The Coronavirus Thread...

[Cotton]

It will never. be. enough.

 

[yimyammer]

@yimyammer Just for the record, Gates did say it would be about 2022 (actually I think he said 12 to 18 months) before we got back to "normal." Maybe it wasn't in that particular clip but I heard more of that interview in several radio shows yesterday.

Just clarifying that it wasn't a lie that he said it.

I don’t have a problem with that assessment and given what I know so far, think it sounds reasonable and said as much in a subsequent post.

The issue I had with the Twitter comment was saying: “Bill Gates wants local businesses and services to remain closed” which is not what he said plus that seemed to imply Gates was taking some pleasure in the closings or at least didn’t care and if that’s how people took it, folks understandably react negatively and perhaps stop listening to Gates or dismiss his opinion all together which I dont want us to do. He’s worthy of being part of the conversation and would much prefer listening to guys like him over most politicians

and if it seems like I’m going overboard over something mundane, it’s because I’m sick of misleading headlines from all sources. In seemingly every case, when I take the time to reconcile a story to the headline, they are wildly different and completely misleading. And since most people never read beyond the headlines, everyone is getting fired up over bullshit and I think in many cases it’s dividing us unnecessarily. So, while it’s a pipe dream, I want that shit to stop and people to be more critical of headlines or provocative tweets to determine if they reconcile to the facts so I’m taking the time when I can to point out the misleading headlines when I see them.

I‘m sick of everything being twisted in some slick way to evoke a response and dream of a day when facts and truth are presented unvarnished supported by sound logic, reason & evidence which forces us to react accordingly or deal with the consequences of denial

I also respect the opinions of the folks on this board and know I’ll get push back when I get something wrong so it’s a win-win to make these posts when I have the time

 

[Chocolate Lab]

The issue I had with the Twitter comment was saying: “Bill Gates wants local businesses and services to remain closed” which is not what he said

What do you mean? He didn't say it verbatim but it's clear that's what he wants.

plus that seemed to imply Gates was taking some pleasure in the closings or at least didn’t care

He damn sure doesn't seem very upset by it.

And why should he be? He'll never feel the effects of it. Ordinary people will.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

It will never. be. enough.

What. The. Fuck.

First, the risk to kids is absolutely miniscule.
Second, we now know that surface transmission is rare.
Third, what good is unwrapping the presents going to do?

Poor Australia. How can they allow this tyranny? What happened to their image as rugged individualist tough people?

 

[yimyammer]

What do you mean? He didn't say it verbatim but it's clear that's what he wants.
He damn sure doesn't seem very upset by it.

And why should he be? He'll never feel the effects of it. Ordinary people will.

He said:

"Bars & restaurants in most of the country will be closed as we go into this wave and I think sadly that is appropriate."

which is more specific than saying all "local businesses & services to remain closed" and he used the word "sadly" which I took to mean he is empathetic toward the effects on those businesses.

He may be wrong & we can disagree with him but I think he's a pretty intelligent, unemotional and pragmatic guy who is offering his opinion of what he thinks is best. Plus, he's not a politician trying to gain favor, votes, status, enrich his donors, etc, etc, so what does he have to gain by suggesting bars and restaurants need to be shut down if he doesnt really believe its necessary?

Nothing that I can see.

If he's wrong, lets discuss how bars and restaurants can remain open and mitigate risk at the same time.

I suspect if we had an opportunity to hear exactly how he thinks restaurants and bars should operate during this time, it would be more nuanced and probably not all or nothing but who knows, it was too short of an interview to know for certain.

And it really doesnt matter what he feels, it matters what he does and from what I've gathered, he's spent a huge amount of his time and resources on very worthy causes and that gives him some credibility and a little rope to hang himself in my book.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

He's a guy who got incredibly rich building a software company. That doesn't make him an expert on everything.

Yes, he threw in a "sadly." I think his little smirk belies how sad he really is about it.

I get that you're a Gates fanboy. That's fine, but I'm not.

In fact I think I'll call him "billi" from now on.

 

[yimyammer]

He's a guy who got incredibly rich building a software company. That doesn't make him an expert on everything.

I absolutely agree!

Yes, he threw in a "sadly." I think his little smirk belies how sad he really is about it.

I get that you're a Gates fanboy. That's fine, but I'm not.

In fact I think I'll call him "billi" from now on.

thats your choice amigo, have at him.

