5 ms·

Agreed and when we find out that the actual mortality rate is only .1% after 50mil+ people have been infected then will people come back on hacker news and reca

by Vysero 7y ago

Agreed and when we find out that the actual mortality rate is only .1% after 50mil+ people have been infected then will people come back on hacker news and recant? Will they explain to everyone that their reaction was largely based on fear and apologize for attempting to spread that fear to as many people as they possible could?

hef19898 7y ago
I gave that some thought lately. Because I simply don't get it why people would do that. Virus or not, I simply don't get that kind of behaviour, I have a long history where this bites my ass scially. My current theory is that people are just scared. The numbers seem scary (no baseline as things like the flu are not nearly as thoroughly reported by the press) and every new infection and fatality is extensovely covered, whle the bigger picture isn't. Then this whole thing is just one big unknown, and humans are programmed to fear the unknown. Then you have confirmation bias, people tend to seek information confirming their opinions. Social media is designed to reinforce this bias, media is ware of that an needs clicks.This further reinforces this effect. Also people want confirmation, so they actally seek out these filter bubbles. Humans in general also tend to be bad at risk management and evaluation. So, psychlogically I suspect it is just fear, combined with a desire for confirmation. Because, as crazy it is in my eyes, sharing your fears makes it easier for you to bear. Others not being affraid and giving you pushback on that is the last thing these people want or need. I have still no idea how tackle that, spreading fear is still just plain wrong. Pushback and facts don't seem to work, so no idea what would.
- Vysero 7y ago
  Even if this turns out to be VERY bad the fear response is nonsensical. If a Grizzly bear is charging you down panicking is not going to help. If you want to see what a measured response to something like this looks like, go speak to a therapist/physiologist and gauge their reaction. Hell, go speak with anyone who has seen real combat and ask them how they feel about the general public's reaction to the COVID-19 outbreak.
  - hef19898 7y ago
    My point entirely! Fun fact, so. Wr traveled to what was declared today by the German Robert Koch Institute as a risk zone in France. Travel 10 days ago, so self quarantine until Sunday.
  - verytrivial 7y ago
    So, 8 days later. I think fear is useful if it changes people's behaviour, which appears to be the ONLY THING we have to fight this at the moment. If we can deal with hoarding through social pressure and law as a last resort, we might be okay. But please compare/contrast the current state of play: 1. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-they-call-it-the-apocalypse-inside-italys-hardest-hit-hospital-11960597 https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-they-call-it-the-apoc... 2. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-51955362/us-students-party-on-spring-break-despite-coronavirus https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-51955362/us-st...

by Vysero 7y ago

hef19898 7y ago

I gave that some thought lately. Because I simply don't get it why people would do that. Virus or not, I simply don't get that kind of behaviour, I have a long history where this bites my ass scially. My current theory is that people are just scared. The numbers seem scary (no baseline as things like the flu are not nearly as thoroughly reported by the press) and every new infection and fatality is extensovely covered, whle the bigger picture isn't. Then this whole thing is just one big unknown, and humans are programmed to fear the unknown. Then you have confirmation bias, people tend to seek information confirming their opinions. Social media is designed to reinforce this bias, media is ware of that an needs clicks.This further reinforces this effect. Also people want confirmation, so they actally seek out these filter bubbles. Humans in general also tend to be bad at risk management and evaluation. So, psychlogically I suspect it is just fear, combined with a desire for confirmation. Because, as crazy it is in my eyes, sharing your fears makes it easier for you to bear. Others not being affraid and giving you pushback on that is the last thing these people want or need. I have still no idea how tackle that, spreading fear is still just plain wrong. Pushback and facts don't seem to work, so no idea what would.

Vysero 7y ago
Even if this turns out to be VERY bad the fear response is nonsensical. If a Grizzly bear is charging you down panicking is not going to help. If you want to see what a measured response to something like this looks like, go speak to a therapist/physiologist and gauge their reaction. Hell, go speak with anyone who has seen real combat and ask them how they feel about the general public's reaction to the COVID-19 outbreak.
- hef19898 7y ago
  My point entirely! Fun fact, so. Wr traveled to what was declared today by the German Robert Koch Institute as a risk zone in France. Travel 10 days ago, so self quarantine until Sunday.
- verytrivial 7y ago
  So, 8 days later. I think fear is useful if it changes people's behaviour, which appears to be the ONLY THING we have to fight this at the moment. If we can deal with hoarding through social pressure and law as a last resort, we might be okay. But please compare/contrast the current state of play: 1. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-they-call-it-the-apocalypse-inside-italys-hardest-hit-hospital-11960597 https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-they-call-it-the-apoc... 2. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-51955362/us-students-party-on-spring-break-despite-coronavirus https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-51955362/us-st...