Something in the air

"It seems that an essential condition for crises
is to be found in the existence of a highly
developed system of communications and the
spreading of a homogenous mentality over vast
areas.

But when the hour and the right material are at
hand, the contagion spreads with the speed of
electricity over hundreds of miles, and affects
the most diverse populations, which hardly know
each other. The message flies through the air and
they all suddenly agree on that one issue, if
only a sulky admission that 'there's got to be a
change.' " -- Jakob Burckhardt

Has anyone else noticed?