4 ms·

your comment is fair, but the LA times article is about super-spreaders.. remember super-predators? the fearmongering pumped out of mainstream media, which well

by modzu 6y ago

your comment is fair, but the LA times article is about super-spreaders.. remember super-predators? the fearmongering pumped out of mainstream media, which well predates covid, isnt why any of us read hn. if a covid topic is to remain on hn until the pandemic is resolved, there could be better sources.

totalZero 6y ago
The term "super-spreader" was used to describe certain individuals in past disease outbreaks, including SARS. It means that there are some people who produce and share far more viral material than average (right-tail individuals, so to speak). There is no more a connection between "super-spreaders" and "super-predators," as there is between either of those two terms and "superman." https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/06/15/1003576/whats-a-coronavirus-superspreader/ https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/06/15/1003576/whats-a-...
- modzu 6y ago
  im familiar with the pareto principle. the point im trying to make is just that its usage by the la times is intended to trigger fear. super-man doesn't trigger fear -- thats the difference in analogies. it would be equally valid to say, "virus spreads via supertypical method around a supertypical gathering", imo
  - totalZero 6y ago
    I think you're ascribing too much malice to the phrase "super-spreader." It just means "someone who spreads beyond what is typical." The pejorative connotation from "super-predator" comes from the "-predator" part. If you're afraid of the word "spreader," then I suggest that you stay away from the lawn care section of your local home improvement retailer. People are afraid of disease. That doesn't mean we should stop using the word "disease." EDIT: I can't speak for the LA Times, and I'm not trying to defend them. Maybe they have an axe to grind. My comments are restricted to the terminology itself.

4 ms·

your comment is fair, but the LA times article is about super-spreaders.. remember super-predators? the fearmongering pumped out of mainstream media, which well

by modzu 6y ago

totalZero 6y ago
The term "super-spreader" was used to describe certain individuals in past disease outbreaks, including SARS. It means that there are some people who produce and share far more viral material than average (right-tail individuals, so to speak). There is no more a connection between "super-spreaders" and "super-predators," as there is between either of those two terms and "superman." https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/06/15/1003576/whats-a-coronavirus-superspreader/ https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/06/15/1003576/whats-a-...
- modzu 6y ago
  im familiar with the pareto principle. the point im trying to make is just that its usage by the la times is intended to trigger fear. super-man doesn't trigger fear -- thats the difference in analogies. it would be equally valid to say, "virus spreads via supertypical method around a supertypical gathering", imo
  - totalZero 6y ago
    I think you're ascribing too much malice to the phrase "super-spreader." It just means "someone who spreads beyond what is typical." The pejorative connotation from "super-predator" comes from the "-predator" part. If you're afraid of the word "spreader," then I suggest that you stay away from the lawn care section of your local home improvement retailer. People are afraid of disease. That doesn't mean we should stop using the word "disease." EDIT: I can't speak for the LA Times, and I'm not trying to defend them. Maybe they have an axe to grind. My comments are restricted to the terminology itself.