I wish people would just admit that they are really enjoying being (or pretending to be) disproportionately terrified of COVID-19 as a means of displaying their morality and wisdom over an amorphous, vaguely defined, but generally "lower-class" and "uneducated" mass of Others. Just be honest. But seems that many don't have the self-knowledge or courage to admit this.
Great post. I think we have an epidemic of *classism* in the US (which I suppose we've always had in terms of poor economic upward mobility for those on the lower rungs, but now it's all-encompassing and overt). It's so bad that people support openly undemocratic treatment of people who dare to stray from the orthodoxy they've chosen (even/especially directed at minorities who dare to express uncouth thoughts)! I never thought I'd live to see widespread acceptance of this kind of they're-my-enemies/silence-the-enemy, cult-like thinking in the US, but I never thought it would be promoted by "news" organizations either. We've somehow reached a point at which party affiliations are strongly tied to wealth too (or at least where most wealthy people - at least those in coastal metros - would never admit they've questioned any of the key tenets of the political orthodoxy du jour).
I don't think it was dumb luck that the "undereducated" were much more likely to support GBD-like focused protection since early 2020 (quite rightly, IMO). Their arguments were portrayed as simplistic and idiotic, of course, but they clearly (on balance) had a more realistic grasp of risk and had a healthy fear of collateral damage due to lockdowns, school closures, etc. What's scary is that the professional/PhD class (many of whom should have known/did know better than to take all of this at face value, as surveys showed) was almost universally finger-wagged and threatened into compliance. We need something like tenure for docs, apparently. And we need a more principled and courageous society. Not holding my breath for either.
This is so so good. Our local social media celebrity fear monger physicians are beating the drum that multiple infections will do cumulative damage. It’s nice to have a brief counterpoint to share with people. Thanks VP!
I've noticed the messaging has shifted toward long-covid. I'm not denying that some people suffer from longer-term effects than others, but if the messaging isn't even about deaths anymore, that feels a bit disingenuous.
Make it make sense!!! I stopped trying to do that. Here in Chinada the Powers That Be are now admitting to saying “the death is from covid” if it’s within a 30 day positive test. People were derided for having made that claim before! I could go on. The insanity is endless.
The true health issue affecting millions is the "mental health contagion" that is spreading throughout the world. The problem is that the vector is social media, which penetrates all physical barriers and overcomes distancing. People like Dr. Prasad are the treatment of choice. I expect things will get better over the next year and enough people will come to their senses that they have been mislead.
would appreciate a piece acressinghte lunacy of Canada. PM Trudeau enacted a measure where unix'd are not allowed on planes/trains domestically or internationally. A covid recovered, unix'd 12 year old boy in Montreal therefore cannot fly this summer to see granny in Vancouver.
I wish people would just admit that they are really enjoying being (or pretending to be) disproportionately terrified of COVID-19 as a means of displaying their morality and wisdom over an amorphous, vaguely defined, but generally "lower-class" and "uneducated" mass of Others. Just be honest. But seems that many don't have the self-knowledge or courage to admit this.
Still seeing lots of people in my area wearing one (or two!) masks while outdoors.
Great post. I think we have an epidemic of *classism* in the US (which I suppose we've always had in terms of poor economic upward mobility for those on the lower rungs, but now it's all-encompassing and overt). It's so bad that people support openly undemocratic treatment of people who dare to stray from the orthodoxy they've chosen (even/especially directed at minorities who dare to express uncouth thoughts)! I never thought I'd live to see widespread acceptance of this kind of they're-my-enemies/silence-the-enemy, cult-like thinking in the US, but I never thought it would be promoted by "news" organizations either. We've somehow reached a point at which party affiliations are strongly tied to wealth too (or at least where most wealthy people - at least those in coastal metros - would never admit they've questioned any of the key tenets of the political orthodoxy du jour).
I don't think it was dumb luck that the "undereducated" were much more likely to support GBD-like focused protection since early 2020 (quite rightly, IMO). Their arguments were portrayed as simplistic and idiotic, of course, but they clearly (on balance) had a more realistic grasp of risk and had a healthy fear of collateral damage due to lockdowns, school closures, etc. What's scary is that the professional/PhD class (many of whom should have known/did know better than to take all of this at face value, as surveys showed) was almost universally finger-wagged and threatened into compliance. We need something like tenure for docs, apparently. And we need a more principled and courageous society. Not holding my breath for either.
This is so so good. Our local social media celebrity fear monger physicians are beating the drum that multiple infections will do cumulative damage. It’s nice to have a brief counterpoint to share with people. Thanks VP!
I've noticed the messaging has shifted toward long-covid. I'm not denying that some people suffer from longer-term effects than others, but if the messaging isn't even about deaths anymore, that feels a bit disingenuous.
Make it make sense!!! I stopped trying to do that. Here in Chinada the Powers That Be are now admitting to saying “the death is from covid” if it’s within a 30 day positive test. People were derided for having made that claim before! I could go on. The insanity is endless.
The true health issue affecting millions is the "mental health contagion" that is spreading throughout the world. The problem is that the vector is social media, which penetrates all physical barriers and overcomes distancing. People like Dr. Prasad are the treatment of choice. I expect things will get better over the next year and enough people will come to their senses that they have been mislead.
Stop making sense!!
would appreciate a piece acressinghte lunacy of Canada. PM Trudeau enacted a measure where unix'd are not allowed on planes/trains domestically or internationally. A covid recovered, unix'd 12 year old boy in Montreal therefore cannot fly this summer to see granny in Vancouver.
"assessing the"
Who is saying this? Link to the silliness, please!
We still have a lot to understand. Repeated infections of the vaccinated in the UK provides warnings. Has there been damage to our immune system?