Augie RayJan 17, 2023

If #COVID19 gaslighting were applied to other risks:

“We tried laws against murder, yet murders still occur. We must rescind those laws and learn to live with murder.”

“People are tired of not smoking, so we should just ignore the risks and allow smoking, again.”

“I feel safe driving drunk, so I should be free to do so.”

“Seatbelts can trap you in a car after an accident, so you should avoid wearing them.”

“There's a mass shooter in the mall, but I really want to shop, so I will do so.”

Show threadnewsorpigalJan 17, 2023
@augieray
There is genunine concern that some Covid restrictions are not as effective as advertised. Given how some restrictions can literally ruin lives, it is important to enact measures if and only if they are effective.
Show threadAugie RayJan 17, 2023
@newsorpigal 1.1 million Americans have died of COVID-19. Tens of millions have been acutely or chronically disabled. Are you seriously arguing that some restrictions have ruined more lives? And how does wearing a mask ruin lives?
Show threadnewsorpigalJan 18, 2023
@augieray
Masking wasn't the only restriction. Lockdowns, travel restrictions and curfews all ruined lives.
Show threadAugie RayJan 18, 2023
@newsorpigal I find that a lazy argument. COVID ruins lives--it kills people and leaves a significant percentage with lasting damage to hearts, brains and immune systems. Travel restrictions and lockdowns disrupted lives. And, if we don't do the simple things we need to prevent mass disability, we'll ruin more lives. If you really cared about ruining lives, you'd want more cautions against the spread, mutation and damage COVID causes.
Show threadnewsorpigalJan 18, 2023
@augieray
I wish things were as simple as that. But the world is a complicated place. Many of the advertised restrictions against Covid are not backed up by data. Some are even counter productive. For example curfews result in panic buying at stores right before curfew starts, which are perfect super-spreader events.
Show threadAugie Ray
@newsorpigal In fact, people who claim that COVID restrictions aren't back by data are generally, find, listening to poor sources. We know masks work (though you can find rare studies that say otherwise.) We know lower density public spaces works. And we know better ventilation and filtration work. None of those ruin lives--they only save lives. Fighting against modest precautions and in support of more people getting seriously ill or dying strikes me as a very dubious angle to argue.
Jan 18, 2023 at 12:09pmWeb
Show threadnewsorpigalJan 18, 2023
@augieray You are deliberately cherry picking the few measures that have minimal impact on society. No one is complaining about better ventilation. But many covid measures do have enormous negative impact on society: lockdowns, curfews, travel bans...
Show threadAugie RayJan 18, 2023
@newsorpigal No, you're putting words in my mouth. At no point have advocated for lockdowns, curfews, or travel bans. You're like someone who sees a person saying "look both ways before crossing the street" and you annoyingly yell at them, "What do you expect us to do, never move from our spot on the sidewalk."
Show threadnewsorpigalJan 18, 2023
@augieray All I am saying is that there is legitimate criticism of many COVID restrictions that needs to be taken seriously (due to impact on society or effectiveness). This mockery of legitimate criticism is one of the reasons there are so many skeptics out there.
Show threadAugie RayJan 18, 2023

@newsorpigal Since literally NO ONE is suggesting curfews, lockdowns and the like, your strawman argument is painfully evident.

Me: "Look both ways before crossing the street."

You: "You're going to ruin lives."

Me: "No, what I'm advocating won't."

You: "But requiring people to stay home rather than cross streets would ruin lives. You're not taking me seriously."

I won't respond further. Do want you want. Risk your life and the lives of those you love. I can't stop it one way or another.