Topic: Corona Virus Panic/Discussion Thread

@nessisonett Trump? I don't know how he would. He barely won last time by clinching a few key states, and he's polling significantly worse in key battleground states in 2020. Still, I realize it's a long time until November, and this year has been horrible, so I'm not counting my chickens yet. I think he'll be as horrible as possible on his way out, though.

@Octane You're approaching this from the standpoint of a rational human being. Approach it from a tribal perspective instead. Masks are seen as a sign of capitulation to your cultural enemies, and your chief has made a point of not wearing them. If you're a bootlicker who cares more about virtue signaling to the president than caring for the public health of your residents, then it makes sense. His people will mumble something about freedom, and then point out that they've 'strongly recommended' face coverings when people call them out on helping to perpetuate unnecessary mass death.

On the plus side, I heard some vaccine trials have seen some favorable early results. By no means are things a foregone conclusion, but maybe a glimmer of hope on the horizon? (For the virus that is... I have no hope for any return to rational, honest, and coherent actions by the public or the powers-that-be. That ship seems to have sailed.)

@Th3solution In terms of developing a vaccine. There is a ''fast'' way to do it (so called RNA/DNA vaccines). This is because the method is rigorously tested and proven to be safe. Meaning that you can quickly get to the latest testing stages. The problem is that this method hasn't yielded an actual vaccine that is available on the market yet. It works in theory, but somehow in practice it doesn't work as expected.

I presume this is the method they are talking about when they mention they'd get it done this year, because there's no other method AFAIK that can be developed this quickly.

I would be surprising if it suddenly worked for this specific coronavirus, so I personally wouldn't get my hopes up. Our best chances at the moment are a classic/whole virus vaccine, but that's going to take until 2021 before we see those on the market.

@Octane

I don’t think I actually realised how widespread anti-mask nonsense was until NLife put up an article about Smash characters wearing masks and the comment section turned into an absolute dumpster fire. Like, I’m not sure if this implies that loads of Americans have their priorities backwards, or just gamers? I did find it funny that my comment saying that anti-maskers are morons was edited to ‘anti-maskers really concern me’ though, it makes me sound like Phillip Schofield. Meanwhile the comment saying that masks were a form of tyranny was perfectly ok and allowed to remain. I kinda know what Neolit meant now, they should tell us if our comments were edited because as it stands, we’re technically saying things that we didn’t type out. It’s hardly the hill I’m going to die on but it does rankle me a bit.

@nessisonett In also love how the mod their on NL says don't make any political remarks or they will be deleted. Then why put that kind of article out then? You know it's going to turn into a political storm in the comments.

@Genrou I hate to be that guy but I did say on the last Brie Larson article that it would just devolve into a fight. It then generated over 150 comments, 90% of which were people fighting. Then the next article about her, maybe a few days later, lasted 50 comments before it was closed by the mods. I’m all for writing the articles you want to but come on, you know what you’re getting yourself into when you put something like that out. It’s all a bit rich of me to say considering the absolute hellstorms I’ve caused in the past but there has to be more repercussions because it’s gotten out of hand. Spreading misinformation about the use of masks is a public health hazard. I wonder if they’ll miraculously change their mind now that Dr Wotsit has flip-flopped on the use of masks.

@nessisonett Yeah I don't know what's up with Nintendo Life lately the quality of their articles use to be quite good but now their articles are like something I expect from IGN not Nintendo Life. I don't if it's cause of of the latest batch of writers or what. It seems though that they are going for more of a tabloid feel with all these controversial articles.

I mean ultimately, it says something about the state of the world that wearing a face mask during a global pandemic that has killed thousands is somehow a political statement. [Puts tin hat on] It is almost like making the wearing of masks a political thing distracts from the ongoing blame and discussion on the poor handling of the pandemic in many countries.

I don't think either are controversial articles really when you take a step back. So I mean, you could argue a fan made Smash mask or whatever isn't a worthy article but I don't think you can say that they shouldn't post it because complete plonkers will get angry. It is the same with Brie Larson - I get she is a celeb and a gamer but articles on her seem out of place on a newsite, especially since she has launched her own platform to talk about games/geek culture and will constantly be spouting stuff. However if Nintendo Life choose to do an article, they should be able to without fear of those that hate her for her politics or Captain Marvel or like... whatever.

