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Speaking of misinformation, buzzfeed news originally posted this https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/danvergano/coronavirus-cases-deaths-flu https://www.buzzf

Speaking of misinformation, buzzfeed news originally posted this https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/danvergano/coronavirus-cases-deaths-flu https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/danvergano/coronavirus-... with the title "Don't Worry About The Coronavirus. Worry About The Flu." They have since scrubbed or edited much of the content of the article, surely not to hide their completely irresponsible behavior. edit: If anything, the real story here is the absolute, abject failure of both national and international health organizations and traditional media to provide accurate and up-to-date information on this emerging pandemic and how Twitter and Reddit filled that gap.

gnulinux 7y ago
I have anxiety disorder and have been seeing a therapist for years. I've been freaking out about this disease since January (saw on reddit) and been prepping. My therapist kept saying me this is just the flu, and made me read articles like this. I read this article back when it's title was "Don't Worry About The Coronavirus. Worry About The Flu." My point is, I don't think this is irresponsible. This is something else. This new pandemic is an unprecedented occurrence. Normally, the rational thing to do for to not be scared of a pandemic like this because all previous instances (avian, swine flues, SARS, MERS etc) ended up being ok. So, it seemed like being scared for this disease was irrational, panicky, anxious etc. I really don't disagree with that. Even many experts back then were arguing this will be like them. Turns out we just overfit to our immediate history of pandemics.
- AbrahamParangi 7y ago
  I think that you shouldn't lose sleep over any pandemic (this one included) but any pandemic contains low-probability of high-impact. Novel pathogens will almost always turn out to be nothing, except when they are something. This has always been a tail risk situation, something which the media is exceptionally bad at evaluating correctly.

gnulinux 7y ago

I have anxiety disorder and have been seeing a therapist for years. I've been freaking out about this disease since January (saw on reddit) and been prepping. My therapist kept saying me this is just the flu, and made me read articles like this. I read this article back when it's title was "Don't Worry About The Coronavirus. Worry About The Flu." My point is, I don't think this is irresponsible. This is something else. This new pandemic is an unprecedented occurrence. Normally, the rational thing to do for to not be scared of a pandemic like this because all previous instances (avian, swine flues, SARS, MERS etc) ended up being ok. So, it seemed like being scared for this disease was irrational, panicky, anxious etc. I really don't disagree with that. Even many experts back then were arguing this will be like them. Turns out we just overfit to our immediate history of pandemics.

AbrahamParangi 7y ago
I think that you shouldn't lose sleep over any pandemic (this one included) but any pandemic contains low-probability of high-impact. Novel pathogens will almost always turn out to be nothing, except when they are something. This has always been a tail risk situation, something which the media is exceptionally bad at evaluating correctly.