8 ms·

I didn't read anything in the posted article that indicates that the China-based researchers think it came from a lab or looks synthetic. So I didn't understand

I didn't read anything in the posted article that indicates that the China-based researchers think it came from a lab or looks synthetic. So I didn't understand why you are responding to a claim that they aren't making.

graeme 7y ago
Lots of posts in this thread were making the claim about the lab. They’re less upvoted now.
- perennate 7y ago
  Ah that makes more sense, it was confusing because it was posted as a top-level comment instead of a reply.
- chadmeister 7y ago
  Thank you for clarifying this! I will rescind my downvotes
ajross 7y ago
The virology lab thing is a very popular conspiracy theory. Really the only evidence is that the virus started in the general viscinity of the lab, and that the lab was (somewhat vaguely, but not completely implausibly) suspected of doing bioweapons research. It's worth rebutting. The nonsense is a little out of control.
- LargoLasskhyfv 7y ago
  You know? I thought about your 'nonsense' and recalled something rather old in 'internet time'. Anyways, i just searched for russian bio lab accident and this came up first: https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/11/decades-after-deadly-lab-accident-a-secret-russian-bioweapon-decoded/ https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/11/decades-after-deadly... I'm sure there is more to find about that, but for the purpose of rebutting your nonsense i deem it sufficient. What do i mean by that? The theories aren't unfounded when looking back, because they happened! It doesn't really matter where, when, by whom, and what exactly. Just that it did happen multiple times. Cheers. edit: Well, it even has a wikipedia article if you prefer that https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sverdlovsk_anthrax_leak https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sverdlovsk_anthrax_leak
  - betterbeehome 7y ago
    I don't get it. Why are people knee-jerk adverse to this idea? We're not arguing with flat earthers or moon landing skeptics. It's entirely plausible. With people putting their reputation on it, too. Dany Shoham (Israeli biological warfare expert) put his name on the line point this out before a lot of people. It's not out of the realm of possibility and shouldn't be disregarded out of hand like it has been. Could be from there or maybe not. We really need more information from China to settle some of these discussions.
    - Aperocky 7y ago
      > Dany Shoham So the same guy that claimed ISIS have biological weapon? Other than public information, so what does he know that others don’t? this guy has no credibility to begin with.
    - roenxi 7y ago
      The odds are fairly slim. Wuhan is a large Chinese city that has a greater population than most countries. There is going to be an (X) in Wuhan for any value of (X) anyone cares to name. The fog of uncertainty is still thick; nobody has much of an idea what is going on. Anyone claiming that they have a theory on where the virus came from is fantasising. The knee-jerk people probably don't want them drowning out a weak signal with useless noise.
      - crubier 7y ago
        There is only one Biosafety level 4 laboratory in China, and it opened... last year in... Wuhan. I am not saying there is a link, but I would not dismiss it too fast.
      - biolurker1 7y ago
        What is the probability that in Wuhan exists the only X in the vast country and Y happens only once in a decade or so
        7y ago
- IIAOPSW 7y ago
  A conspiracy theory is a symptom of what people already suspect and believe about those in positions of authority. In this case the suspicion is that the epidemic is a result of a preventable accident and the incompetence and corner-cutting of the lab is being covered up to save face. People believe it because safety endangering corruption, saving face, and covering up industrial accidents are all very prevalent in Chinese society. In recent memory there's been high profile cases like the tainted milk powder, the HSR accident (that was literally buried), the explosion in tian jin etc.

graeme 7y ago

Lots of posts in this thread were making the claim about the lab. They’re less upvoted now.

perennate 7y ago
Ah that makes more sense, it was confusing because it was posted as a top-level comment instead of a reply.
chadmeister 7y ago
Thank you for clarifying this! I will rescind my downvotes

ajross 7y ago

The virology lab thing is a very popular conspiracy theory. Really the only evidence is that the virus started in the general viscinity of the lab, and that the lab was (somewhat vaguely, but not completely implausibly) suspected of doing bioweapons research. It's worth rebutting. The nonsense is a little out of control.

LargoLasskhyfv 7y ago
You know? I thought about your 'nonsense' and recalled something rather old in 'internet time'. Anyways, i just searched for russian bio lab accident and this came up first: https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/11/decades-after-deadly-lab-accident-a-secret-russian-bioweapon-decoded/ https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/11/decades-after-deadly... I'm sure there is more to find about that, but for the purpose of rebutting your nonsense i deem it sufficient. What do i mean by that? The theories aren't unfounded when looking back, because they happened! It doesn't really matter where, when, by whom, and what exactly. Just that it did happen multiple times. Cheers. edit: Well, it even has a wikipedia article if you prefer that https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sverdlovsk_anthrax_leak https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sverdlovsk_anthrax_leak
- betterbeehome 7y ago
  I don't get it. Why are people knee-jerk adverse to this idea? We're not arguing with flat earthers or moon landing skeptics. It's entirely plausible. With people putting their reputation on it, too. Dany Shoham (Israeli biological warfare expert) put his name on the line point this out before a lot of people. It's not out of the realm of possibility and shouldn't be disregarded out of hand like it has been. Could be from there or maybe not. We really need more information from China to settle some of these discussions.
  - Aperocky 7y ago
    > Dany Shoham So the same guy that claimed ISIS have biological weapon? Other than public information, so what does he know that others don’t? this guy has no credibility to begin with.
  - roenxi 7y ago
    The odds are fairly slim. Wuhan is a large Chinese city that has a greater population than most countries. There is going to be an (X) in Wuhan for any value of (X) anyone cares to name. The fog of uncertainty is still thick; nobody has much of an idea what is going on. Anyone claiming that they have a theory on where the virus came from is fantasising. The knee-jerk people probably don't want them drowning out a weak signal with useless noise.
    - crubier 7y ago
      There is only one Biosafety level 4 laboratory in China, and it opened... last year in... Wuhan. I am not saying there is a link, but I would not dismiss it too fast.
    - biolurker1 7y ago
      What is the probability that in Wuhan exists the only X in the vast country and Y happens only once in a decade or so
      - 7y ago
IIAOPSW 7y ago
A conspiracy theory is a symptom of what people already suspect and believe about those in positions of authority. In this case the suspicion is that the epidemic is a result of a preventable accident and the incompetence and corner-cutting of the lab is being covered up to save face. People believe it because safety endangering corruption, saving face, and covering up industrial accidents are all very prevalent in Chinese society. In recent memory there's been high profile cases like the tainted milk powder, the HSR accident (that was literally buried), the explosion in tian jin etc.