I thought the same with the gamer girl game article here though -such vitriol and hatred on the comments. It is just sad to see.

@Rudy_Manchego 'It is almost like making the wearing of masks a political thing distracts from the ongoing blame and discussion on the poor handling of the pandemic in many countries.'

You have hit the nail on the head. I've seen all manner of things on masks but the reality is in risk environments YOU SHOULD NOT BE THERE!

It's like chlorinating chicken in many ways. The poultry industry in America can't be trusted to adequately kill chickens in a safe and clean way so they chlorinate them to avoid passing germs onto the general public. Chlorine ironically causes stomache issues if consumed. It's a cheaper fudge than just having the required methods and health and safety in place to stop the threat of salmonella.

The same can be said of masks. Public transport, close proximity working and indoor stuff should be avoided - but is apparently unsustainable. The virus is airborne and is miniscule so you can breath it in anyway. Those places should be closed up as you will contract and pass on covid 19. Masks are fudge although they will slightly mitigate the risk.

With both of these examples the solution is a fudge. On to Covid 19 - Business owners should have been critically focused on upgrading techniques and workplace mechanics to lessen the risk for workers and customers, rather than the constant peckering of wearing or not wearing masks. Obviously wearing a mask is beneficial, you aren't breathing directly at another person so aerosols are expelled around your face - rather than straight at the person ahead. But you have to breath and if you are in a risk environment you are still likely to pick the virus up.

It's why in China were mask usage is a part of culture they still lock down areas. If masks were the answer then China would never have had an issue.

@themcnoisy I mean thats the thing with masks. I do believe they are useful and can play a small part if we all do our thing. They aren't magic protection but if enough people wear them and it stops some casual infections, it seems worth it. More important is going to be track and trace, financial aid for those isolating, a working app, new ways of doing things and so on.

I have been wearing a mask when in inside places like shops etc. for months now. Don't see the big deal. It also means I can mouth rude words at idiots without them realising. I may never go back!

@Rudy_Manchego Haha, yes — exactly. Having an excuse to cover up the lower half of one’s face in public is fortuitous, imo. If I forget to shave, no problem. If I just ate garlic for lunch, no problem. If I have a piece of food stuck between my teeth and don’t realize it, no problem. If I have a zit on my chin, no problem. And like you say, if I want to mouth something rude or obnoxious at my boss in the heat of the moment, no one is the wiser. 😜
Besides wearing a mask makes me feel like a superhero with a secret identity, or a cowboy out on the cattle drive.

But yes, I have seen articles that claim that at least in analyzing the earlier outbreaks in Italy, Wuhan, and NYC that the public mandates for mask wearing did more to flatten the curve than social isolation measures. Not sure if that is true, but it sounds reasonable.

I assume that's a joke Rog? 😅

...Though I seem to recall there being an article when this all started of someone going around in a plague doctor get-up @RogerRoger... so it wouldn't exactly surprise me

@nessisonett It's Americans. The degree to which we've politicized the wearing of masks is insane.

@Ralizah Yeah, it really concerns me. Because I totally didn’t say that they were a plague of morons.

@nessisonett I'm concerned too, good buddy.

At least you live in a country that's not acting like spreading this plague is a competitive sport.

@Ralizah Lmao, our PM did attempt herd immunity, and look how that turned out!

I just got back from the supermarket, and was quite surprised to see how many people were wearing face coverings. Almost all of the customers there were complying with the new rules in England by wearing face masks.

@Arugula I was waiting for a ‘total cases = 0’ roughly half an hour later. To be fair, it must be a lot easier to contain these things without pesky human rights getting in the way, you can just burn the bodies and disappear anyone who says otherwise.

@KratosMD Precisely! Strangely, less people will probably die in North Korea from the virus since it’s so easy to impose lockdown due to the country essentially always being that autocratic. Perhaps the US should look towards the ‘North Korean model’ for guidance 😂😂