Gremlins

The origin of the modern term “gremlin” is disputed, but is often said to derive from the Old English word greme, which means to vex or annoy. It refers to a type of mischievous gnome-like imps or demons, typically said to be around a foot tall, which probably has its roots in the old folklore of goblins and fairies. The original early representation of these creatures was that of skilled craftsmen with a superhuman proficiency with machinery of all types, and they were once credited by some with helping mankind along with our technology, such as in the creation of the steam engine and even claims that they helped with Benjamin Franklin’s work with electricity. Yet for all of the benevolent early folklore associated with the impish creatures, it was their penchant for mischief and mayhem that they would become most known for.

The modern version of the gremlin as a malicious, trouble making hell raiser has its origins with British airmen, some of whom believed that these imps or demons seemed to show an intense interest in aviation and caused aircraft or navigational malfunctions. Gremlins were said to engage in such a myriad of bad behavior as sucking the gas out of tanks, jamming radio frequencies, mucking up landing gear, cutting wires, removing bolts or screws, tinkering with dials, knobs or switches, jostling controls, slashing wings or tires, poking or pinching gunners and pilots, banging incessantly on the fuselage, breaking windows, and a wide variety of other prankish acts. They were also sometimes reported to be seen sitting out upon the nose of the plane or the wings of aircraft in midflight tampering with the wings or even the engines.

"Gremlin" entered the American lexicon with the tales of World War II air crews detailing their encounters with these little demons afflicting their B-17 bombing raids over Nazi Germany.  Hollywood responded by enlisting Bugs Bunny to be its gremlin exorcist. 

 

Falling Hare (1943)

Following the end of World War II the legend of the gremlin began to fade, with only occasional references to them such as in the classic “Twilight Zone” episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet", in which a pre-Captain Kirk William Shatner sees a “gremlin” trying to take apart the wing of the airplane he is riding in. But, with the arrival of the computer and the internet the gremlins seem to have come back to life and along with the ability to crash airplanes have acquired the ability to crash computers.

We have all had trouble with our computers. They freeze up or shut down at inopportune moments. They suddenly delete important data for no reason. You send off an email and it arrives at its destination with the content changed and never in a good way. Some believe our computers and our smartphones may actually be possessed by dark energy spirits. 

 

There are many theories about what may be the nature of these gremlins from some Matrix like conspiracy planting bugs in the system to demonic entities riding the “ether” of the ethernet, both with the goal of influencing the unsuspecting masses.  If you need a theory to believe in you can find plenty out there.  But of course, the gremlins themselves could be planting the theories on the internet. So, you might never know what really caused the glitch, but don’t be too fast to dismiss it as only a glitch. 

Today the battle with these gemlins has entered a new arena with our increasing dependence on this realm of computers and the internet. Be they the result of poltergeist, gremlins, or malevolent transdimensional energy beings, these infections seem to be spreading  and morphing into forces that are inflaming people emotionally and causing thought wars across social media, that represent the real possiblity of turning from thought wars to actual wars that will plunge civilization into a new dark ages.

See also: "Ghosts in the Machine"

See also: "The Simulation Hypothesis"





The Paranormal Links:

Part 1  "The Paranormal"

Part 2  "Hauntings"

Part 3 "Gremlins"

Part 4  "Mediumship"