File under I for Inconceivable. (from archaica)

[verbicide]

An elaborate hoax convinced managers in fast-food restaurants across the country to perform strip-searches and other atrocities on employees based on the belief they were following instructions from a police officer. In a real-life twist on the Milgram experiments—without the convenience of faux victims—McDonald's, Wendy's, and others face numerous lawsuits.

As shocking as it is this happened once, it's inconceivable(!) that it happened repeatedly.

[x-posted to nnn]

Comments

Re: Worse than chains

[greyaenigma.livejournal.com]

Looking at the article more closely, it looks like a case of plain pervasive stupidity in face of perceived authority, as it's been going on for a long time. Bah.

Re: Worse than chains

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

With lawsuits underway, you'd think the restaurants that had been hit already would have blanketed every single franchise with information and warnings.

Re: Worse than chains

[saavedra77.livejournal.com]

plain pervasive stupidity in face of perceived authority

I think verbicide's right that there's also an element of "perverse fascination," involved, but it's hard not to relate this--as a psychological phenomena--to the things that happened at Abu Gurhaib: all of the same elements were there--not-too-highly-educated guards, a seeming blank check from authority, and, yes, "perverse fascination" with being able to do all kinds of forbidden things.