Dr. Lucky Tran Jul 24, 2023
Looks like the media has finally reached peak #COVID minimization: Defining the end of the pandemic by movie ticket sales.
Show threadDr. Lucky Tran Jul 24, 2023
Stating the obvious, but movie ticket sales and economic activity can happen at the same time as a virus continues to spread and cause harm. It's called capitalism.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/23/movies/barbie-oppenheimer-box-office-numbers.html
‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’ Set Post-Pandemic Box Office High

With the biggest revenues since 2019, “Barbenheimer” gives the usual franchises a run for their money, selling out even predawn screenings.

The New York Times
Show threadDr. Lucky Tran Jul 24, 2023

It's worth pointing out that ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ sold a similar amount of tickets on opening weekend as ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer.’

‘Spider-Man’ debuted in December 2021, which was the beginning of the second most deadly #COVID wave, killing ~250,000 people in the US.

Show threadDr. Lucky Tran Jul 24, 2023
The desperation of some parts of the media to keep declaring the end of the pandemic (which many have done over and over since the summer of 2020) is an example of manufactured consent. Many want to create the illusion that #COVID is over so they can profit.
Show threadthe 1998 Sega Saturn RPG, Baroque 🔞
@luckytran ive been catching up on New Japan Pro Wrestling events from early this year and it caught me so off guard to hear the announcers repeatedly reference the pandemic and to remember that other countries take it a lot more seriously than the US does
Jul 24, 2023 at 12:33amWeb
Show threadDavid FarnellJul 24, 2023
@himbovoorhees @luckytran Though I will say, as a resident of Japan, that the govt here is really trying to move on from the pandemic. They make it very hard to get information on infection rates now, and masks are being worn much much less than last summer. (Granted, we also have record high temps.) It's not as bad as the US, I'm sure (I'll see for myself when I visit family for the first time in 4 years next month), but it's distressing seeing such a rapid abandonment of good sense.
Show threadthe 1998 Sega Saturn RPG, Baroque 🔞Jul 24, 2023

@azzageddi @luckytran people haven’t been wearing masks in the US since 2020

Yeupppp