Posted on 02/27/2022 12:21:12 PM PST by billorites
Kevin uses one word to describe the first days of the protests in downtown Ottawa: torture.
"Literally there was trucks right underneath me," said Kevin, who did not want to provide CBC a last name for fear of reprisal. "It was one thing for me, but I've got animals. I've got three cats, two dogs. So yeah, it was torture."
That "torture" is the reason behind an ongoing class-action lawsuit, which sought an injunction prohibiting any participants in the convoy protest from using vehicle horns in the vicinity of downtown Ottawa.
The trucks have since been removed, with police pushing the majority of protesters outside of the downtown core over the Family Day long weekend. Even still, some downtown residents say they're haunted by "phantom honking" — what sounds like blaring truck horns, but no actual sounds are there.
"When you hear that noise, it's like, 'Oh, are they back? Is there a road convoy coming back, right?'" said Sean Flynn, who lives about three kilometres from downtown but could still hear the horns inside his home during the protests.
"'I felt I was constantly doing these sort of double takes ... it almost feels a bit re-traumatizing."
Flynn isn't alone. Downtown resident Zakir Virani said he hears phantom honking, too, usually at night, which keeps him awake. Zakir Virani is one of several downtown residents now experiencing 'phantom honking.' (Avanthika Anand/CBC)
"It's hard to explain because I think with any post-traumatic stress-induced thinking, it's not very rational. You're not actually hearing honking," he said, adding he experiences "constant on-edgeness" and "fear" any time he steps outside since the protests.
"It's not good for anyone to feel that way." A 'temporary' symptom
Dr Peter Liu, an Ottawa-based clinical psychologist, said it's possible people who hear phantom honking are experiencing a "mild trauma."
"These sounds become sort of embedded in mind, kind of like the way trauma leads to flashbacks," said Liu. "Even long after this has happened, the brain is still in a hyper-vigilant state and expects more honking."
Liu said this is especially worrisome because it contributes to disrupted sleep. When people can't sleep, it leads to anxiety and exhaustion, with the possibility of developing into depression or memory problems.
"It is temporary and it will always fade with time," Liu said of the phantom honking. In the meantime, he recommended trying to sleep in a different location, even if it's just in another room, listening to music, or putting on white noise before bed.
If the problem continues, he said people shouldn't hesitate to reach out to a doctor or mental health professional.
Imagine if someone hacked into their cell phones and changed the ring tone to HONK HONK
This is hard to beleive. People were “traumitsed” byt eh bouncy castle demonstrations?
Now there needs to be a guerilla campaign of people with pocket airhorns... late at night.
And they are ready to fight WWIII.
A guilty conscience never rests.
Canada capitol scared of the harmless that no longer could happen.
Canada press has to admit to listening public Trudeau lost the support of the Senate he put in place faster than of the commons that was mixed parties.
Trudeau will be out on his ass, collecting consulting contracts and board memberships within 2022. The Atlantic and western provinces have no use for what he is selling.
May be the trucks left but their ghosts did not or phantom 309 or something.
Honk Honk Honk!!!
Everyone buy the can of air horn ,LOL
A few truck horns are so traumatizing they’ll probably require government assistance forever but riots, arson, and murder snowflakes are fine with,
The Truckers should visit more often. After you hear something over and over for a while, you get to where you don’t even notice it. The problem isn’t too much honking, it’s too little.
The other cool thing is, all that’s needed are the airhorns and portable air tanks, no trucks, no fuel, just lovely honking.
Youtube’s Salty Cracker did a good bit about this column today.
If someone in Ottawa is still hearing honking, they are B.F. Skinner’s bitch. They hear honking because they are weak minded, conditioned to it, and want to hear honking. Strip their right to vote. Some people are to weak to be free.
The tattle tale heart.
I see permanent disability claims. Early retirement!
Must be the Phantom Trucker Ghost of Ottawa wreaking havoc and revenge on the liberals there.
As one Canadian politician revealed that ‘honk honk’ really stands for ‘Heil Hitler!’, so when they hear phantom honking they’re really hearing phantom ‘Hitlers!’ (or phantom ‘Heils’, either of which is terrifying).
One can only hope and pray NO Trucks ever come back, in 1 week the Mass Die Off from Cold and Starvation will begin
Nothing left but the honking.
A win for tyranny.
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