Secondary Effects
Various secondary effects occurred, notably toilet paper panics in Japan and the United States; these were unfounded panics which became self-fulfilling prophesies, and are classic examples of the Thomas theorem. Price rises and unfounded rumors of a toilet paper shortage—based on oil being used in paper manufacturing—caused a panic and hoarding of toilet paper in late October and early November in Osaka and Kobe, among other cities. In the United States, Johnny Carson inadvertently caused a three-week panic when, on December 19, 1973, he read a news item regarding the U.S. government falling behind on bids for toilet paper and quipping that the nation faced a toilet paper shortage on The Tonight Show.
Read more about this topic: 1973 Oil Crisis
Famous quotes containing the words secondary and/or effects:
“Scientific reason, with its strict conscience, its lack of prejudice, and its determination to question every result again the moment it might lead to the least intellectual advantage, does in an area of secondary interest what we ought to be doing with the basic questions of life.”
—Robert Musil (1880–1942)
“The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly, is to fill the world with fools.”
—Herbert Spencer (1820–1903)