5 ms·

The death tracker that was glued to the shot of some cable news programs 24/7 in the US is an example of fear porn. The model used by modern media is indefensi

by throwaway20875 6y ago

The death tracker that was glued to the shot of some cable news programs 24/7 in the US is an example of fear porn. The model used by modern media is indefensible. It's the same with social media. Unprincipled and willing to do anything to attract viewership/engagement.

DiogenesKynikos 6y ago
The US did far too little to control the spread of the virus, which is why half a million Americans have died. The problem wasn't that people were too scared. It was that there wasn't coordinated, decisive action - specifically, a strict lockdown for several weeks in early 2020 to bring incidence to near zero, followed by rigorous contact-tracing and snuffing out of outbreaks as they occurred. China did this, and as a consequence, fewer than 5000 people have died there, and people have been able to go about their lives more normally for the last year.
- BrianOnHN 6y ago
  It's [actually not] funny the same people that oppose this are the same ones that think they have the right to: 1. Consequence-less broadcasting of any speech (i.e., sympathizing with nazis and lying to vulnerable people about life-threatening illness). 2. Unfettered access to life-ending technology (guns) 3. Unwavering support for unborn lives. Smh
  - testesttest 6y ago
    Lots of assumtions. Maybe, they just want their kid to be able to return to school. Also, this response is the reason for the anon account. People on the internet are quick to categorize and demonize.
  - Gravey 6y ago
    While there may be some strong arguments for the China approach to COVID management, I’m not sure I find your enumerated list of ad-hominem strawmans and head shaking very convincing.
- throwaway20875 6y ago
  Yes, you're right - in order to take more effective action we need to plaster a running death count to the TV screen 24/7 for every American media consumer to view. Time Warner/Comcast/Viacom/Fox know what's best for us and it has absolutely nothing to do with them manipulating emotions for profit.
  - DiogenesKynikos 6y ago
    It's just not been my impression at all that people are too worried in the US about the number of deaths. Quite the opposite, actually. The most stunning aspect of the pandemic, to me, has been how American society has accepted half a million deaths. I would have considered that unthinkable just a year ago.
    - throwaway20875 6y ago
      I agree with you. But COVID is not unique: people have been dying unnecessary deaths in this country for a long time, and have accelerated in recent years. Go read up on deaths of despair. Look at the rise in healthcare costs, or how unhealthy our food is. It's no wonder that a society of unhealthy, isolated, and stressed people are succumbing to a disease that kills those with suppressed immune systems.
      - DiogenesKynikos 6y ago
        The reason for the large number of deaths in the US is not that Americans have suppressed immune systems, are stressed, or are otherwise unhealthy. It's that the virus has been allowed to spread. The infection fatality rate in the US is not 500x higher than in China. The number of infections per capita is, however. The difference is that one country had a strict lockdown, followed by rigorous contact tracing, and the other did not.
        throwaway20875 6y ago
        I think other Western nations are better comparisons for a number of reasons. I don't think discussing China's approach is a productive conversation. >The reason for the large number of deaths in the US is not that Americans have suppressed immune systems, are stressed, or are otherwise unhealthy. I disagree. And even if we were to stop COVID from killing so many, it's reckless to consider this as not a significant contributor to any unnecessary deaths. New variants of existing diseases are inevitable.
BrianOnHN 6y ago
I'm curious, why did you post from a throwaway to express this sentiment?
- throwaway20875 6y ago
  I use only a throwaway account. I'd rather stay anonymous, especially when I cannot delete my posts.
  - BrianOnHN 6y ago
    If what you have to say isn't worth your reputation, then maybe you should think twice before spreading that same thought to real [and often vulnerable] people on the still-nascent internet.
    - throwaway20875 6y ago
      >If what you have to say isn't worth your reputation Because I believe the current trajectory of society will place more than just my reputation at risk for expressing my thoughts. Make of that what you will.
      - BrianOnHN 6y ago
        Don't worry, people already know who you are, and you'll get what you deserve no matter how much you try to hide it.
        throwaway20875 6y ago
        >Don't worry, people already know who you are, and you'll get what you deserve no matter how much you try to hide it. That's going to be yikes from me, dog. Thank you for driving home my point, though. I don't think you're aware of how dangerous your mentality is and where it leads. I'd suggest to you that I am not your enemy and we likely have a lot of common ground. I don't think the US handled COVID well and I don't like to see others suffer so needlessly. I also think that there are many things we can do to prevent further diseases such as reduce our dependency on factory farming and to invest more in improving the general health of our country. I don't suspect you'd disagree with those thoughts.

