Quote:
Originally Posted by cacophony
admittedly i don't have the energy to read this whole thread, and i'm sure there are awesome little tidbits sprinkled throughout, but why should anyone apologize for making statements on the origin of this virus? life isn't like CSI, the CDC doesn't walk onto the scene of a breakout and know everything instantly. it's going to be a long time before this thing is fully understood. anyway, i'm probably responding to something that wasn't intended as i read it.
i'm concerned that people are becoming cynical about the warnings and preparation and press coverage now that the virus is proving to be less deadly than we feared. like because the worst didn't happen we should blame the government or media or whathaveyou for "fearmongering." just seems like the way the wind is blowing. but the fact is, there was no way of knowing in the beginning how serious this new illness would be. based on reports of deaths and a very rapid spread it made sense to mobilize the way everyone did. still, it just seems like that cynicism is out there on the horizon. we didn't all die, so why did we bother caring?
the way these viruses typically work, it will be back next fall and it will actually be worse and harder to fight off. i just hope we haven't decided this was a "cry wolf" situation here and decide to ignore the warnings next flu season.
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Fair points. For the most part I have no problem with the WHO and individual governments taking the precautionary actions, making the statements and issuing the advice they did. The cynicism and ridicule is firmly aimed at the prism through which we received it all.
Yes I know it's become a bit cliched to "blame it all on the meeja" but that's only because so often, they
are to blame.
The way I see it, risk is something that needs to be assessed and presented as responsibly as possible, if for no other reason than that our guts have a tendency to run away with us.
Prioritising this story at the beginning was understandable and fine. Taking an alarmist approach is also fine
if the risk is high or likely to be high. But stupidly disproportionate coverage (that's even leaving aside the *content* of the coverage - just the amount of it all) serves little purpose other than to scare. For the most part, pointlessly. Front pages screaming about "Killer Pig Flu", specially-themed TV idents, endless coverage - these things
are IMO fully deserving of our contempt and ridicule.
I'm glad the media received a kicking over this. If it makes them more considered next time, that can only be a good thing. My fear, like you, is that it won't, and if it turns out to be The Big Pandemic, people may fail to appreciate its severity.
But that will because the news will have used up all its big shouty headlines and graphics back in 2009.
I think, for the most part, people heard and heeded the necessary advice (travel, hygiene) but recognized the bullshit fearmongering. I hope anyway.