The principle of the scandal is very old, very useful, and perhaps even essential. The scandal is actually an apparatus or even an automatic machine. This is revealed in the history of the word: the concept of the ‘scandal’ is etymologically derived from the Sanskrit word ‘skandati’, which means ‘jump’ or ‘spurt’. The suddenness of the scandal, as well as its sexual connotations, thus existed quite early. The word ‘scandal’ also stems from the Greek word ‘skandaletron’, which refers to the triggering mechanism in a trap. Such a trap consists of a large rock, which is positioned vertically with the help of a piece of wood. A cord is then attached to the wood; if the prey walks under the stone, the cord is pulled, the wood falls, and the animal is crushed by the stone. This arrangement can also be understood as an automated machine if bait is attached to the wood and the wood falls as soon as the animal tugs hard enough on the bait. This trap was later simplified as the ‘skandalon’, the stumbling block or pitfall. Eventually the Latin word ‘scandre’ emerged, which referred to climbing as well as to chanting or the intonation of speech. In fact, the distinctive and characteristic pitch of the scream has also always been part of the scandal.