Do you seriously work in pharmaceuticals?
hayes, Aug 15, 2009 @ 09:08

Helene,

I think this conspiracy theory is all crap. I think it's a real flu, that's dangerous indeed cos it kills, but that's being a bit overhyped.

Bedrock, Hayes,

I hope you guys will not take the witty banter further, cos having the 2 of you together on it has potential for high level banter and wit! (-:

Nir

Nir Ofek, Aug 15, 2009 @ 09:15

 Helene:

I watched in more details some of the videos you posted, especially this one, and I am now even more convinced these guys who are shouting conspiracy are a bunch of wackos. Don't get excited over them.

Nir

Nir Ofek, Aug 15, 2009 @ 09:20

 Do you seriously work in communication?

hayes, Aug 15, 2009 @ 11:13

 to get a perspective on the seriousness of swine flu versus the media hype watch this link below. A little out of date I know, but totally relevent.

http://www.gapminder.org/videos/swine-flu-alert-news-death-ratio-tuberculosis/

brucelawson, Aug 16, 2009 @ 17:27

 Isa,

I'm not sure at all that there's a conspiracy here that about "money, control and power". I think it's more just the media needing a good story, and a killer epidemic is it.

Nir Ofek, Aug 16, 2009 @ 20:30

 The othert thing I have noticed in all the hype is the lack of deaths attributed solely to swine flu( 100 years ago someone said if there was ever a black president of the USA then pigs would fly.... 100 days into the Obama presidency..... swine flu)Alex mentioned a figure of 840, and I bow to his better knowledge, although I know his special skills lie more in the gynaecological area, but I have yet to read of a single death that has been solely attributed to swine flu. It seems all those that died had there death date bought foward a bit, because they were suffering from other illnesses at the time. Most of the USA cases suffered from chronic obesity. THe sole death in the UK that was trumpeted in the media as "caused" by swine flu was of a 6 year old girl who actually had a streptococcil infection. One girl died of meningitis having been wrongly diagnosed as having swine flu. Unfortunately I think the relentless media search for good copy has, oddly once again, got in the way of the facts. As to all the conspiricy theory rubbish, my good friend Lord Lucan tells me it is all written down on Obamas birth certificate.....
brucelawson, Aug 16, 2009 @ 22:33

I'm not sure how fair it is to compare strains of flu against the other
diseases listed. Sure they numerically more deadly than swine flu is
right now but they've also had a long long time to establish and aren't
transmitted in the same way. I think it's fair to say that swine flu
has the potential to easily outstrip all those mentioned. What it won't
do is do that for the coming decades. If you read the Tom Jefferson
article you'll notice him saying a couple of times that we simply don't
know what's going to happen. He says that because he's a *scientist*
and when the data are insufficient, that's what a scientist says.
Unfortunately the media aren't very good at reporting the inconclusive
result. It's not sensationalism per say, I don't think. Well, obviously
sometimes it is but very frequently I think it's just because media
outlets neglect scientific reporting and don't give their journalists
sufficient time to do a proper investigative job, and the higher level
editors don't understand. This is something I see almost daily.



Thanks Alex_Int for posting links to articles that actually say something real.



As for the German vacine purcase, my head calcualtion at few billion
euro for 1/3 of the population comes to 100 EUR / person. Is that
right??? But isn't it more of a political issue? Being the party to do
nothing despite the "warnings" is going to totally balls up your
re-election chances.
 


hayes, Aug 16, 2009 @ 22:45

 @brucelawson: isn't it a bit like that with non swine flu as well, though?

hayes, Aug 16, 2009 @ 22:47

What do you want the news to say? Today there were 100,000 deaths from hunger -- same as yesterday, 30,000 deaths from malaria -- same as yesterday, 10,000 deaths from AIDS -- same as yesterday, 2,000 murders -- down 1% from yesterday. That's not what the media is supposed to do. Isn't it supposed to make us aware of all the stuff that's not the same as yesterday.

hayes, Aug 17, 2009 @ 08:11

We don't have to believe everything they say though
We are capable of noticing actual events dressed up to appeal

Indeed. I think we should at least be capable of sorting one outlet from another; the reputable ones from the less reputable ones.


Are you saying because it is printed in a newspaper, or told on the news, we must not
question but blindingly believe whatever we are told ??

Re-reading my post, I can't see anything that you could possibly interpret as being even close to that.

hayes, Aug 17, 2009 @ 09:11

 Well most people are swines so I think it's a good thing ;). Only swines will get it.
Erik L, Aug 17, 2009 @ 11:23

Erik,

That joke is really in very bad taste.

Nir
Nir Ofek, Aug 17, 2009 @ 11:28

Ah, I see what you did there. You subverted the predictable flow of conversation, sliding in a new dimension of humour. Smart.

hayes, Aug 17, 2009 @ 11:29

 Hayes,

You should hit the 'reply with quote' or name the person you're answering, otherwise it's hard to tell who you're refering to.

Nir

Nir Ofek, Aug 17, 2009 @ 11:48

Oh yeah, sorry, slip of the finger. For clarity, I was referring to you.

hayes, Aug 17, 2009 @ 11:50

 Hi Nir,

Depends whether you like black humor or not.

/E.
Erik L, Aug 17, 2009 @ 11:55

 Hayes,

By 'refering to you', I assume you're refering to Isa, right? (-:

Nir
Nir Ofek, Aug 17, 2009 @ 12:00

 Oh no, I didn't make the same mistake again did I?

hayes, Aug 17, 2009 @ 12:02

 Hayes,

You did, and I think you should press the 'thank poster' button next to my name again for being so persistant in your training! (-:

Nir
Nir Ofek, Aug 17, 2009 @ 12:06

 I believe a mistake is something you do through inadvertence or unwillingly.
Your former comment about sliding into humor was very true though.
Erik L, Aug 17, 2009 @ 12:05

 Oh now I see that comment wasn't aimed at me. My apologies.
Erik L, Aug 17, 2009 @ 12:10

So anyway. Approximately 7 percent of influenza-like illness cases are caused by influenza viruses. That's not much is it? Surprisingly little, I thought.

hayes, Aug 17, 2009 @ 12:13

 I like guinea pigs.
Erik L, Aug 17, 2009 @ 12:17

 HI everybody,
just to say hello and THANK YOU for all messages here and personal messages I received.

I think, like Margaret Mead said that "A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has".

So let's put our intelligence to help each other to stay in a good health.

What is you receipt ?
Any suggestions ?

Promise, I'll come back soon.
helene m, Aug 17, 2009 @ 14:03