gols
Novice Member
Posts: 163 
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Post by gols on Dec 31, 2020 15:29:30 GMT 1
Soon enough we'll be back in the world where people argue over the fiscal multipliers and all the crap forever. How wonderful. I won't be around here for that though, so feel relieved. You are going to leave this thread when Covid leaves the world? Don't do it misc! |
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gols
Novice Member
Posts: 163
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Post by gols on Dec 31, 2020 15:30:07 GMT 1
Most of them work in finance as traders and analysts. You need better friends ; ) |
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Post by miscmisc on Jan 1, 2021 6:20:57 GMT 1
Most of them work in finance as traders and analysts. You need better friends ; ) Well, they are about as "friends" as my Facebook friends, and I log on there about four times a year, so... Seriously, it sucks that it's hard to shut those "friends" out of your life in this extremely online age. |
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Post by miscmisc on Jan 1, 2021 6:24:18 GMT 1
The anti-vaxx/vaccine skepticism problem seems very serious in continental Europe. It's mostly the logistical/crap government problem in the US, but there seems to be more than that in continental Europe.
I didn't really know how serious the anti-vaxx problem was over there. Didn't know it was this bad. The polls look pretty awful, and the vaccine distribution has been extremely slow too.
Meanwhile, the polling results in the US have drastically changed in these months and now the anti-vaxxers/skeptics are a small minority. "I'm fucking sick of this whole shit... let's get it over with" is the prevailing ethos.
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Post by miscmisc on Jan 1, 2021 6:29:18 GMT 1
Everyone is praising Israel, who seems to be going to reach herd immunity in a blink of an eye, but there's absolutely no surprise. The country is permanently ready for war, with the whole system prepared for quick emergencies and mobilization, and this is a fucking war.
Also, even though Israelis tend to be highly susceptible to New Age/Eastern Alternative Medicine/Reiki/deep chakra etc., anti-vaxx has never been that popular. And that has something to do with the war/emergency mentality too.
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Post by miscmisc on Jan 2, 2021 11:29:23 GMT 1
It's really mind-boggling how slow the vaccination has been, and in Florida elderly people sleep in lawn chairs to queue for the vaccines.
It's absurd, almost comical.
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Post by miscmisc on Jan 2, 2021 11:40:05 GMT 1
So, what's up with the extraordinary prevalence of the anti-vaxx ideology in France?
The French won't be allowed to visit any other country in 2021 if such stupidity persists.
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Post by miscmisc on Jan 2, 2021 11:47:54 GMT 1
I think the problem with the Swedish government isn't most reflected in the country's infection or fatality numbers, but in the way they publish their data; In other words, in their general attitude.
Who the fuck else reports the numbers only 3-4 days a week, with the report lag being often as long as 3 fucking weeks, in this fucking Covid day and age? No one can know for sure what the hell is going on over there with such extremely incomplete data. That screams, "We don't care about stats even in the middle of a serious epidemic!"
I'm aware of no other country who is so unhelpful and unserious with key data. Where does such an irritating attitude come from? Is it just a bureaucratic bottleneck? I doubt it. This is an emergency situation.
It's baffling really. They do act like this pandemic is no big deal. Perhaps they did deserve most of the bashing.
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Post by miscmisc on Jan 2, 2021 19:14:09 GMT 1
All right, the new variant does seem SIGNIFICANTLY more transmissible. Otherwise you wouldn't be able to explain the spreading patterns in England (and Denmark too).
Now, I'm convinced that it's probably 30-50% more transmissible. That's a huge deal, folks. That makes it so much deadlier. It's actually worse than being 20% more lethal or something. High transmissibility is a killer.
And the new variant is already everywhere. Everyone must take this very seriously. A lot more people will die entirely because of this new variant, simply because a lot more people will be infected, and even more people will have to be vaccinated than previously assumed.
I may not be telling you anything new, but if you were wondering, yes, I can assure you that this is awful. The emergence of this variant makes it a lot harder to tolerate anti-vaxx.
