What the president really said... I hate people who selectively hear what they want

[nadinbrzezinski]

the flu may follow the same pattern of the normal flu season, BUT they are concerned that it may come back in the fall in a more virulent form and why they are doing what they are doing. AKA take this seriously and make plans in-case this goes worst case scenario

I am sure glad the adults (who get this) are in charge, and not the folks here who have no idea

Here is a hint

1918 the same pattern, early cases were mild... later cases were the sucker punch

1957 same damn pattern

1968 yep, you read that right

And the politics of this, I am also sure glad Bushco is not in charge, he'd be in his barbeque at the ranch doing a mission accomplished shtick,

So I am sure glad the adults, WHO ARE TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY, are in charge and not the lets hide our collective heads in the sand crowd

Necessary disclaimer: if this information scares you, I am sorry; if you need to belittle this post, your issue

[The Magistrate]

1. Of Course They Should Plan For The Worst, Ma'am

But that is separate from the sort of hysteria media hype is generating, and seems aimed at generating.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Tell me why the media (in the US mind you) did not use the ready made

headline from WHO Official who said for real, Humanity is at risk?

If they wanted a panic, that is ready made for it

At least MSNBC has been doing a just the facts ma'am

But the media in the US did not use that headline and many round these parts were complaining the UK Obeserver was irresponsible for using it. THey used that world wide

Except the US.

Why?

IN the US people are not sophisticated news consumers, period... and we like it that way.

It is partly the media's fault, but also our fault

[Fumesucker]

3. How can one be a "sophisticated news consumer" ..

When the news is mostly "if it bleeds it leads"? :shrug:

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. It is partly them, that is one factor

but it is also us.

This is a money money enterprise, keep eyes on screen

Not a lets keep people informed

To me it is amazing when you read foreign papers and even in a small article they explain silly shit like how they downgraded 13 possiives in the initial batch from mexico

They actually went into the details and that is what happens in other places

They go into the details

But money is not the main goal of the paper

Here it is, and we are not sophisticated enough to demand better news

By the way, it is also another sign of the decline of Empire

Our papers are written for kids, serious, sixth grade level, even our editorials

Papers in other countries are written at a higher level, 8th grade and editorials can go all the way to pages and 12 grade

Why I read the paper when I go to Mexico but not here

But still, I will say it again, the US Media did not use the ready made headline "All humanity is at risk." To me it proves panic is not their goal

By the way this lack of sophistication has led to a whole sale abandonment of the papers by the people who've figured out we are being coddled like kids, TV is next, hell I don't watch local news that much anymore. Hell twice this week, and only headlines, as the local news bimbos do the bleeds leads crap

[The Magistrate]

4. The Hype Has Been In Place For Some While On This, Ma'am

It has already reached jesting proportions.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Answer why they didn't use a panic inducing headlines that came from a

real statement... as in a real presser, news release

Oh wait, perhaps they knew they could not because it WOULD CAUSE a panic amongst a very unsophisticated news consuming public

For me the fact they didn't put the theory to rest for me... quite definitely

[OneGrassRoot]

10. And hype versus inciting full-blown panic is a delicate tightrope.....

I believe M$M is walking.

They want hype -- they need the story, the ongoing, engaging, dramatic story. But if people full-on panic, well...that may be a line they're not willing to cross.

For the average person, to hear or read that an official says "humanity is at risk" is absolutely something that could potentially induce panic (depending upon the official).

As long as people are being cautious and aware, why are you so upset about the "humanity is at risk" statement, Nadin?

I'm having a hard time following your focus here. I know you want people to be aware and not poo-poo this story, to take precautions, and be aware that the worst may be far from over.

Who are you upset with about this "humanity at risk" statement? The American people, MSM, who?

Not following your intentions lately, but am trying....

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. I am not upset at the statement, it was a matter of fact

knowing a little of this.

But the US media did not use it in headlines, Didn't register until some folks started going all over the observer for using it... that is a UK paper

So I trolled their papers, they used it, in all of them, mirror, observer, you mention it

Then I trolled ours nope

Then I trolled the Mexican papers, and other latin papers yep... front and center

So why didn't they use it in the US?

If they wanted a panic, that is a ready made one and that is the point

They didn't because the news consumer in this country likes to be coddled, hidden from facts, and treated like a child

Well guess what, they are.

GOO!

[OneGrassRoot]

17. Okay, thanks....

we're certainly not a well-informed, savvy populace in general. I don't dispute that. It's pathetic.

As for the "humanity is at risk" statement, I suppose I'm personally not upset one way or another as far as the media using it; if they used it, I would NOT say they were being irresponsible, they were simply reporting the facts, as you said. Them not using it may be wise given how insulated we are as a populace, and the fact that we're not accustomed to full-fledged doom and gloom.

