4 ms·

Bad news serves a purpose. Ignore it at your peril.

death-by-ppt 7y ago
I agree, and I read major news sources online to get my recommended daily supply of bad news. I'd prefer to keep HN for fun tech news.
- kingosticks 7y ago
  Unfortunately the "discussions" /comments on major news outlets are total garbage.
jsjddbbwj 7y ago
"I'm feeling bad, so should feel bad too"
- beaker52 7y ago
  Actually, it's really important that people get the latest advice, and feeling bad is a good thing when action is required to prevent worsening outbreaks. It's not just about YOU catching it and surviving it -- as we've seen, at peak outbreak, healthcare systems are going to be stretched thin. Routine healthcare suddenly becomes unavailable. As an example, someone who has a heart attack, or a serious car accident, who would usually survive given the appropriate level of treatment, will end up dying because that treatment simply isn't available. And it might not be YOU who contributes to taking up healthcare resources, but it could be anyone YOU pass it on to. So yeah, it is important to know what's going on, and have the seriousness of the situation rammed home. It's not like coronavirus is going to be affecting you for years to come, just this one. Sticking your head in the sand before the main wave of the crisis has even arrived is like avoiding news about an incoming hurricane. I cannot emphasise enough caution - keep your eyes and ears open - and take affirmative steps - for everyone's sake.
  - fwn 7y ago
    > it's really important that people get the latest advice While that's true on an abstract level there really are some important qualifiers for "latest advice". I'm reading Wikipedia articles on the topic (they are updated very frequently) and try to consume content from authorities like the WHO and the Robert Koch Institute (I'm German). There are probably a lot more high quality sources but I feel reasonably informed. I don't think there's any value in consuming a hundred reddit posts curated by engagement and stuffed with half-knowledge and karma-optimized fear comments.
    - atoav 7y ago
      If you are German, check out the "NDR Coronavirus-Update" podcast series. They take half an hour every day to talk with Christian Dorsten from the Berliner Charite, who actually developed the Coronavirus tests and seriously knows what he is talking about. This has been the best resource I had found in any language on the topic.
      - selimthegrim 7y ago
        I think he was on NPR Science Friday with Ira Flatow too
Tepix 7y ago
Most bad news can be ignored. COVID-19 is a rare exception. News organizations are optimized at bringing you the worst things that happened all over the world every day.
- _-___________-_ 7y ago
  Are you sure it's an exception?
tasubotadas 7y ago
>Bad news serves a purpose. Yeah - generating pageviews.

I agree, and I read major news sources online to get my recommended daily supply of bad news. I'd prefer to keep HN for fun tech news.

kingosticks 7y ago
Unfortunately the "discussions" /comments on major news outlets are total garbage.

jsjddbbwj 7y ago

"I'm feeling bad, so should feel bad too"

beaker52 7y ago
Actually, it's really important that people get the latest advice, and feeling bad is a good thing when action is required to prevent worsening outbreaks. It's not just about YOU catching it and surviving it -- as we've seen, at peak outbreak, healthcare systems are going to be stretched thin. Routine healthcare suddenly becomes unavailable. As an example, someone who has a heart attack, or a serious car accident, who would usually survive given the appropriate level of treatment, will end up dying because that treatment simply isn't available. And it might not be YOU who contributes to taking up healthcare resources, but it could be anyone YOU pass it on to. So yeah, it is important to know what's going on, and have the seriousness of the situation rammed home. It's not like coronavirus is going to be affecting you for years to come, just this one. Sticking your head in the sand before the main wave of the crisis has even arrived is like avoiding news about an incoming hurricane. I cannot emphasise enough caution - keep your eyes and ears open - and take affirmative steps - for everyone's sake.
- fwn 7y ago
  > it's really important that people get the latest advice While that's true on an abstract level there really are some important qualifiers for "latest advice". I'm reading Wikipedia articles on the topic (they are updated very frequently) and try to consume content from authorities like the WHO and the Robert Koch Institute (I'm German). There are probably a lot more high quality sources but I feel reasonably informed. I don't think there's any value in consuming a hundred reddit posts curated by engagement and stuffed with half-knowledge and karma-optimized fear comments.
  - atoav 7y ago
    If you are German, check out the "NDR Coronavirus-Update" podcast series. They take half an hour every day to talk with Christian Dorsten from the Berliner Charite, who actually developed the Coronavirus tests and seriously knows what he is talking about. This has been the best resource I had found in any language on the topic.
    - selimthegrim 7y ago
      I think he was on NPR Science Friday with Ira Flatow too

Tepix 7y ago

Most bad news can be ignored. COVID-19 is a rare exception. News organizations are optimized at bringing you the worst things that happened all over the world every day.

_-___________-_ 7y ago
Are you sure it's an exception?

tasubotadas 7y ago

>Bad news serves a purpose. Yeah - generating pageviews.