Differentiating fact from opinion on COVID-19



  • Now I guess this thread needs to be called “Differentiating fact from opinion from Satire on COVID-19”



  • Good practice for everyone. alt text


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    Sadly guys heard on a radio station in Iowa that is with ABC.


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    @bskeet said in Differentiating fact from opinion on COVID-19:

    Some conservatives are not entirely blind. Either that, or they are throwing Trump under the bus as he has done with so many others.

    https://thebulwark.com/warnings-ignored-a-timeline-of-trumps-covid-19-response/

    The Bulwark is an American conservative news and opinion website founded by conservative commentators Charlie Sykes and Bill Kristol. The publisher is Sarah Longwell. While it launched as a news aggregator, it was revamped into a news and opinion site with “the core digital staff of The Weekly Standard.”

    Well to be fair he was was dealing with an impeachment trial at the time. Lol I think from what I’m seeing, a lot of leaders dragged their feet in the beginning when it came to the coronavirus. Most likely They didn’t know what they were dealing with. As China wasn’t forthcoming with much needed info soon enough. However have to Give the president major credit, in that he shut down the borders and air travel pretty fast.



  • @bskeet said in Differentiating fact from opinion on COVID-19:

    Some conservatives are not entirely blind. Either that, or they are throwing Trump under the bus as he has done with so many others.

    https://thebulwark.com/warnings-ignored-a-timeline-of-trumps-covid-19-response/

    The Bulwark is an American conservative news and opinion website founded by conservative commentators Charlie Sykes and Bill Kristol. The publisher is Sarah Longwell. While it launched as a news aggregator, it was revamped into a news and opinion site with “the core digital staff of The Weekly Standard.”

    @bskeet Thanks for posting about thebulwark.com. I wasn’t familiar with it, but recognize Charlie Sykes and Bill Kristol’s names. I not only read the article you linked, but the others shown on the side of it. This seems like a pretty trust-worthy site and it is encouraging to see some well known conservatives presenting facts instead of the kool-aide.





  • No surprise that China and other countries without a free press are concealing and underreporting illness and death due to COVID-19. People criticize the press here for reporting the numbers out, but you can see where not having a free press allows this type of thing to be concealed.



  • I heard CDC revised their estimates on asymptomatic transmission to be between 25% and 35% of transmissions. Trying to find a link.



  • Also heard today the CDC is now saying it might be best if EVEYONE wears masks, just about a week ago they were saying don’t wear masks. - this kind of wiffle/waffle isn’t doing us any good





  • @DoubleDD said in Differentiating fact from opinion on COVID-19:

    Well to be fair he was was dealing with an impeachment trial at the time. Lol I think from what I’m seeing, a lot of leaders dragged their feet in the beginning when it came to the coronavirus. Most likely They didn’t know what they were dealing with. As China wasn’t forthcoming with much needed info soon enough. However have to Give the president major credit, in that he shut down the borders and air travel pretty fast.

    Not everyone is buying the excuses and revisionist history.

    Recommend watching this interview on Fox News: https://twitter.com/i/status/1245529084534366208





  • @BShark One explanation for a large mysterious increase in deaths that do not seem to be coronavirus related is “suffocation suicide” – people dying from keeping their heads in the sand.




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    @bskeet said in Differentiating fact from opinion on COVID-19:

    @DoubleDD said in Differentiating fact from opinion on COVID-19:

    Well to be fair he was was dealing with an impeachment trial at the time. Lol I think from what I’m seeing, a lot of leaders dragged their feet in the beginning when it came to the coronavirus. Most likely They didn’t know what they were dealing with. As China wasn’t forthcoming with much needed info soon enough. However have to Give the president major credit, in that he shut down the borders and air travel pretty fast.

    Not everyone is buying the excuses and revisionist history.

    Recommend watching this interview on Fox News: https://twitter.com/i/status/1245529084534366208

    You ever ask yourself why I defend presidents regardless of party. Sure they get elected on their party. Maybe I’m a sucker, but when they step in that position. It changes them. They are the ruler of the free world, and they so want to badly to do the right thing. Sorry friend I don’t buy into your Trump hate.


