Quote from: bitserve on Today at 06:33:02 PM

I really don't understand this polarization between "we are all gonna die from covid" vs "it is completely irrelevant and people die just because they are old or ill". Manipulating the stats or simply spreading missinformation/fake data doesn't help either.

There are many people whose position about this particular subject is in a much more healthy and reasonable middle point.

Yes! I am an extremist in most everything, and proud of it. Here, I will argue fornot the middle of the road, but a nuanced analysis. Observe that the two opposite poles you describe are simple easy answers of the type for which people tend to reach. I think that the situation is more complicated.

I myself have never said that Covid is inconsequential. To the contrary: In my first public statement about it, I said, Some of you will die from the coronavirus.... The virus may kill me, too; maybe, maybe not. I then proceeded to explain at length why we should not destroy the world whilst failing to save it.

Perhaps the concept of managing and accepting risks in balance with worse risks may be too difficult for most people?

Quote from: OutOfMemory on Today at 06:35:15 PM

Every position is mostly a result of past personal experiences.

How many people here have experienced hunger?

I mean: Real hunger. Chronic malnutrition. A starvation diet for an extended period of time. To feel your body slowly wasting away, dissolving itself from the inside out, as you weaken and descend into madness. You lie down, feel too weak to get up, fall half-unconscious, dream about foodany food...

I have that experience. I think its likely that soon, many more people will have that experience, too.

Most governments worldwide have been following exactly the policy that they would take up, if they intended to destroy their economies and cause a global Depression. That is not a conspiracy theory: It is a blackbox observation of actual behaviour, with malice and stupidity being indistinguishable. I believe that I have used the term economic arson.

I have been saying for the past six months that I fear starvation more than I fear Covid...

Whereas I dont brush Covid off or pretend that it doesnt exist. I know people who have had it, including someone close to me. That was very worrisome; I mentioned it at the time on this forum. I myself am at high risk of complications due to pre-existing conditions. I have said this before: I am taking personal precautions, which do not affect society.

So as for my own experience. Thereupon, how about this for a change: Isolate nursing homes. Encourage people with high risk factors to get a little bit OCD. And otherwiselet life go on. Perhaps encourage some moderate precautions that dont leave masses of people totally dysfunctional. Improved hygiene and a social respect for personal space are good ideas anywayhey, I never wanted anybody within two meters of me unless we intended to kiss! I said that before Covid: Back off. What is unacceptable is turning the whole world into a prison, and potentially a starvation GULAG, in failed attempts to prevent the ongoing spread of a virus that has low lethality for people without high risk factors.

Too nuanced? I am trying to be blunt.

Quote from: OutOfMemory on Today at 08:09:33 PM

Since the black swan called "nine eleven" convinced the world that anywhere, anytime, anyhow, something life threatening can happen to anyone.
Looked at this with emotional distance, it's a simple fact of life, the universe and all that.
Most of "civilized" people just not were aware about it until then, and the media constanly reminds them about that.
The world is in panic mode. Panic is a good foundation for stupid actions. This makes me worry more about the future than covid or the suicide bomber that might live next door.

Panic is also a foundation for malicious actions. Panicked people are easy to manipulate en masse. (Insert book-length post here.)

Quote from: Torque on Today at 06:23:47 PM

Why the hell is the rest of the world still in lockdown mode? This is fkn ridiculous.

Agreed. I was always against the lockdowns.

Whats much scarier than Covid is that lockdown is prison terminology being openly applied to ~~people~~ sheep who fancy themselves to be free because they live in democracies.

Quote from: LFC_Bitcoin on Today at 06:40:55 PM

I cant believe the world basically stopped because of something with such a low death rate. This post wont earn me any friends but these are my opinions. The whole thing has been farcical!

Also agreed. Though the death rate wont be so low if (when?) economies are imploded to the point that people are starving in the streets.

Almost everything that I have said in the foregoing is a repeat of what I said in March and April. All that has changed is that we are further along on the same trajectory toward global disaster.