[Shop-talk] everybody OK with Covid-19?

[eric at megageek.com]

I do appreciate everyone's comments here.  I'm not trying to start a war 
or anything, and I will stop if no one wants to hear my side (just let me 
know)

But I'm guessing we all have some extra time on our hands now and this is 
a great way to stay in touch with others, without risk.

A few rebuttals, 

Yes, they are saying that this seems to be more fatal then the flu, 
however, I believe there are 2 main reasons for that.
1-where it started, china then moved to Iran.  Both of these places have 
poor nutrition, poor medical care (and even poorer access to it.), and 
elderly populations.  Italy also has poor medical care (albeit better than 
the other two.)  So fatalities were higher than average modern 
populations. 

2-Then, there is most likely a vast populations (even in those areas) that 
got the virus, and shrugged it off as the flu, got better, and never 
reported it.  So that means that you can track 100% of the fatalities, but 
you do not know how many 'sick but were fine' people you had.  This will 
artificially inflate fatality statistics.

So, that is why it may SEEM to be worst. Next, comparing this to the 
Spanish flu is unfair as we have a way more advance medical machine 
worldwide now.  Even if that flu hit today, there wouldn't be the same 
amount of deaths.

For my job. I have been living and breathing this stuff for almost two 
weeks. We are taking a in depth look at every aspect.  The victims in our 
state all had other serious health issues. In fact the first person to die 
here had just about every major issue you can think of. 
Is it sad people are dying? Yes. I am not trying to down play it.  But 
these were all people that the flu most likely would have impacted as 
well.  It doesn't make it any less tragic, but it does instill fear in the 
rest of the population for something they can't see the details on. People 
see a "number of fatalities" statistic.  But they don't see the 
"aggravating factors for each person" facts.

My point is that the response may be way worst than the virus itself. 
Entire cities/states/countries shutting down.  Livelihoods lost.  People 
losing jobs, and means to support their families. Even with stimulus 
packages (that further reduce the dollars worth) business will be closed 
for good, jobs that don't come back. All because populations of people 
that were vulnerable to the flu or other viruses, contracted one called 
'covid-19.'  If they contracted the regular flu and died, it would have 
been like any other year. I hate to sound so insensitive, but it is 
because I'm rooting for the whole society and what's best for the vast 
majority. (yes, I'm sure sounds like the plot to an original Star Trek 
episode.)

Populations are panicking, I hope we don't see riots for food and supplies 
as people are being bombarded with more and more fear mongering by the 
media. And yes, people choose their media,but the vast majority of people 
just watch one side of the 24h networks and have no idea how mis-informed 
they are. I can say without reservations that the people on this list are 
unequivocally in the 'better informed and educated' group, but go talk to 
the average person on the street if you want to see how mis-informed 
people are. A good test is to ask 100 people "who the speaker of the house 
is?"  I'd be amaze if you got 10 correct answers (and if more than 20 
people even had an educated guess.) 

Even if it doesn't come to riots, the stress on people, the loss of 
educational opportunities (many college students may have to repeat 
classes or entire semesters, delaying their graduations.)

Or, if there is a REAL emergency that comes later, how many people will 
completely ignore it because covid-19 was a big nothing burger?

I'm not even going to go into my future prediction, as this is already 
enough of a bummer.

To leave on a positive note, it is awesome that most families are going to 
get to spend a ton of time together.  It's great that we get time to 
pursue our passions and hobbies. It is also great that this is happening 
when we are entering spring and the weather is breaking.

Please feel free to comment, I will not respond unless asked to as I don't 
want this to drag out unless there is enough interest.  This list has been 
a great resource for me for decades, and I respect each and ever one of 
you opinions and advice.

Now, I'm going back to look in the sofa cushions to see if I missed 
something.  8>)

"Be as beneficent as the sun or the sea, but if your rights as a rational 
being are trenched on, die on the first inch of your territory." Ralph 
Waldo Emerson 
-Who is John Galt?
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