Corona

wanderingbadger77 said:That’s just how it is.
There’s massive responsibility behind every single post, especially since everyone—including us—loves reading stuff that makes them feel better...
But all you're doing is coddling them into a false sense of security. It makes all the expert advice regarding precautions totally useless when everyone on this forum just dismisses everything as stupid or "unnecessary panic mongering."

You're exaggerating.

Everyone wants to read a post that is either comforting or well-reasoned.
And that has absolutely nothing to do with creating a false sense of security.

Edward Fisher86 said:You're exaggerating.

Everyone wants to read a post that is either comforting or well-reasoned.
And that has absolutely nothing to do with creating a false sense of security.

Well, I'm hoping we aren't quite at the stage where we need "comforting" posts yet. 😱

Since nobody trusts the data coming out of China, and since both the left and the right can't be trusted when it comes to reporting and measurements, I was kind of hoping for an open forum—you know, a place where info can actually come out into the open and get torn apart by everyone. That way, based on the facts and the different takes, a person can form their own opinion and live with it.
But when "50%" of the posts get wiped because they're labeled as alarmist... yeah, that's when things start feeling a bit sketchy.

Exactly... just like the user above said... if you start deleting any opinion that doesn't fit, we've got a problem. That's what this whole debate is about.

Edward Fisher86 said:You're exaggerating.

Everyone wants to read a post that is either comforting or well-reasoned.
And that has absolutely nothing to do with creating a false sense of security.

Lisa Castillo3 said:but if you're deleting posts just because they seem alarmist, then there's no real debate happening at all.

Exactly—the whole point becomes meaningless.

Don't even sweat it—once this whole thing blows over, the mods are gonna restore all the deleted posts and give a massive apology for any totally unnecessary bans. If there were any, that is. 😉
I'm positive about it. Like, maybe 2% chance they don't.

Joseph Watson3 said:This thread is basically a car crash.

The moderator seems to be really leaning into this role of being the public savior—protecting us from any supposed panic—by deleting posts and banning anyone who dares to disagree with his "analysis."
The backbone of this alleged analysis? Unreliable statistics, blatant cherry-picking of those same unreliable stats, and a total failure to grasp how exponential growth actually works. Not to mention a complete misunderstanding of the risks involved when dealing with something largely unknown that happens to be spreading exponentially.

briskjackal5 is one of the few people actually writing quality posts and asking intelligent questions, yet the moderator is acting like a toddler in a sandbox, throwing tantrums under the guise of "preventing panic." He’s so caught up in the drama—as if he’s the only thing standing between us and everyone jumping off buildings out of pure terror.

Seriously, he acts like he’s the freaking Director of the CDC or something.

neonwalker95 said:In this instance, the moderator is pushing the idea that the flu is worse than anything else—and heaven forbid anyone presents a contradiction to that vision. Whether it’s a personal opinion or just quoting an official institution, any disagreement results in an immediate ban. Look, he's entitled to his stance—fine—but banning anyone who politely offers a counterargument isn't moderation; it's a dictatorship.

All because we won't bow down to the fear-mongering coming out of some small-town fanatic.

Look, this guy clearly knows more than the WHO does. Based on the data they're throwing around right now, they’re claiming the mortality rate for those diagnosed is sitting at 2.9%. That's ridiculous. It's gotta be way lower than that—probably under 0.1%, which is what you typically see with the flu.

Lisa Castillo3 As if anyone actually believes that.
Well, I certainly hope we aren't reaching that point just yet. Stop posting such depressing content. 😱

Since nobody actually trusts the data coming out of China, and since both the left and the right tend to spin their reporting however they please, I find myself wishing for an open forum—a place where any bit of information can be thrown onto the table and then thoroughly picked apart by everyone involved. That way, once all the facts and various perspectives have been laid bare, a person can finally form their own opinion and actually stand by it.
It’s only when they start scrubbing half the posts for being "alarmist" that the panic actually sets in.

