In history you read about elves, fairies, little people, spirits. It was an accepted part of reality.
But now that’s obvious nonsense and if you see fairies then you need a doctor.
Are we insane now?
Yes I know, nutrition, literacy and the scientific enlightenment. But still.
In addition to the poor treatment of autistic and other neurodivergent folks, note that there was a huge uptick in a lot of fantasy folk tales right around the same time people started using gas lamps in their homes.
Lol. Excellent connection.
There’s also the starvation thing. And drugs of course.
And also children (traditionally weird) and monks (meditation, fasting etc)
And mouldy bread. And eyeglasses are a pretty recent invention.
If you are wearing eyeglasses then your vision has been distorted and cannot be trusted.