4 ms·

Can we give it to the coronavirus instead? I feel like a reminder of the human races mortality is just what world peace needed.

mtmail 6y ago
If I can become person of the year, so can the Coronavirus. 2006 person of the year was "you - Representing individual content creators on the World Wide Web" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_%28Time_Person_of_the_Year%29 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_%28Time_Person_of_the_Year...
fastball 6y ago
I feel like coronavirus has had the opposite effect. More tribalism than ever. "My country is doing better than your country", "Sweden is doing it wrong", "Chinese virus" and all that.
- Johnjonjoan 6y ago
  I did think of that before I posted. I think though long term (once we are out of this) we will now take threats to humanity much more seriously. I can only speak for myself: Personally I've always seen myself as an observer to humanity. I know what's right and I'd like to make it happen but there's so many people trying to get ahead there's no point. The cards are stacked against me and I was scared to fail. Covid for all its badness has made me realise I can't just observe. Whilst there are people who don't want what's best in power we are in this precarious position where humanity could fail. My hope however optimistic it is, is that people who are good will also realise they have to act and they can't just watch. As the old saying goes all it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing. That saying has always meant a lot to me and I've always stood by the fact I would stand up and be counted when I was needed; this coronavirus made me realise I was needed right now.
  - kube-system 6y ago
    I doubt that this pandemic will make the world take threats to humanity any more seriously than any of the other pandemics we’ve had. I can’t think of any reason why this one would be different. If anything, we all lucked out with how mild it was, and people are going to be less cautious when a much deadlier virus makes the rounds next time.
    - Johnjonjoan 6y ago
      The way I see it this kind of global threat has been unprecedented since ww2 and I am also of the belief ww2 did a lot for world peace. We are indeed lucky it's not been more serious. I am not pertaining to know the future and I do admit there is a very high chance I'm being overly optimistic - basically I accept your appraisal of the situation is sadly more probable.
- peeters 6y ago
  I don't know, that seems mostly limited to the U.S. who everyone else mostly just pities at this point. I'm in Canada and I wholeheartedly wish the U.S. was faring better. But unfortunately it just comes down to wishing they voted for leaders who exhibited a modicum of empathy instead of blaming it on external factors. For most of the other areas it's a shared journey. Mourning with Italy because they were hit so early. Being scared for Sweden and the UK in their decisions to try to build up herd immunity. Tribalism is "us vs them", I don't think most people have that attitude for coronavirus. Everyone wants everyone to succeed so that we can all learn from it.
- darelover 6y ago
  What's do you mean by "Sweden is doing it wrong"?
  - TuringNYC 6y ago
    They are referring to Sweden's decision to pursue herd immunity instead of a lockdown. Most countries tried or pretended to try lockdowns. Only a handful of countries have opted for Herd Immunity, so it is a controversial decision (esp because it sacrifices some people (mostly the elderly) for the good of the whole) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herd_immunity https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herd_immunity
- jmeister 6y ago
  Also a net loss of faith in scientists. After the pathetic failure of epidemic projection models, it’s natural to harbor atleast some doubt about the climate models, and think, “do these scientists really know what they’re doing?”

mtmail 6y ago

If I can become person of the year, so can the Coronavirus. 2006 person of the year was "you - Representing individual content creators on the World Wide Web" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_%28Time_Person_of_the_Year%29 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_%28Time_Person_of_the_Year...

fastball 6y ago

I feel like coronavirus has had the opposite effect. More tribalism than ever. "My country is doing better than your country", "Sweden is doing it wrong", "Chinese virus" and all that.

Johnjonjoan 6y ago
I did think of that before I posted. I think though long term (once we are out of this) we will now take threats to humanity much more seriously. I can only speak for myself: Personally I've always seen myself as an observer to humanity. I know what's right and I'd like to make it happen but there's so many people trying to get ahead there's no point. The cards are stacked against me and I was scared to fail. Covid for all its badness has made me realise I can't just observe. Whilst there are people who don't want what's best in power we are in this precarious position where humanity could fail. My hope however optimistic it is, is that people who are good will also realise they have to act and they can't just watch. As the old saying goes all it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing. That saying has always meant a lot to me and I've always stood by the fact I would stand up and be counted when I was needed; this coronavirus made me realise I was needed right now.
- kube-system 6y ago
  I doubt that this pandemic will make the world take threats to humanity any more seriously than any of the other pandemics we’ve had. I can’t think of any reason why this one would be different. If anything, we all lucked out with how mild it was, and people are going to be less cautious when a much deadlier virus makes the rounds next time.
  - Johnjonjoan 6y ago
    The way I see it this kind of global threat has been unprecedented since ww2 and I am also of the belief ww2 did a lot for world peace. We are indeed lucky it's not been more serious. I am not pertaining to know the future and I do admit there is a very high chance I'm being overly optimistic - basically I accept your appraisal of the situation is sadly more probable.
peeters 6y ago
I don't know, that seems mostly limited to the U.S. who everyone else mostly just pities at this point. I'm in Canada and I wholeheartedly wish the U.S. was faring better. But unfortunately it just comes down to wishing they voted for leaders who exhibited a modicum of empathy instead of blaming it on external factors. For most of the other areas it's a shared journey. Mourning with Italy because they were hit so early. Being scared for Sweden and the UK in their decisions to try to build up herd immunity. Tribalism is "us vs them", I don't think most people have that attitude for coronavirus. Everyone wants everyone to succeed so that we can all learn from it.
darelover 6y ago
What's do you mean by "Sweden is doing it wrong"?
- TuringNYC 6y ago
  They are referring to Sweden's decision to pursue herd immunity instead of a lockdown. Most countries tried or pretended to try lockdowns. Only a handful of countries have opted for Herd Immunity, so it is a controversial decision (esp because it sacrifices some people (mostly the elderly) for the good of the whole) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herd_immunity https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herd_immunity
jmeister 6y ago
Also a net loss of faith in scientists. After the pathetic failure of epidemic projection models, it’s natural to harbor atleast some doubt about the climate models, and think, “do these scientists really know what they’re doing?”