3 ms·

WW2 was bigger. The lack of mobilization is the hallmark of this crisis. The vaccines are the only bright point in sight.

ryandrake 6y ago
To me, the hallmark of this pandemic was people’s (and Americans’ in particular) unwillingness to act collectively and cooperatively for everyone’s benefit. It was a gigantic game of Prisoners Dilemma, where we could have won with everyone cooperating (masks and staying at home) but people instead chose to defect and go out protesting, refusing the masks, and buying khakis. Here we are a year later, hoping the vaccines will save us, and everyone is still out horsing around, spreading the disease everywhere.
- blhack 6y ago
  Mask use in the US is practically identical to mask use in Europe. http://www.healthdata.org/sites/default/files/files/Projects/COVID/Mask_use_infographic_2020-1.pdf http://www.healthdata.org/sites/default/files/files/Projects...
  - Toutouxc 6y ago
    Yep, and the numbers are just as shitty.
  - roytries 6y ago
    How do you conclude that from that PDF? It shows almost all of the states in the US in yellow (low mask usage). While almost all of Europe (except for the UK and Scandinavia) in blue (medium mask usage) There's even a special call-out in the PDF about the US being such an outlier: "US states and Canada stand out for their low levels of mask usage compared to many countries in Asia and South America. "
    - blhack 6y ago
      >compared to many countries in Asia and South America. I said that mask use was practically identical to Europe, not Asia or South America.
- andrewem 6y ago
  I mostly agree with you. On the topic specifically of whether protests over the summer were a significant factor in spreading the virus, I haven’t seen evidence that’s true. This article is from August so practically ancient history now, but it describes an analysis concluding the protests weren’t a major factor. If there is evidence to the contrary I would love to see it. https://news.northeastern.edu/2020/08/11/racial-justice-protests-were-not-a-major-cause-of-covid-19-infection-surges-new-national-study-finds/ https://news.northeastern.edu/2020/08/11/racial-justice-prot...
  - blhack 6y ago
    If that's true, then why don't we start outdoor music festivals back up? A good portion of my friends all lost their jobs because they work in event production. If that data is true, then they should go back to work tomorrow.
- breatheoften 6y ago
  What is buying khakis a reference to? Seems oddly specific

ryandrake 6y ago

To me, the hallmark of this pandemic was people’s (and Americans’ in particular) unwillingness to act collectively and cooperatively for everyone’s benefit. It was a gigantic game of Prisoners Dilemma, where we could have won with everyone cooperating (masks and staying at home) but people instead chose to defect and go out protesting, refusing the masks, and buying khakis. Here we are a year later, hoping the vaccines will save us, and everyone is still out horsing around, spreading the disease everywhere.

blhack 6y ago
Mask use in the US is practically identical to mask use in Europe. http://www.healthdata.org/sites/default/files/files/Projects/COVID/Mask_use_infographic_2020-1.pdf http://www.healthdata.org/sites/default/files/files/Projects...
- Toutouxc 6y ago
  Yep, and the numbers are just as shitty.
- roytries 6y ago
  How do you conclude that from that PDF? It shows almost all of the states in the US in yellow (low mask usage). While almost all of Europe (except for the UK and Scandinavia) in blue (medium mask usage) There's even a special call-out in the PDF about the US being such an outlier: "US states and Canada stand out for their low levels of mask usage compared to many countries in Asia and South America. "
  - blhack 6y ago
    >compared to many countries in Asia and South America. I said that mask use was practically identical to Europe, not Asia or South America.
andrewem 6y ago
I mostly agree with you. On the topic specifically of whether protests over the summer were a significant factor in spreading the virus, I haven’t seen evidence that’s true. This article is from August so practically ancient history now, but it describes an analysis concluding the protests weren’t a major factor. If there is evidence to the contrary I would love to see it. https://news.northeastern.edu/2020/08/11/racial-justice-protests-were-not-a-major-cause-of-covid-19-infection-surges-new-national-study-finds/ https://news.northeastern.edu/2020/08/11/racial-justice-prot...
- blhack 6y ago
  If that's true, then why don't we start outdoor music festivals back up? A good portion of my friends all lost their jobs because they work in event production. If that data is true, then they should go back to work tomorrow.
breatheoften 6y ago
What is buying khakis a reference to? Seems oddly specific