3 ms·

it's not just familiarity, it's also privilege and inequality. the better-off, some of whom control the media, feel no threat from the flu because they all hav

it's not just familiarity, it's also privilege and inequality. the better-off, some of whom control the media, feel no threat from the flu because they all have lots of psychological and social safety and good health insurance, and so we have cursory coverage of the flu, mainly to remind us to get a flu shot (and then push it out of our brains again). none of those folks are ravaged by the flu, so no panic, or coverage of heartbreaking, anecdotal cases. but covid is different in that the better-off don't already have an easy defense. so they're spreading their fear around disproportionately, so others can act on their behalf and for their safety. if it didn't affect the better-off, we'd have none of this attention and panic (and endless fretting over masks as the de facto sign of subservience).

bamboozled 6y ago
It's an interesting perspective for sure. I'm in a country with a large population who cannot afford not stop work as there is no welfare for them. I often watch those people need to go about their daily lives regardless of the Corona virus situation. Regardless of their age. For them, getting on with it is the only option and so it does make me ask questions about the motivations behind the coverage it receives as opposed to other ongoing existential issues which have been largely put on the back burner, although they really can't afford to be. I remember right before this kicked off, climate change truly took the center after the Australian bush fires was absolutely front and center. Poverty dengue fever and malaria will have killed a huge amount of people this year and are hardly discussed. Edit: I should add that it's interesting to see the difference in behavior between those from a privileged country against those who aren't in that situation. The people with money act as if this is the plague, the people without it, well they just take precautions and do their best.
- clairity 6y ago
  right, covid is the only danger as far as the better-off are concerned, and they have the influence to dictate the response. everything else can be conveniently ignored, and they have the influence to dictate that ignorance as well. it's been like that my whole life from faux-concern for africa to 9/11 to the near and dear banks of the financial crisis. edit: i should add that this is not an argument against taking precautions, particularly distancing, but a callout of the hypocrisy underlying this kind of asymmetric mobilization and resource allocation, which exacerbates inequality.

bamboozled 6y ago

It's an interesting perspective for sure. I'm in a country with a large population who cannot afford not stop work as there is no welfare for them. I often watch those people need to go about their daily lives regardless of the Corona virus situation. Regardless of their age. For them, getting on with it is the only option and so it does make me ask questions about the motivations behind the coverage it receives as opposed to other ongoing existential issues which have been largely put on the back burner, although they really can't afford to be. I remember right before this kicked off, climate change truly took the center after the Australian bush fires was absolutely front and center. Poverty dengue fever and malaria will have killed a huge amount of people this year and are hardly discussed. Edit: I should add that it's interesting to see the difference in behavior between those from a privileged country against those who aren't in that situation. The people with money act as if this is the plague, the people without it, well they just take precautions and do their best.

clairity 6y ago
right, covid is the only danger as far as the better-off are concerned, and they have the influence to dictate the response. everything else can be conveniently ignored, and they have the influence to dictate that ignorance as well. it's been like that my whole life from faux-concern for africa to 9/11 to the near and dear banks of the financial crisis. edit: i should add that this is not an argument against taking precautions, particularly distancing, but a callout of the hypocrisy underlying this kind of asymmetric mobilization and resource allocation, which exacerbates inequality.