The Coronavirus (Chicom Lurgy Variant) - A voice of sanity.

[scritchwuff]

I like Doctor Mike's video on this subject.  Much more level-headed than the scare-mongering click-bait crap coming out of pretty much all of the media right now.

https://youtu.be/5CRxyHU9Oxo

Click to view

Comments

[whitetail]

I dunno, I got real mixed messages from that. First of all, you don't get people to calm down by speaking in a histrionic tone of voice. The guy was borderline freaking out the whole time. And why on earth did he give a detailed review of that horrible National Geographic article? OK, ostensibly to point out how horrible it was, but he just repeated it for everybody to hear all the grisly details. That somehow helped?

Here's the thing. The virus is likely here to stay now. Which means eventually, we're all going to get it. And it doesn't sound like anything to really worry about. Most actual cases I've heard reported on say it is a relative mild disease, like a cold or flu, and in some people, it's completely asymptomatic, which means it's not even pathogenic in all cases. And the overall mortality rate is <1%, which is less than the flu. Moreover, I haven't heard of any fatalities where the person who died was <60 years old and already weakened by some other health condition. Which means the vast, vast majority of people don't have any more to fear from this disease than they do any other upper respiratory virus that's been around forever.

And like I said, eventually we're probably all going to get it, then we'll all see it's not the killer plague we were told it was, it was just another cold or flu, and we'll all look back and realize that we were duped again by the scare-mongering media. We'll realize the panic did vastly more harm to people than the virus itself did. And maybe, just maybe, we'll tell the Chicken Littles in the media to go fuck themselves the next time they prophesy THE END OF THE WORLD from whatever reason they think of next.

[scritchwuff]

If you look at his videos leading up to this, he's been trying to get people to calm down and stop with the panic. I can see his frustration on the subject. I think he was even trying to point out that even a source as respected and "reputable" as NatGeo is joining in with the clickbait scaremongering. To me it's just another sign that pretty much all online (and traditional) media has been becoming pure sensationalist tabloid crap for some time. Because that's what sells.

Honestly, this virus is not the Zombie Apocalypse or Captain Trips, but as with any nasty cold or flu going around, the reasonable thing to do is take the normal precautions you would for any nasty cold or flu, because honestly, who wants a cold or flu to begin with?

And it CAN be a problem for older people, and my parents aren't getting any younger, so I do worry about them. But that's also true for the flu, and even a cold.

None of this warrants rushing out and buying up every roll of toilet paper at Costco. I don't even know where that came from. I don't even remember seeing it on Faux "News". I suspect it's from one of the many "prepper" blogs or even more likely, some viral BS on Facebook. It's kind of like the "milk and bread" thing when there is a blizzard approaching.

[whitetail]

None of this warrants rushing out and buying up every roll of toilet paper at Costco. I don't even know where that came from.

It's simply the herd mentality. There doesn't have to be any sense to it. We hear about or see others doing it, so we do it, too, reflexively, instinctively, without even thinking about it. As if I didn't need another example of humans not really being intelligent life...

Re: THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC

The most telling statistic to me is, although through testing we are detecting more infections day by day...

The 'worldwide death toll' last week was reported as being 'over 3,800'.
Over the weekend, the 'worldwide death toll' was 'over 3,800'.
Yesterday, it was 'over 3,800'.

If this was a *real* pandemic, those mortality numbers would be increasing exponentially, and daily. What we really seem to be seeing, on the other hand, is a virus that appears to have played itself out in terms of its functional pathogenicity.

Also, critically, although the media OF COURSE never mentions this, 3,700 of the 3,800 'worldwide death toll' (97%) took place in China.

Interestingly, what you never hear anywhere is that the even more contagious and deadly SARS coronavirus produced exactly ZERO deaths outside of China back in 2002-2003.

Everything considered in proportion, it really is time for people in general and the media in particular to CALM THE FUCK DOWN.

[sabotlours]

You're a deer! I hope you know something about herd mentality! ;oP

I frankly don't see any right answer to this. If someone like the president says "remain calm" then he's underplaying the situation. If he say's "stay in your home and lock your doors for 3 weeks!" then he's fear mongering. So of course he just goes on Twitter and posts random stupid shit. Status quo.

I think the best answer is to just go about your life, take normal precautions like you would with any disease, and, most importantly, either turn off the news completely or read/watch everything with an extremely biased eye looking for histrionics, fake news, or bias towards fear.

Fortunately I have someone like Scritch who I can get together with and drink bourbon and laugh at all of this shit.

[whitetail]

You're a deer! I hope you know something about herd mentality! ;oP

I know, right?!

I agree with the rest of your comment 110%. That's the most succinct and level-headed statement I've read anywhere thus far.

Fortunately I have someone like Scritch who I can get together with and drink bourbon and laugh at all of this shit.

Lucky! That's maybe the best way to blow off steam over a situation like this. Bottoms up!