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I never thought that I could ever take that standpoint but I now believe that the most effective weapon against a global pandemic (apart from a vaccine) is fear

I never thought that I could ever take that standpoint but I now believe that the most effective weapon against a global pandemic (apart from a vaccine) is fear. It's visible in most countries I followed, as soon as the fear that is purported by the governments and the media takes root the numbers start to drop earlier than they should given the lockdown measures. Simply because many of the social distancing measures are adopted by the populace as soon as fear spreads.

saiya-jin 6y ago
I hate to say it, but seems to be some logic to your statements. I come from fearful place, almost completely missed by covid, went to complete lockdown as soon as stuff started happening in western europe, much quicker than any of those countries. Western european countries which were much slower with initial reaction were having massive spikes, some are just now getting out of the worst (ie UK). US is another example with its 'brilliant' current leadership. Brazil is actually another one, the president seems since beginning like the worst you can get in democracy, pure corrupt evil (until next one comes I guess).
- rmbyrro 6y ago
  That's because we were seeing massive dips in other diseases in the months prior. There is an official determination from the State-level government in Brazil to consider all deaths as COVID unless a doctor can prove otherwise. By the way, they aren't testing all patients against COVID.
clairity 6y ago
fear also makes people drink bleach. it's not some unmitigated good. fear can bring awareness of danger, but then (assuming it's not a literal imminent threat, like a tiger) we need to switch to rational thinking to weigh risks and consider options. we can't stay consumed in fear and expect good things to happen.
- tonyedgecombe 6y ago
  Good luck getting my parents to make a rational decision, everything they do is driven by emotion.

saiya-jin 6y ago

I hate to say it, but seems to be some logic to your statements. I come from fearful place, almost completely missed by covid, went to complete lockdown as soon as stuff started happening in western europe, much quicker than any of those countries. Western european countries which were much slower with initial reaction were having massive spikes, some are just now getting out of the worst (ie UK). US is another example with its 'brilliant' current leadership. Brazil is actually another one, the president seems since beginning like the worst you can get in democracy, pure corrupt evil (until next one comes I guess).

rmbyrro 6y ago
That's because we were seeing massive dips in other diseases in the months prior. There is an official determination from the State-level government in Brazil to consider all deaths as COVID unless a doctor can prove otherwise. By the way, they aren't testing all patients against COVID.

clairity 6y ago

fear also makes people drink bleach. it's not some unmitigated good. fear can bring awareness of danger, but then (assuming it's not a literal imminent threat, like a tiger) we need to switch to rational thinking to weigh risks and consider options. we can't stay consumed in fear and expect good things to happen.

tonyedgecombe 6y ago
Good luck getting my parents to make a rational decision, everything they do is driven by emotion.