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    Let’s be honest with each other @bskeet you have never voted for a Republican? Why? I mean anybody with half a brain can see the Dem party doesn’t care about black Americans. Again let’s be honest? No where in history has the Dem party done anything for the black American. None? So why keep voting for a party that runs their elections like it’s some kind of plantation?


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    Think about it @bskeet? Notice it’s always how racist the rep party is, but it’s never, this is what the Dem party has done for the black American. Ever wonder why?


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    Please anybody tell me what the Dem party has done for the black American.


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    @bskeet i never hear a black American saying the Dem party did this for me and my family. Never. It’s always the reps are racist.



  • That political post on social media or a chat room changed my mind… said no one ever. I always try to agree to disagree (I do fail at it at times) like I did with @approxinfinity about news outlets these days. We see it differently, but I still like @approxinfinity and respect him. I agree with @justanotherfan that free press is important, but we wouldn’t argue for a week if I didn’t. @DoubleDD you are a republican, nothing wrong with that. Most on here are Democrats, that’s fine too. It’s not hard to find dirt on either party. Let’s move on friends.


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    @kjayhawks said in Differentiating fact from opinion on COVID-19:

    That political post on social media or a chat room changed my mind… said no one ever. I always try to agree to disagree like I did with @approxinfinity about news outlets these days. I 100 agree with @justanotherfan tgat free press is important. We see it differently, but I still like @approxinfinity and respect him. @DoubleDD you are a republican, nothing wrong with that. Most on here are Democrats, that’s fine too. It’s not hard to find dirt on either party.

    My friend I’m no Republican but I respect what you posted. It’s your thoughts and feelings. It’s crazy I know! But I don’t blame Presidents I blame Congress.



  • @DoubleDD Congress is an issue right now because they would have to issue a nationwide stay at home. The president doesn’t have that power.


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    @bskeet the problem with Trump is he divides. I’d vote against him in a heart beat, but Dem party and it’s voters gave us Biden a man losing his mind and Sanders a full blown socialist. Tell me how I’m supposed to vote one of these over Trump?


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    @kjayhawks i know you don’t vote party line tickets. Your like me if you don’t know then you don’t vote.yet some posters on here Believe you. Have to vote Dem no matter what. Because reps are racist. Yet with a quick study of history we find the Dems are racist. Prove me wrong posters! What has the Dem party done for the black American?


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  • @kjayhawks I haven’t yet searched but I haven’t figured out where Congress gets that power. They can suspend habeas corpus but that only allows arrests without having to justify it to a court. And Congress can only do that during a rebellion or invasion.



  • @mayjay found this interesting. Wondering how far something like this could go:

    https://timesofsandiego.com/business/2020/04/02/washington-state-group-is-1st-to-sue-fox-news-for-calling-coronavirus-a-hoax/

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/noahkirsch/2020/04/02/media-experts-assail-fox-news-for-coronavirus-misinformation/

    On that day, Hannity said, “They’re scaring the living hell out of people and I see it as, like, ‘Oh, let’s bludgeon Trump again with this new hoax.’”



  • @approxinfinity Interesting, but not far. Dylan’s post about stupid people cleaning up the gene pool might be applicable.

    But it might be fun watching Trump’s favorite network using Times v. Sullivan to defend itsel b/c he wants that ruling overturned.



  • @mayjay not sure how his lawyers could use Times vs Sullivan, unless they are saying they are an extension of Trump? (Or he an extension of them? 😂 was that judge humor you dropped on me?)



  • Just that it protects media expressing opinion on public officials. I will have to read the suit.



  • I got you. Its a slippery slope and a potential attack vector on free speech.



