Covid insanity

[rcarlson]

17 minutes ago, MrBirdman said:

Such frustration is understandable. Uncertainty in matters of health has of course been around as long as there’s been people. What’s really changed are the stakes here and our perception of them. (I’m reminded of Louis Black’s bit on experts’ recommendations re eggs - “It’s good for you, now it’s not good, now it’s partly good… make up your mind already! It’s breakfast I gotta eat!).

We should also admit that health officials, while no doubt of varying efficacy, are in a tough spot. If they preface everything with that caveat that “This is our best determination right now, but we’re still learning and it could always change!” then many - perhaps most - people wouldn’t take their recommendations very seriously. If they don’t constantly remind people that advice is only the best available, people begin to worry that the experts are clueless. It wouldn’t be the first time.

In retrospect, US authorities made a mistake early on with the “don’t wear masks” recommendation. They should’ve just said “they can really help slow the spread, but please don’t buy any until we have enough for hospitals.” Sometimes experts can go too low in their estimations of the public’s capacity to understand nuance. 

Of course like everything in this country COVID has been appropriated into the politico-cultural sphere of ideology, to everyone’s detriment. In May 2020 I said that if this crisis couldn’t foster some degree of de-escalation in what’s called “partisanship” (a misnomer because the divisions are as much cultural as they are political), then George Carlin was right - we’re just circling the toilet bowl on our way down the drain. 

I fear George was spot on. Unfortunately for me I’m too much of an optimist to every really give up!
 

But they don't know any more now then they did early on.  And they knew much of what was said was false when they said it.  Yet we're supposed to ignore the motivations?  Can't do it.   

[MrBirdman]

 

5 hours ago, rcarlson said:

But they don't know any more now then they did early on.  And they knew much of what was said was false when they said it.  Yet we're supposed to ignore the motivations?  Can't do it.   

I’m not aware of any intentionally false statements that were made by any public agencies in the US. Unless you mean that early mask guidance switcheroo.

Also, what “motivations” are you referring to?

[Bijan]

30 minutes ago, MrBirdman said:

I’m not aware of any intentionally false statements that were made by any public agencies in the US.

Agencies I don't know but individuals were off the charts.

Fauci said if you're young and healthy no reason to avoid cruises early on. Trump said the thing would blow over. It was a real gong show the first few months.

[rcarlson]

8 hours ago, MrBirdman said:

 

I’m not aware of any intentionally false statements that were made by any public agencies in the US. Unless you mean that early mask guidance switcheroo.

Also, what “motivations” are you referring to?

Political.  

Surely you're familiar with NY altering data to cover up the nursing home deaths, as one example only.  Infection, hospitalization,  and cause of death stats, which determine what resources are given to states, have been tailored to further political agendas.  I'm certain you follow politics closely enough to locate a variety of exaggerations and outright whoppers.  Biden himself misrepresented vaccine effectiveness at a town hall event that was widely reported.    

[TheFullMontecristo]