3 ms·
The theories seem to be: 1) Zoonotic 2) We have no idea, 3) Lab leak 4) Purposefully created and released bioweapon. What seems to have happened is that there
by Lazare 5y ago
The theories seem to be: 1) Zoonotic 2) We have no idea, 3) Lab leak 4) Purposefully created and released bioweapon.
What seems to have happened is that there's a large group that have always backed theory 2, but theories 2, 3, and 4 were lumped together, and then all effectively suppressed, meaning all you saw being discussed was theory 1, despite the fact that it was always a minority view.
What happened fairly recently is that, for various reasons, theories 2 and 3 is no longer being effectively treated as synonymous with theory 4, and thus it's now "safe" to discuss theory 2 and 3. And now the large group of people who always backed theory 2 are seemingly everywhere.
(I'd caution against interpreting people supporting what I've labelled theory 2 as "implicitly accepting the lab leak hypothesis". As the linked article states, "...the only conclusion here is that of doubt. There is no direct evidence that COVID-19 escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.")
- bob33212 5y agoPart of the confusion is that lab leak theory includes a zoonotic component. The virus started as a bat virus and then was modified in the lab. When Trump says "china made this virus" people assume he is saying it was made from scratch or made maliciously. Both of which are unlikely and Trump has a history of saying thing that are total bullshit like "my investigators in Hawaii are going to find proof of Obama's birth"
- alisonkisk 5y agoTrump's non-stop intentional effort to say outrageous and nonsensical things in order to inflame passions (for his own personal profit) and try to hide his own ignorance and lack of work ethic, make it important to have an honest public conversation. This can't be understated. It went so far that half a million US Americans died due a botched response that included people refusing to take basic safety precautions (and supported by their political leaders) just to "to own the libs"
- smoldesu 5y agoIt's a shame half a million Americans died to bring us a lesson most people learn in kindergarten.
- pvaldes 5y agoAnd 5) lab detected (But this one is losing power) 'We don't know' can't be a theory (by definition). Theories try to explain and know.