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Post by miscmisc on Jan 2, 2021 19:43:59 GMT 1
I think I ranted about this a long time ago, but anyway:
It was a nothingburger for you because we worked hard to make it a nothingburger.
Yes, I said "we" because I was part of it.
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Post by miscmisc on Jan 2, 2021 20:33:30 GMT 1
Paging the Arizonan mod, paging the Arizonan mod, your state in danger, your state in danger...
Easily the batshit craziest state GOP, and I say that while being 100% familiar with East fucking Texas.
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Post by miscmisc on Jan 2, 2021 21:09:33 GMT 1
I talked to a couple of Brits yesterday, and neither of them remembered Boris Johnson and Co. all but made fun of other Europeans for "not really following the science" and doing what they did "only because they had to make it seem as if they were doing something" in the early days of the pandemic.
All I know about Britain comes from the FT and Guardian. I don't live there, and haven't visited there in God knows how many years. But every time I hear Johnson say that they "follow the science," I feel like screaming at him, like a reflex, while those British people do not remember it at all. I was flabbergasted.
What the fuck did that government do in the name of "following the science?" I'll tell you what: They downplayed it first and then switched to the "You'll lose your loved ones, so deal with it" herd-immunity/genocide mode. Fortunately someone/some people forced the government to change its course again, but think of those lost days due to "The Science." They said football games with 40,000 screaming spectators were perfectly fine because "The Science." They said they were fine because "there is no evidence that mass gatherings spread the virus" according to "The Science."
How could anyone forget this? I'm flabbergasted.
Science will save us from this pandemic, but not "The Science" as a talisman peddled by awful people who never take responsibility. The latter killed many people.
Amnesia, indeed. They laughed at me for recommending masks.
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Post by miscmisc on Jan 2, 2021 21:43:16 GMT 1
Now, I'm also keenly aware of the power of numbness. People get used to things, at their own peril. You should not get used to something that will eventually kill you.
A lot of people have grown numb with Covid-19 and its damage. But I'm even more concerned about US politics.
In case you are still unaware/numb, the American system won't go back to "normal" anytime soon, perhaps NEVER. Things have been broken, fatally. It will take a MONUMENTAL amount of work to get it back on something resembling a "track," but no one seems willing to do that.
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Post by miscmisc on Jan 2, 2021 22:34:59 GMT 1
It's heartwarming to see Mitch McConnell and Paul Krugman agree with each other and give the bottom half of Americans despair.
Economists, you know.
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mzn
Rookie Member
Posts: 42
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Post by mzn on Jan 2, 2021 23:59:02 GMT 1
Now, I'm also keenly aware of the power of numbness. People get used to things, at their own peril. You should not get used to something that will eventually kill you.
Hey miscmisc,
I'm really glad to see you're still reviewing everything that's fucked up about the world. For some reason the world has provided you with too much ammo this year.
I only read the last two pages of your recent work and on this lonely drunken Saturday night I would like to pick this quote to react to. I am getting the feeling I am getting used to this. I hate how people deny the virus, are sceptical about vaccines and don't follow the rules.
At the same moment, I'm struggling with the loneliness of all this. I live by myself these days and normally I would go out and see people, do stuff. The kind of things that involve a lot of people in a sweaty venue. At new year's eve I went to visit friends. As per the rules you could only invite two friends: there were three guests. At one point when no one was looking I stole a hug from a friend. Next day I feel guilty for taking such risks. Next week hopefully I notice I haven't contracted covid during Christmas and nye. And I will move on. And repeat the entire process.
To conclude this all. I was having this thought experiment. If someone were to call me (who I met recently) to tell me they came down with covid. And that because of them I would get it. I would gladly forgive them: they are only human and did what they could in these strange times. But, If I would be the one who infected others, especially my parents, I would never forgive myself.
Fuck all this, I would love to be vaccinated. But as a healthy 35 year old, I'm at the back of cue. A cue that in the Netherlands hasn't even been formed. I envy the Germans.
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