Granted, I realize from your perspective that it is simply a statement of fact, not a doom and gloom thing...but it most definitely would be perceived as such. People would more than likely overreact tremendously.

Perhaps the American population is gradually being introduced to reality...about many things...and it has to go slowly so our collective brain won't implode. ;)

I was just curious what agitated you about it, so thanks for answering. :)

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. To me it was a great moment that disputed the

they want a panic, OMG many claim here... and some even said it was irresponsible

It was a nice, study in comparative media

If I were writing a thesis in communications, this is the kind of trivia that is made for that...

:-)

[OneGrassRoot]

19. Ahhh, gotcha. I hear you. :) n/t

[uppityperson]

32. Why use real info when you can use BIG graphic fonts and scary music?

Many people have a very short attention span and for some reason can only watch BIG fancy graphics with scary music. Perhaps it is related to having so many ads on tv, they have gotten used to 20 second sound bites? Having to run WHO's comments, even for 2 minutes, would take up too much air time and people would get bored and switch to another station with better graphics and music?

There was a made for tv movie yrs back, "Special Report" that dealt with the purpose of tv being to sell add time. It was based on a tv covering an incident and sucked me in at first when I saw it (went to friend's house when it was already on tv). I had to watch for a bit to figure out if it was real or not, it was so well done.

It is really sad that this has gotten how things are here. Distraction of bright shiny things in 10 second bits. Now that people aren't dropping like flies, betcha a lot of media attention goes away

[nadinbrzezinski]

33. MSNBC is not doing the scary music,

but hey whatever

NOT ALL news outlets are doing that

Now fox, MO

CNN that is their MO, why not for CNN-I

Perhaps it is WHO is watching and they are more sophisticated news consumers?

Nah, could not be that!

[uppityperson]

36. I don't get cable. Only over the air tv.

Those are who I am talking about. Could be MSNBC has more savy watchers who care more about content than Fancy Graphics and Scary Music (tm)

[nadinbrzezinski]

38. This is an interesting study on media actually

but here is an observation from the cables

when FOX came about CNN did not use that crap. But FOX did, in spades, and when they replaced CNN well... as they say the rest is history

Now CNBC is now the most watched cable

So I expect that trend to reverse

But here is the problem with US Media at its core

No, they are not here to scare you... they are here to make money

So if they keep eyes on teevee with graphics and scary music, that is more adds sold

If they keep eyes on teevee with no graphics and in depth reporting, they'd switch to that mode in a flash

If they kept the eyes balls on teeevee with nekkid news bunnies and they could get away with it, they would

Information is secondary, sales are primary

And our news consumers, at many local markets are not very sophisticated. I get it in Seattle it is bad. We saw them when we were there last year... so I do get it. Try to stream MSNBC, for US news, it is a breath of fresh air... not perfect, far from it, but FAR BETTER than the rest

I have not watched the swill that passes for local news, and just recently tuned in just to find out what is the headlines here. Do the first two minutes and ahem FLEE... Though I did learn from them interesting tidbit, L-3 biolab for cali...

Now CNBC has gone for the slightly more sophisticated viewer, that is their shtick...

[Bluenorthwest]

20. Dr Margaret Chan is the official you are sort of quoting

Here's a bit more of her actual words in Geneva: "Above all this is an opportunity for global solidarity as we look for responses and solutions that benefit all countries, all of humanity. After all it really is all of humanity that is under threat during a pandemic. The international community should treat this as a window of opportunity to ramp up preparedness and response."

So that is what she said. Not exactly as reported here, if you ask me.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. ll of humanity that is under threat during a pandemic

this is the part of the statement that generated the headline world wide

Humanity at risk, WHO

That was used world wide, except in the US

I played PIO for the Red Cross in Tijuana for a little while and trust me, you can be as careful as you want, but when she made the statement and I heard it, I went ... hmmm I can see the headline now

It didn't happen in the US

Why?

We are not sophisticated enough

We cannot go beyond the headlines, and that has to do with the 30 seconds bumper sticker journalism

And partly we are guilty

It truly didn't register until I read here the irresponsible media meme.

[Hannah Bell]

5. The first pass of the 1918 flu had 10s of thousands of cases 1 month out.

This doesn't.

Is there some reason every flu *must* be compared to 1918?

[quiller4]

7. That was the second pass of the 1918 flu

the first pass had fewer than 1000 cases.

[Hannah Bell]

12. source: john barry, the great influenza

which i have in my hand right now.