DiogenesKynikos 6y ago

The US did far too little to control the spread of the virus, which is why half a million Americans have died. The problem wasn't that people were too scared. It was that there wasn't coordinated, decisive action - specifically, a strict lockdown for several weeks in early 2020 to bring incidence to near zero, followed by rigorous contact-tracing and snuffing out of outbreaks as they occurred. China did this, and as a consequence, fewer than 5000 people have died there, and people have been able to go about their lives more normally for the last year.

BrianOnHN 6y ago
It's [actually not] funny the same people that oppose this are the same ones that think they have the right to: 1. Consequence-less broadcasting of any speech (i.e., sympathizing with nazis and lying to vulnerable people about life-threatening illness). 2. Unfettered access to life-ending technology (guns) 3. Unwavering support for unborn lives. Smh
- testesttest 6y ago
  Lots of assumtions. Maybe, they just want their kid to be able to return to school. Also, this response is the reason for the anon account. People on the internet are quick to categorize and demonize.
- Gravey 6y ago
  While there may be some strong arguments for the China approach to COVID management, I’m not sure I find your enumerated list of ad-hominem strawmans and head shaking very convincing.
throwaway20875 6y ago
Yes, you're right - in order to take more effective action we need to plaster a running death count to the TV screen 24/7 for every American media consumer to view. Time Warner/Comcast/Viacom/Fox know what's best for us and it has absolutely nothing to do with them manipulating emotions for profit.
- DiogenesKynikos 6y ago
  It's just not been my impression at all that people are too worried in the US about the number of deaths. Quite the opposite, actually. The most stunning aspect of the pandemic, to me, has been how American society has accepted half a million deaths. I would have considered that unthinkable just a year ago.
  - throwaway20875 6y ago
    I agree with you. But COVID is not unique: people have been dying unnecessary deaths in this country for a long time, and have accelerated in recent years. Go read up on deaths of despair. Look at the rise in healthcare costs, or how unhealthy our food is. It's no wonder that a society of unhealthy, isolated, and stressed people are succumbing to a disease that kills those with suppressed immune systems.
    - DiogenesKynikos 6y ago
      The reason for the large number of deaths in the US is not that Americans have suppressed immune systems, are stressed, or are otherwise unhealthy. It's that the virus has been allowed to spread. The infection fatality rate in the US is not 500x higher than in China. The number of infections per capita is, however. The difference is that one country had a strict lockdown, followed by rigorous contact tracing, and the other did not.
      - throwaway20875 6y ago
        I think other Western nations are better comparisons for a number of reasons. I don't think discussing China's approach is a productive conversation. >The reason for the large number of deaths in the US is not that Americans have suppressed immune systems, are stressed, or are otherwise unhealthy. I disagree. And even if we were to stop COVID from killing so many, it's reckless to consider this as not a significant contributor to any unnecessary deaths. New variants of existing diseases are inevitable.

BrianOnHN 6y ago

I'm curious, why did you post from a throwaway to express this sentiment?

throwaway20875 6y ago
I use only a throwaway account. I'd rather stay anonymous, especially when I cannot delete my posts.
- BrianOnHN 6y ago
  If what you have to say isn't worth your reputation, then maybe you should think twice before spreading that same thought to real [and often vulnerable] people on the still-nascent internet.
  - throwaway20875 6y ago
    >If what you have to say isn't worth your reputation Because I believe the current trajectory of society will place more than just my reputation at risk for expressing my thoughts. Make of that what you will.
    - BrianOnHN 6y ago
      Don't worry, people already know who you are, and you'll get what you deserve no matter how much you try to hide it.
      - throwaway20875 6y ago
        >Don't worry, people already know who you are, and you'll get what you deserve no matter how much you try to hide it. That's going to be yikes from me, dog. Thank you for driving home my point, though. I don't think you're aware of how dangerous your mentality is and where it leads. I'd suggest to you that I am not your enemy and we likely have a lot of common ground. I don't think the US handled COVID well and I don't like to see others suffer so needlessly. I also think that there are many things we can do to prevent further diseases such as reduce our dependency on factory farming and to invest more in improving the general health of our country. I don't suspect you'd disagree with those thoughts.