  • @DoubleDD said in Differentiating fact from opinion on COVID-19:

    @kjayhawks i know you don’t vote party line tickets. Your like me if you don’t know then you don’t vote.yet some posters on here Believe you. Have to vote Dem no matter what. Because reps are racist. Yet with a quick study of history we find the Dems are racist. Prove me wrong posters! What has the Dem party done for the black American?

    The Civil Rights Acts were helpful. More recently NAFTA.

    I don’t like these lawsuits at all. Downplaying COVID is pretty clearly protected speech. The Court should definitely toss the suit.



  • I am suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome, and I feel badly about that, so I guess it is best to track our great leader in his own words.

    As an addendum, we now have over 300,000 known cases in the US, more than twice as many as any other ccountry. 8,000+ deaths. Adding more than 12% every day.



  • https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandrasternlicht/2020/04/02/why-you-should-flush-with-the-lid-down-virologist-warns-of-fecal-oral-transmission-of-covid-19/

    Awesome. Toilet plume can remain suspended a meter in the air for hours? Too bad no public toilets have lids even if people wanted to put them down.



  • I can’t even fathom using a public bathroom right now.



  • @BShark said in Differentiating fact from opinion on COVID-19:

    I can’t even fathom using a public bathroom right now.

    💯


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    @mayjay said in Differentiating fact from opinion on COVID-19:

    I am suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome, and I feel badly about that, so I guess it is best to track our great leader in his own words.

    As an addendum, we now have over 300,000 known cases in the US, more than twice as many as any other ccountry. 8,000+ deaths. Adding more than 12% every day.

    You are extremely smart person. You really think China is telling the truth?

    Also let’s not forget we are a nation of open borders. Some of these other countries are not. Maybe they Are racist? Sorry. Uncalled for. My bad.


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    @approxinfinity said in Differentiating fact from opinion on COVID-19:

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandrasternlicht/2020/04/02/why-you-should-flush-with-the-lid-down-virologist-warns-of-fecal-oral-transmission-of-covid-19/

    Awesome. Toilet plume can remain suspended a meter in the air for hours? Too bad no public toilets have lids even if people wanted to put them down.

    Never thought about It but you nailed it.


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    @BShark said in Differentiating fact from opinion on COVID-19:

    I can’t even fathom using a public bathroom right now.

    Until you have no choice. Crazy how the body is like we are going now.


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    @

    @mayjay i know you’re not a fox guy, yet give it a look.



  • @DoubleDD tracked down the poorly titled NYT Op Ed piece. The piece did not say it was safe to travel to China.

    Valid arguments may exist for shutting down the world to travelers originating in China — and shutting down China to the world — as a reasonable public health response. But the World Health Organization explicitly did not advise that any restriction of trade or travel was necessary when it declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern last week, and it still doesn’t. Instead, it has called for exit screening in international airports and domestic hubs in China.

    The disease was already here and the travel ban was touted as THE correct action, but it came months too late and allowed travel to the UK, a country whose containment was shit.

    Most importantly, the disease was already here and was not contained, while Trump misrepresented all the details and failed to issue any guidance.

    Timing matters. Every detail of this administrations response has been late and botched. To try to slap a prize on their travel ban after the fact is a joke.

    Trump is the President of the United States. Not some misinformed dude watching news in his house. To explain away his ineptitude as not having the facts at the time is not acceptable.



  • Governor of Colorado is reporting that after Trump told him that he had to find his own ventillators (see " I’m not a shipping clerk" etc) FEMA swooped in and cancelled Colorado’s order of 500 ventillators so that they could add the ventillators to the federal stockpile. Shit show.

    https://www.denverpost.com/2020/04/04/coronavirus-colorado-polis-ventilators-fema/



  • My neighbors mother passed away because of coronavirus, I learned today. We continued to talk across the yard, and they mentioned that they went to the grocery store yesterday without a mask, repeatedly saying how frustrating it is that people don’t do the right thing, i.e. socially distance. I told them that the CDC posted guidelines on how to make masks and that the biggest threat is not hand Sanitation but airborn droplets that can be suspended indoors for hours. I also suggested that they should go to all delivery If they can.

