3 ms·

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 groc

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.

3 ms·

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 groc

by thebigspacefuck 7y ago

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.