I'm no fanboy of anyone but I do respect well read individuals, who appear to be intelligent, logical and reasoned with their views.

so what did billi do to rustle your jimmies?

 

[Genghis Khan]

I absolutely agree!



thats your choice amigo, have at him.

I'm no fanboy of anyone but I do respect well read individuals, who appear to be intelligent, logical and reasoned with their views.

so what did billi do to rustle your jimmies?

I don't see anything intelligent, logical or reasoned about advocating for severe government restrictions to the point that small businesses are failing in droves, people are losing jobs, families are suffering, people can't go to funerals, or travel or attend church or get married, see each other, or pursue happiness, over a virus that has a 99% recovery rate.

If someone wants to say, hey watch what you do, who you interact with, try to maintain distance, wear a mask, wear a hazmat suit, a fish bowl over your head, encase yourself in bubble wrap, take this seriously... that's fine I don't have a problem with that.

If someone is saying the government must shut you down against your will and/or force you to do or wear or not do anything that you ought to have a right to do, you've lost me.

We are adults. We have agency over our lives as a natural right. We should accept nothing short of that. Anything less is a massive step backwards for humanity.

 

[Cotton]

I don't see anything intelligent, logical or reasoned about advocating for severe government restrictions to the point that small businesses are failing in droves, people are losing jobs, families are suffering, people can't go to funerals, or travel or attend church or get married, see each other, or pursue happiness, over a virus that has a 99% recovery rate.

If someone wants to say, hey watch what you do, who you interact with, try to maintain distance, wear a mask, wear a hazmat suit, a fish bowl over your head, encase yourself in bubble wrap, take this seriously... that's fine I don't have a problem with that.

If someone is saying the government must shut you down against your will, you've lost me.

We are adults. We have agency over our lives as a natural right. We should accept nothing short of that. Anything less is a massive step backwards for humanity.

Spot on, brother.

 

[yimyammer]

I don't see anything intelligent, logical or reasoned about advocating for severe government restrictions to the point that small businesses are failing in droves, people are losing jobs, families are suffering, people can't go to funerals, or travel or attend church or get married, see each other, or pursue happiness, over a virus that has a 99% recovery rate.

If someone wants to say, hey watch what you do, who you interact with, try to maintain distance, wear a mask, wear a hazmat suit, a fish bowl over your head, encase yourself in bubble wrap, take this seriously... that's fine I don't have a problem with that.

If someone is saying the government must shut you down against your will and/or force you to do or wear or not do anything that you ought to have a right to do, you've lost me.

We are adults. We have agency over our lives as a natural right. We should accept nothing short of that. Anything less is a massive step backwards for humanity.

Good and fair points which I largely agree with (I didn't conclude Gates was advocating to the extent of your example but perhaps I'm mistaken & he is)

What I'm having trouble figuring out how to manage/mitigate is where my freedoms infringe on others (& vice versa) so for example say I have covid but am asymptomatic, go to a bar, restaurant, wherever and infect many others unknowingly. Does that matter or should I just shrug it off as not my problem, people chose to go out and take that risk? If not, then what is a reasonable way to help reduce the risk of spread?

I ponder the legality of drugs as an example, my inclination is to let people do whatever the hell they want but when their addiction has to be supported by theft, crime, etc which causes their freedom to infringe upon someone else's, then I start to wonder if drugs should remain outlawed. I'm afraid in the case of drugs, its likely a damned if you do, damned if you don't type of situation.

Would I be accurate in saying you believe all we should be doing from a governmental standpoint is offering a detailed list of suggestions and warnings and then letting people decide for themselves what they want to comply with, where they want to go, etc and then let the chips fall where they may in terms of sickness & death?

I think that's kind of where I'm at currently unless all hospitals would be overwhelmed causing the fatality rate to shoot through the roof in all categories due to insufficient staffing and facilities.

Would we stilll feel this way if the fatality rate was 5%? Is there any percentage change that would ever justify shutting things down?

I'm really bothered by the group think that has taken over in regard to Covid, BLM, etc....some humans really love to huddle up and demonize one another, I guess thats the way its always going to be (sadly with a smirk )

 

[p1_]

When did Bill Gates become a virologist or epidemiologist?

