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You could say the same thing about flu: * Half a million die each year of influenza * Most are very young or very old * Flu is preventable ($1 face mask) *

You could say the same thing about flu: * Half a million die each year of influenza * Most are very young or very old * Flu is preventable ($1 face mask) * Flu is easy to treat in the developing world The way we think of flu in the west is roughly similar to how Africans think of malaria: a pain in the butt but not the end of the world. Imagine what we would do if rich Africans arrived and started handing out face masks during flu season. We'd probably do what Africans do with malaria nets: say thanks and throw them in a drawer.

turingcompeteme 9y ago
Malaria nets have been shown by many organizations as being one of the most effective use of funds possible. There are very few ways to more easily and effectively reduce pain and suffering in this world. Your comparison is ridiculous. https://www.givewell.org/international/technical/programs/insecticide-treated-nets https://www.givewell.org/international/technical/programs/in...
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
andrepd 9y ago
>The way we think of flu in the west is roughly similar to how Africans think of malaria: a pain in the butt but not the end of the world. Imagine what we would do if rich Africans arrived and started handing out face masks during flu season. We'd probably do what Africans do with malaria nets: say thanks and throw them in a drawer. That's incredibly misleading, ignorant, and even disrespectful. First of all, malaria is a scourge that's not even comparable with common flu (even thought the latter, through sheer virulence, rivals the former in number of anual deaths). Secondly, you are absolutely talking out of your butt when you say "Africans throw our nets in the drawer"; much to the contrary, these sort initiatives are constantly shown to be one of the most effective ways to reduce malaria infections, indeed one of the most effective ways to prevent suffering in general.
- nostromo 9y ago
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8940842 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8940842

turingcompeteme 9y ago

Malaria nets have been shown by many organizations as being one of the most effective use of funds possible. There are very few ways to more easily and effectively reduce pain and suffering in this world. Your comparison is ridiculous. https://www.givewell.org/international/technical/programs/insecticide-treated-nets https://www.givewell.org/international/technical/programs/in...

deleted 9y ago
[deleted]

andrepd 9y ago

>The way we think of flu in the west is roughly similar to how Africans think of malaria: a pain in the butt but not the end of the world. Imagine what we would do if rich Africans arrived and started handing out face masks during flu season. We'd probably do what Africans do with malaria nets: say thanks and throw them in a drawer. That's incredibly misleading, ignorant, and even disrespectful. First of all, malaria is a scourge that's not even comparable with common flu (even thought the latter, through sheer virulence, rivals the former in number of anual deaths). Secondly, you are absolutely talking out of your butt when you say "Africans throw our nets in the drawer"; much to the contrary, these sort initiatives are constantly shown to be one of the most effective ways to reduce malaria infections, indeed one of the most effective ways to prevent suffering in general.

nostromo 9y ago
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8940842 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8940842