3 ms·

Biology, and the universe in general, aren't always intuitive. I'm also completely flabbergasted that you take 1 person's opinion, despite it being the opposit

Biology, and the universe in general, aren't always intuitive. I'm also completely flabbergasted that you take 1 person's opinion, despite it being the opposite of the opinions of a general educated scientific community, and you take that one person's opinion more seriously. And apparently you are not a historian, either, because we've had viruses spread in humans in the past. I don't see how this being a naturally-made virus is crazier than it being man-made. In fact, it's crazy if it is man-made.

dionian 6y ago
is there evidence that it's not?
- dwaltrip 6y ago
  Every single pandemic in history was naturally occurring, so I think it makes sense for our priors to be weighted towards COVID-19 being a natural occurrence like all others. Substantial evidence and compelling arguments can overcome these priors. But it’s a big claim with huge implications so I think caution is warranted.
  - edoceo 6y ago
    This reasoning is too pragmatic for such a hot-button issue. Where is the hyperbole and masked vitriol?
  - zimpenfish 6y ago
    > Every single pandemic in history was naturally occurring Add also that the scientists have been warning for decades that another SARS-alike was almost inevitable, cf. > The now-prophetic words could be found at the end of a research paper published in the journal Clinical Microbiology Reviews in October of 2007: “The presence of a large reservoir of SARS-CoV-like viruses in horseshoe bats, together with the culture of eating exotic mammals in southern China, is a time bomb.” https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/06/scientists-predicted-coronavirus-pandemic/613003/ https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/06/scientist...
- matwood 6y ago
  Would you also like me to prove to you that <insert diety here> didn’t make the human eye? Nature in general creates amazing things on its own. Viruses are constantly mutating in animals, people are closer to these animals, and travel is ubiquitous. There’s a reason that many smart people have been warning and preparing for this to happen. No matter how unlikely, lotteries are won.

dionian 6y ago

is there evidence that it's not?

dwaltrip 6y ago
Every single pandemic in history was naturally occurring, so I think it makes sense for our priors to be weighted towards COVID-19 being a natural occurrence like all others. Substantial evidence and compelling arguments can overcome these priors. But it’s a big claim with huge implications so I think caution is warranted.
- edoceo 6y ago
  This reasoning is too pragmatic for such a hot-button issue. Where is the hyperbole and masked vitriol?
- zimpenfish 6y ago
  > Every single pandemic in history was naturally occurring Add also that the scientists have been warning for decades that another SARS-alike was almost inevitable, cf. > The now-prophetic words could be found at the end of a research paper published in the journal Clinical Microbiology Reviews in October of 2007: “The presence of a large reservoir of SARS-CoV-like viruses in horseshoe bats, together with the culture of eating exotic mammals in southern China, is a time bomb.” https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/06/scientists-predicted-coronavirus-pandemic/613003/ https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/06/scientist...
matwood 6y ago
Would you also like me to prove to you that <insert diety here> didn’t make the human eye? Nature in general creates amazing things on its own. Viruses are constantly mutating in animals, people are closer to these animals, and travel is ubiquitous. There’s a reason that many smart people have been warning and preparing for this to happen. No matter how unlikely, lotteries are won.