Dont you know, he’s an authority on all things. By virtue of his immense wealth

 

[yimyammer]

What are everyones thoughts on the following article & video, anything to be learned and applied from this:

Military-grade camera shows risks of airborne coronavirus spread

More than 288,000 Americans have been killed by a virus that public health officials now say can be spread through airborne transmission.

www.inquirer.com

 

[Cotton]

What are everyones thoughts on the following article & video, anything to be learned and applied from this:

Military-grade camera shows risks of airborne coronavirus spread

More than 288,000 Americans have been killed by a virus that public health officials now say can be spread through airborne transmission.

www.inquirer.com

Sure, they show the particulates coming out of those people's mouths, but what I want to see if a cotton mask on their faces to see if there is any difference in the amount that gets past the mask. My guess is there wouldn't be much difference.

 

[NoDak]

I don't see anything intelligent, logical or reasoned about advocating for severe government restrictions to the point that small businesses are failing in droves, people are losing jobs, families are suffering, people can't go to funerals, or travel or attend church or get married, see each other, or pursue happiness, over a virus that has a 99% recovery rate.

If someone wants to say, hey watch what you do, who you interact with, try to maintain distance, wear a mask, wear a hazmat suit, a fish bowl over your head, encase yourself in bubble wrap, take this seriously... that's fine I don't have a problem with that.

If someone is saying the government must shut you down against your will and/or force you to do or wear or not do anything that you ought to have a right to do, you've lost me.

We are adults. We have agency over our lives as a natural right. We should accept nothing short of that. Anything less is a massive step backwards for humanity.

 

[NoDak]

I think that's kind of where I'm at currently unless all hospitals would be overwhelmed causing the fatality rate to shoot through the roof in all categories due to insufficient staffing and facilities.

We've been told this was happening numerous times over the last 11 months. Yet... It hasn't. The infection rates have gone up (if you can trust those numbers) yet the fatality rates have fallen. Even counting their enhanced numbers of covid deaths. Deaths from stage 4 cancer, but they tested positive. Car accident victims that tested positive post mortem. Etc...

 

[Chocolate Lab]

so what did billi do to rustle your jimmies?

Nothing until now. And it's not even so much him, it's people who treat him like some kind of authority when he's not.

I'm getting tired of what seems to be the growing power and influence of tech billionaires. No one elected them to anything. They just have a lot of money.

 

[Cotton]

Nothing until now. And it's not even so much him, it's people who treat him like some kind of authority when he's not.

I'm getting tired of what seems to be the growing power and influence of tech billionaires. No one elected them to anything. They just have a lot of money.

The exact same thing can be said about the Hollywood types. People take their words for way more than they are worth. Every time I see a celebrity giving their "advice" I am normally muttering under my breath how little I give a shit about they have to say.

 

[yimyammer]

Sure, they show the particulates coming out of those people's mouths, but what I want to see if a cotton mask on their faces to see if there is any difference in the amount that gets past the mask. My guess is there wouldn't be much difference.

are you talking about these type of masks:



if so, then I would too because my girlfriend wears this type of mask and I keep asking her if we know whether that even does anything

 

[Cotton]

are you talking about these type of masks:

View attachment 690997

if so, then I would too because my girlfriends wears this type of mask and I keep asking her if we know whether that even does anything

Yes, those. Which is what 99% of people wear.

What's the damn point? It's almost like they are just happy to force us to wear masks regardless of whether it is effective or not.

 

[yimyammer]

Nothing until now. And it's not even so much him, it's people who treat him like some kind of authority when he's not.

I'm getting tired of what seems to be the growing power and influence of tech billionaires. No one elected them to anything. They just have a lot of money.

I dont look up to anyone as an authority but I like listening to a lot of different views and the more well read and intelligent they are, the better imo. It doesnt mean I shut off my brain and worship at the alter of whatever comes out of someones mouth but I certainly find opinions coming from people like Gates far more persuasive than some politician or some athlete like LeBron James who probably hasn't read or thought about jack shit and is merely parroting wherever the tide of public opinion is flowing that day. And my consideration of Gates opinions has zero to do with how much money he has.

I wish you'd watch the doc about Gates and get back to me on what you thought, I'm not advocating for bowing at his feet, simply consider where he spends his time and money and see if you see any value there and whether he might have some credibility on certain subjects.

If I had as much money as he does, I'm afraid I'd turn into a fat, lazy, worthless bastard, kind of like how I am now but only worse