There's a great line in the Ben Affleck movie The Accountant when the military father is forcing his autistic boys to fight. He says "people fear different." What an understatement. Add to that the isolation caused by the pandemic and our little brains come up with all manner of boogey man stories and bullshit because we're not bright enough to keep reading, keep reaching out and stay engaged. The idea of Otherness extends to a shitload more folks, and is deepended against those we already fear with or without cause.