Scott 🇮🇱🇺🇦 WILL NOT COMPLYOne in ten US deaths last week were due to pneumonia, flu, or COVID-19.
That's about a 50% higher rate than the CDC's epidemic threshold.
Bottom line: this country is in the midst of a severe respiratory disease epidemic that nobody's talking about.
Krystle the Actor@escott And it continues to spike each winter. It will continue to do so until people are killed off or have reached an effective enough level of herd immunity.
@clearlykrystle It's unnecessary to have so many deaths. Getting vaccinated, staying at home when sick, frequent hand-washing—none of these things are too much to ask.
Or at least, I used to think so.
@escott Yeah, people are way too selfish. Even someone in their families getting it or themselves doesn't necessarily change anything.
Especially now that there ARE vaccines, a lot of people getting it are comparing it to a cold. Meanwhile, people are still dying.
StillKindaHoping@clearlykrystle
Between the #socialmedia #brainflood and growing #disinformation we are seeing the limits of the #humanbrain. When people can no longer reassess fact versus opinion then it is no surprise they grab onto #ideologies (including a vaccine stance) that let them stop the noise of change and the endless questions. Life is a bit quieter, if innacurate. #society #socialparadigm #paradigmshift
@escott
Between the #socialmedia #brainflood and growing #disinformation we are seeing the limits of the #humanbrain. When people can no longer reassess fact versus opinion then it is no surprise they grab onto #ideologies (including a vaccine stance) that let them stop the noise of change and the endless questions. Life is a bit quieter, if innacurate. #society #socialparadigm #paradigmshift
@escott
@stillkindahoping @clearlykrystle This isn't as much about information overload as it is about denial and cognitive dissonance. Getting vaccinated and boosted is much simpler than the energy it must take to constantly dig for reasons why doctors, scientists, and Federal officials can't be trusted.
@escott
Well said. It doesn't help that opinion now seems to rank as high as expertise and facts. Whatever it is, we are witnessing a large scale failure of people to do the right thing. 🥲
@clearlykrystle
Well said. It doesn't help that opinion now seems to rank as high as expertise and facts. Whatever it is, we are witnessing a large scale failure of people to do the right thing. 🥲
@clearlykrystle
@clearlykrystle @stillkindahoping Thank you. You're right on opinion vs facts, but I think it's even worse than that. People aren't just giving them equal credence: they literally don't know the difference. It's a truly stunning indictment of our educational system that so many Americans matriculate without developing the critical analysis skills so vital to citizenship in a participatory democracy.
@escott
True. I suspect the blurring of facts and opinion was hastened by 24 hour "news" stations, where they quickly run out of facts and then nod at each other's blatherings. I suspect many people enjoy seeing experts out-competed by opinion, because now less-knowledgable folks are getting their 1.93 cents in. They are participating, but don't yet see how this is likely to lead to increased authoritarianism.
@clearlykrystle
True. I suspect the blurring of facts and opinion was hastened by 24 hour "news" stations, where they quickly run out of facts and then nod at each other's blatherings. I suspect many people enjoy seeing experts out-competed by opinion, because now less-knowledgable folks are getting their 1.93 cents in. They are participating, but don't yet see how this is likely to lead to increased authoritarianism.
@clearlykrystle