That's mob mentality. We don't need anything like that.
Readit NewsIt's easy to point at others for imperfect data and imperfect science when the situation is evolving so fast and data is so hard to come by. It seems to me that papers being retracted due to inaccurate evidence is not a sign of sensationalism but of sound science. Once can argue that more diligence should be practiced in the review process, but I assume everyone is trying their best to get the information out there ASAP.
In any case, policies need to be enacted now (or rather two weeks ago) in any but the best case scenarios. There is no time to wait for more accurate information. If one argues that exaggeration is rampant and we should learn more before making hasty decisions, then that's essentially arguing for inaction. Even if that was the right action I suspect the induced panic in the society will be even greater.
The author also seems to be implicitly weighing the dire consequences of a pandemic (maybe millions more people dying) against the supposed reputation damage to science, which is bizarre to say the least.
The response will have it consequences too, lost lives, destroyed businesses, ruined families, lost requirement savings.
Reading that comment charitably, I guess they meant something about fear sometimes being a productive motivating emotion. In my view, panic is fear strong enough to override rationality. Cool-headed fear might be a good thing, but panic usually isn't.
Right, panic is pure emotion, fight or flight, hard be rational in that state. Covid19 is "sobering". 100 years since the 1918 flu and we still aren't ready. Even with the billions we spend on health care.
There was a comment on HN a few days ago basically saying, "what's wrong with panic, maybe we should be panicking" and I just found that comment frightening. We mock all the "idiots" buying up the toilet paper, but panic clouds the clear thinking of even the "intelligent". It can absolutely effect our leaders and medical professionals.
It's possible, the market jumps at every little bit of good news. Once we are on the other side of the curve, we'll see what happens.
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ropiwqefjnpoa commented on Chloroquine, past and present blogs.sciencemag.org/pipe... · Posted by u/ilamont
How well does chloroquine mix with gin? Asking for a friend.
Mixes well, only minimal brain damage ;)
ropiwqefjnpoa commented on Chloroquine, past and present blogs.sciencemag.org/pipe... · Posted by u/ilamont
Quinine is amazing stuff and quite easy to make, but the poison is in the dosage. Controlling that when you're making your own with cinchona bark isn't something you want to do trial and error style, serious side effects.
Literally every other card in the deck is in the hands of the kind of people who will hoard toilet paper to sell it for 10 times its value then publicly complain when outrage mounts.