    The lack of information is costing lives. Even people who want to do the right thing can’t because they don’t know what the right thing is.



  • @approxinfinity So sorry to hear that. A friend of mine’s neighbor died from COVID-19 a couple of weeks ago. My brother-in-law’s father also died yesterday, though I didn’t hear the cause.

    Early on we’d gotten a lot of conflicting information about masks. Trying to find one is the hard part. Have seen several DIY masks out there lately.



  • @nwhawkfan sorry to hear about your loss.

    💯 about the early information. I think the American public was done a disservice when people were saying “don’t go buy the masks because health professionals need them” because while this criticism was absolutely valid, it was often justified with an accompanying lie “the n95 masks aren’t necessary unless you are a health professional”. That disinformation is very hard to walk back.



  • As a fan of lots of different kinds of music, I’m struck by how the list of those lost to the virus is getting younger and younger.

    No one style of music seems to be spared…country singer Joe Diffie, jazz trumpeter Wallace Roney, and pop singer-songwriter Adam Schlesinger. (He was in one of my favorite early-2000s bands, Fountains Of Wayne, best known for the song “Stacy’s Mom.” In a sad twist of irony, he also wrote the title song for the movie “That Thing You Do,” co-starring Tom Hanks. )



  • @DoubleDD said in Differentiating fact from opinion on COVID-19:

    Let’s be honest with each other @bskeet you have never voted for a Republican? Why? I mean anybody with half a brain can see the Dem party doesn’t care about black Americans. Again let’s be honest? No where in history has the Dem party done anything for the black American. None? So why keep voting for a party that runs their elections like it’s some kind of plantation?

    Let’s be honest, I’ve voted for one democrat for a federal office in my life.

    You don’t know me.



  • @DoubleDD said in Differentiating fact from opinion on COVID-19:

    You ever ask yourself why I defend presidents regardless of party. Sure they get elected on their party. Maybe I’m a sucker, but when they step in that position. It changes them. They are the ruler of the free world, and they so want to badly to do the right thing. Sorry friend I don’t buy into your Trump hate.

    I hope you are not suggesting that I’m somehow un-American because I will not blindly follow and defend a president – specifically, this president. A functional democracy deserves a commitment to both decorum and dissent. Decorum is not something you can demand; it’s a social contract. Dissent is not a threat to authority; it is the ultimate form of patriotism.

    Never, did I think that I would be in this position. I’d like to defend the president. Every president is human; they all make mistakes. But I cannot and will not condone or abide what has become — not an unfortunate series of mishaps — but rather, a well-established pattern of behavior.

    I’m concerned about the growing lack of respect for the office of the president — especially by the youngest generation — I’m worried what this will mean for the future. We have to repair the respect. But it will require more leaders with propriety on both sides than we have today.

    The country was founded on common ground of core values and compromise of ideology. Politicians would argue ideology, but at the end of the day, they were together on the values that defined what it meant to be an American. These ideals were nonpartisan and have been publicly called out by some conservative leaders (McCain, Romney).

    Values should be immutable, not situational. Treating them as such is a threat to the republic.

    Finally @DoubleDD , please stop ascribing motives and assuming you know what I think and what I’ve done. I am not telling you what to do and I do not presume to know anything about your motives or beliefs beyond what you put down in pixels here. There is no need to put words in my mouth.



  • There is so much contradicting on this thing. We ordered some river rock from Menards this past week and paid a ridiculous amount for delivery but are waiting to touch it because of germs. It has sat in our drive since Thursday morning. I will remove the outter plastic tonight and go straight to the dumpster with it. Then Lysol the individual bags all while wear gloves and straight to the shower after.



  • @kjayhawks I disinfected groceries right after they arrived today. I had been putting them in the garage including garage fridge prior to disinfecting before this delivery. I thought having everything clean in the house would feel better, but I think now that I felt better just letting it sit with as little interaction as possible and then disinfecting later. not too hard to do with extra fridge. Next time, going back to that.


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