Well, my colleague used that specific expression, and I just decided to build on it. Honestly, you could just go with terms like "calming" or "rational," or something along those lines if you want to keep it simple.
I’ve always emphasized the importance of being well-reasoned. My point is this: when you encounter a text packed with data designed to sound alarming—the kind of stuff meant to trigger panic and drive people into frantic, irrational behavior—you need to take it head-on and dismantle it with solid arguments. That was exactly how we handled things in the beginning.
If you take things too far, what else are you going to do but hit delete? That’s how it works everywhere else, too. But fine, I’ll admit it—it does seem like everything is heading toward an extreme lately. It's possible.

Edward Fisher86 said:

Lisa Castillo3 As if anyone actually believes that.
Well, I certainly hope we aren't reaching that point just yet. Stop posting such depressing content. 😱

Since nobody actually trusts the data coming out of China, and since both the left and the right tend to spin their reporting however they please, I find myself wishing for an open forum—a place where any bit of information can be thrown onto the table and then thoroughly picked apart by everyone involved. That way, once all the facts and various perspectives have been laid bare, a person can finally form their own opinion and actually stand by it.
It’s only when they start scrubbing half the posts for being "alarmist" that the panic actually sets in.

Well, my colleague used that specific expression, and I just decided to build on it. Honestly, you could just go with terms like "calming" or "rational," or something along those lines if you want to keep it simple.
I’ve always emphasized the importance of being well-reasoned. My point is this: when you encounter a text packed with data designed to sound alarming—the kind of stuff meant to trigger panic and drive people into frantic, irrational behavior—you need to take it head-on and dismantle it with solid arguments. That was exactly how we handled things in the beginning.
If you take things too far, what else are you going to do but hit delete? That’s how it works everywhere else, too. But fine, I’ll admit it—it does seem like everything is heading toward an extreme lately. It's possible.

yeah fine... we agree... that was just me trying some dark humor

I’m actually pretty happy to see that the conversation here has finally shifted toward something a bit more constructive and peaceful; most of the posts—aside from the inevitable outliers—are actually making sense for once.

Looking at the sheer volume of posts on this thread (which, let’s be honest, is still just titled Messages, Complaints, and Comments and isn't, nor will it ever be, some kind of sanctuary for debates that really belong in other corners of the internet), it’s obvious you guys are all incredibly fascinated by the current Corona situation happening across the world. So, I’m going to point you back toward following the updates from Dr. Igor Rudan..

He’s a highly respected scientist and intellectual on the global stage, someone who truly understands the gravity of what we're facing.

He’s constantly bringing new data to the table, but more importantly—HE ACTUALLY KNOWS HOW TO INTERPRET THAT DATA AND DRAW REAL CONCLUSIONS.>>

Given how massive this issue is globally, this guy is essentially donating his time and expertise for free to anyone willing to listen to reason and actual science. For those of you who grew up in strictly capitalist environments like the US, you probably realize just how rare it is for someone to gift you knowledge for absolutely nothing.

In my book, that’s an incredibly selfless and altruistic move, all aimed at giving everyone a clear picture of the reality so we can stay calm while maintaining a sensible, rational level of caution and safety.

As a moderator, I feel like it's my prerogative—and honestly, my responsibility—to follow the guidance provided by people with actual expertise and professional standing.
And I truly believe that’s the right direction for our community.

You can never overstate certain facts, so let me lay it out for the forum:

- There are NO auto mechanics here.

- There are NO plumbers.

- There are NO doctors.

- There are NO engineers.

- There are NO professors.

- There are NO chefs.

- There are NO roofers.

All we have is a group of forum members using their precious free time to chat, swap ideas, and share knowledge with one another, all while respecting the rules they agreed to when they joined.
Even the best user on this site is less helpful than the worst tire technician when you've got a flat on the highway.

Like it's been mentioned a few times already, the Corona virus has a knack for spreading into every little corner of our lives, which is why you're seeing threads about it everywhere—politics, health, travel, and apparently even on the economy threads.

This specific thread isn't the place to vent or moan about the virus.

I’ve noted your comments regarding moderation; the mods are keeping an eye on things, and I’m confident they’ll take all the constructive, well-meaning feedback into account to make these threads easier to read and much smoother to navigate.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion in a helpful and positive way.

P.S. It’s never a bad time to remind you all that we will continue to enforce our own rules of detection, isolation, and total hibernation against those carrying the virus of human rudeness, arrogance, and malice.

Catch you all later.👋

lokot ☕

ADDENDUM