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A good reply that summarizes my reaction: Brian O'Roak @TheRealDrOLab Replying to @trvrb @JShendure and @seattleflustudy Do you really think Twitter is th

by soared 7y ago

A good reply that summarizes my reaction: Brian O'Roak @TheRealDrOLab Replying to @trvrb @JShendure and @seattleflustudy Do you really think Twitter is the best place to post this information? Wild speculation on the number of cases without confirmation is just going to panic people.

erentz 7y ago
You don't reduce panic in a Florida hurricane by downplaying the wind strength until after everyone's already feeling it rattle their house. If we care about reducing panic the correct thing is not hiding information, it's having competent people in charge communicating regularly with the public about the facts and telling the public what is going to happen and what they need to do to prevent spread.
- soared 7y ago
  You’re correct. And this tweet storm is a great example of someone who is not charge telling the public things that may not be facts (by their own admission).
  - erentz 7y ago
    The point is not that all information must flow via some authority and be approved for release. It’s that there is a competent authority also speaking to the public. We haven’t had that in the USA, and are only now seeing states stepping into that role and getting up to speed. Guarantee this information is being taken seriously by the WA department of health. The Seattle flu study isn’t some joke, it’s a real scientific research group at Fred Hutch and UW.
thebigspacefuck 7y ago
I've been interested in what the incentive is to avoid panicking people. What does panic actually look like and why are people so against it? People buying groceries and staying home? If panic looks like getting ready for a snow storm or hurricane, staying at home watching a movie instead of going to the bar, or washing my hands more frequently, I'm not sure what the downside is. It seems like the outcomes are worse if you wait.
- ryanlol 7y ago
  Panic looks like cheap hotel rooms and plane tickets :)
  - rdtwo 7y ago
    Sure you want to get in an airplane?
    - ryanlol 7y ago
      Airplanes aren’t particularly comfortable, but I don’t see coronavirus making flying any worse. If I was older or had a family to worry about I might see things differently, but right now this just seems like a good opportunity.
- pergadad 7y ago
  Panic means there's no more supermarket open because first the hordes come and panic-buy, then the supermarket has to close as even the workers don't show up. Panic means people not showing up to work, doctor's offices overcrowded, streets blocked with people going to the countryside. Panic means the system breaks down - electricians don't show up to fix issues, firefighters can't get through as the streets are blocked, local businesses getting looted and going bankrupt as they have to close, etc etc Mild panic/mild fear/excessive carefulness will inconvenience you. Real panic means people die and things break.
  - sbierwagen 7y ago
    >streets blocked with people going to the countryside A pandemic isn't a nuclear attack, leaving town won't get you anything. Fleeing the towns was popular when the miasma theory of disease was in vogue, and would have been useful for avoiding animal vectors, but you wouldn't expect it to happen with COVID-19.

by soared 7y ago

erentz 7y ago

You don't reduce panic in a Florida hurricane by downplaying the wind strength until after everyone's already feeling it rattle their house. If we care about reducing panic the correct thing is not hiding information, it's having competent people in charge communicating regularly with the public about the facts and telling the public what is going to happen and what they need to do to prevent spread.

soared 7y ago
You’re correct. And this tweet storm is a great example of someone who is not charge telling the public things that may not be facts (by their own admission).
- erentz 7y ago
  The point is not that all information must flow via some authority and be approved for release. It’s that there is a competent authority also speaking to the public. We haven’t had that in the USA, and are only now seeing states stepping into that role and getting up to speed. Guarantee this information is being taken seriously by the WA department of health. The Seattle flu study isn’t some joke, it’s a real scientific research group at Fred Hutch and UW.

thebigspacefuck 7y ago

I've been interested in what the incentive is to avoid panicking people. What does panic actually look like and why are people so against it? People buying groceries and staying home? If panic looks like getting ready for a snow storm or hurricane, staying at home watching a movie instead of going to the bar, or washing my hands more frequently, I'm not sure what the downside is. It seems like the outcomes are worse if you wait.

ryanlol 7y ago
Panic looks like cheap hotel rooms and plane tickets :)
- rdtwo 7y ago
  Sure you want to get in an airplane?
  - ryanlol 7y ago
    Airplanes aren’t particularly comfortable, but I don’t see coronavirus making flying any worse. If I was older or had a family to worry about I might see things differently, but right now this just seems like a good opportunity.
pergadad 7y ago
Panic means there's no more supermarket open because first the hordes come and panic-buy, then the supermarket has to close as even the workers don't show up. Panic means people not showing up to work, doctor's offices overcrowded, streets blocked with people going to the countryside. Panic means the system breaks down - electricians don't show up to fix issues, firefighters can't get through as the streets are blocked, local businesses getting looted and going bankrupt as they have to close, etc etc Mild panic/mild fear/excessive carefulness will inconvenience you. Real panic means people die and things break.
- sbierwagen 7y ago
  >streets blocked with people going to the countryside A pandemic isn't a nuclear attack, leaving town won't get you anything. Fleeing the towns was popular when the miasma theory of disease was in vogue, and would have been useful for avoiding animal vectors, but you wouldn't expect it to happen with COVID-19.