.

Drug users allegedly placed their HIV and hepatitis-infected needles in coin slots.

In 2017, Jose Medina got stabbed in the finger by a hypodermic needle while getting gas in San Bernardino, California. As of October 2017, Medina did not test positive for HIV.

Some myths claim an unaware movie-goer gets poked the second they sit down. The person looks down to see what pricked them. They find a note in the dark that says,“Welcome to the real world, you’re HIV Positive”

Every time this rumor grows popular, the media sends photos of needles in movie theater seats. This spreads fear to the public.

Payphones are mostly gone now, but they were a popular way to talk in the '90s. A scary myth involved them. Almost everyone had a beeper, and you needed a payphone to return calls. People often checked the payphone coin slot for spare change, just in case the caller before them forgot it.

Drug users allegedly placed their HIV andHepatitis infected needlesNeedles found in coin slots prick innocent payphone users. Popular culture kept this myth going, though it was never proven.

Rumors about needles at nightclubs caused sales to drop. A dark, crowded, sweaty dance floor offered a perfect spot for people to sneakily prick unsuspecting victims and vanish into the crowd, as the legend claimed. Media stories featured club-goers who felt a sharp prick in their arm while moving through the crowd or dancing with friends.

Several days or months later,HIV symptoms developed.Though this legend lacked proof, nightclubs in big cities reported sales dropped sharply every time the story spread.

In 2000, prison officer Geoffrey Pearce was stabbed by an HIV-infected prisoner named Graham Farlow with a syringe full of Farrow’s infected blood.Pearce was opening a security gate at Sydney’s Long Bay Jail during the attack. The mixture contained HIV.Pearce opened a security gate at Sydney’s Long Bay Jail during the attack. The mixture contained HIV.

Richard J. Schmidt, a physician in Louisiana, infected his lover Janice Trahan by pretending to give her a Vitamin B-12 Shot.

Richard J. Schmidt, a physician in Louisiana, infected his lover Janice Trahan by pretending to give her a Vitamin B-12 Shot.Vitamin B-12 ShotThe forensic team proved the HIV DNA infecting Trahan came from one of Schmidt's patients. An HIV Family Tree linked the two samples’ DNA.A common and similar urban legend ran rampant in the 1920s and '30s. This is likely a myth, but it still scared mothers and daughters. Young women heard warnings to be careful in public areas because villains planned to prick them with hypodermic needles holding sedatives, intending to sell them into sex slavery.This predated the HIV/AIDS epidemic by many decades. It shows how urban legends change over time, always targeting our worst fears.

Forensic teams proved the HIV virus infecting Trahan came from one of Schmidt's patients. An...This struck fear in the hearts of local residents.The attacks were often fast and casual; victims frequently could not spot the attacker. The attack also seemed racially motivated, since the teenage girls were African American and their victims were all white women.

This was a common andsimilar urban legendThis urban legend spread in the 1920s and '30s. It is likely a myth, but it still scared mothers and daughters. Young women got advice to be careful in public places because villains prepared to prick them with needles holding sedatives, aiming to sell them into sex slavery.

This happened long before the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It shows how urban legends change over time, always targeting our worst fears.

In 1989, ten teenage girls were arrested for sticking women with pins in a weeklong attack across the Upper West Side of New York. The girls caused 41 attacks, breaking into small groups and using push and lapel pins to stab victims. Early rumors suggested the needles might contain AIDS., which scared the residents., which struck fear in the hearts of the residents.

The attacks often happened fast and casually. Victims frequently could not spot their attacker. The attack also seemed to beracially motivated, since the teenage girls were African American and their victims were all white women.

These urban legends are not just '90s symbols. Stories of infected needles in soda machines, post office mail slots, and other normal spots still spread. In 2014, a man said he was attacked outside a Seattle bar. A couple walking by supposedly pricked him, and the woman then said, “Welcome to the HIV Club”

These stories, plus easy access to fake news sites, let legends spread across generations. They adapt and change but always aim to increase public fear.