[Buzz Clik]

6. It's far more likely I'll die in a fiery crash on my drive home tonight.

I hope my lack of fear doesn't disappoint you.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. I am so afraid of this right now that yesterday I met my friend

a front line medic in TJ.. we had a great dinner, yep, I am quivering in the corner in fear... NOT


By the way let me help you with this, as a front line medic he will, in the course of his job, come across a patient of influenza at least 20 during the year, and this year a few might be possitive for H1N1, aka he has a better chance statistically than me


Those who confuse information with fear should turn off their tv for a while... or for that matter the news altogether

[TwilightZone]

16. Or on your way to the pharmacy to pick up Tamiflu.

:)

[Blue_In_AK]

13. I got slammed in November 1968 with that Hong Kong flu

right before Thanksgiving. I was down for the count for a couple of weeks, 105 temps, couldn't even walk across the room without help. I probably should have been hospitalized but as a poor hippie couldn't afford to even go to the doctor. That's about the sickest I've ever been in my life, along with meningitis/encephalitis in 1980.

I'm not panicking over this new strain, but taking care. The flu is nothing to sneeze at, so to speak.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. Achu, and the president didn't say that people should panic either

but concerned, yes

But I am still glad they are taking this seriously

[PufPuf23]

62. Not Flu but chicken pox at age 34

Really sick.

I was a grad student at Cal and first thought my mind was disintegrating over about a week before the first blister and diagnosed/theorized as chicken pox by gf when a blister appeared on left shoulder.

Cowell Hospital hospitalized me but not really want to have me there because of the virus.

My housemates and gf bailed me out of Cowell by saying that I would not be left alone (and I wasn't)

There were lesions on my eyes, balls of my feet, no more detail but everywhere, and in my lungs most dangerous.

I was uncomfortably and essentially bedridden for close to two weeks, and weakened for months.

The authorities are in a lose-lose situation with some regards to the new flu: either an overstated but prudent alarm or a true pandemic.

Our media and general ability to think as a society are a discomforting mix for a supposed modern nation.

[uppityperson]

22. So they continue to watch it, as they are doing. In the fall they will be monitoring for it

For now, here in the USA and most of the northern hemisphere, wash your hands, cover your mouth, go to doctor if sick.

I think, nadin, that people are tired of the hysterical reporting about OMG WHAT IF IT GETS BAD!!!! rather than just saying "yes, let's keep an eye and ear out".

It's not hiding your head in the sand, but let's stand back and watch and let the public health people monitor it and if/when it comes time to panic, we will panic then.

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. And I will respectfully disagree on the OMG press coverage

at least CNBC is sticking to just the facts ma'am

This is actually human psychology at work

Between people being scared and scoffing is one way to react to the perceived loss of control, the lack of a news sophisticated consumer, and some (fox is OMG we are all going to die), and the general anti science, vaccines don;'t work crowd, we have an interesting mixture

For god sakes things are getting worst, (spread ratio of this crap)... but that scares people

And any public health action, plane lands in boston for possible patient with flu, is seen as an over reaction... never mind this is classic for a health emergency in-flight

[robdogbucky]

24. Nadin, I really enjoy your posts

as a long time lurker here.

I just want to say that when an issue hits close to home it is understandable that one takes a special interest in it, and in this case as your experience in both Mexico and as a health care para-professional, I understand your fervor and do not resent it.

I look on it like I would my sister, who is a RN in intensive care, and has been for over 30 years. Hers is a hyper-vigilant attitude in health issues and there are those in my family that think she is an alarmist and always ready to issue the direst of warnings. It is just that she has seen people die daily in her career, most from diseases or illnesses or accidents that are preventable or, in the case of lifestyle choices, avoidable.

I went to an Infectious Disease Clinic yesterday on normal business and asked staff there what they thought of the current situation that has erupted since last week. I always note they have plenty of literature in reception urging folks to have their flu shots and have discussed that situation and my attitude about that with them before. About the current H1N1 threat, to a person they were unimpressed with the hysteria generated by media. A couple even mentioned that real evils like the torture issue, were the real reason to bring the flu story to the forefront. To some extent it did. They saw no reason to be alarmed at so small a sample and so early in the information flow.

I recall the swine flu fiasco in '76 and refused to be inoculated and was glad I wasn't. I saw family members have adverse reaction to the vaccine, none as serious as Guillan-Barre or heart attack, but sick nonetheless immediately after receiving it.
See:

"...The swine flu case of 1976 forever reduced confidence in public health pronouncements from the government and helped foster cynicism about federal policy makers that continues to this day.

Citing the swine flu fiasco, for instance, one scholar recently authored a report suggesting the threat of AIDS has been similarly overblown.

Yet Joseph Califano, one of the earliest to use the word "fiasco" in describing the swine flu affair, came to the conclusion that it all couldn't have been avoided. Califano, whom President Carter appointed Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare after beating Ford in the November election, said the doctors had no choice but to err on the side of the caution.

In "The Epidemic That Never Was," Califano said that faced with the threat of another killer plague with the potential to end millions of lives, the doctors were right to seek an inoculation program."

http://capitalcentury.com/1976.html

Then we had the avian flu portended to be the next pandemic and caused Ronny Dumsfeld to gain notoriety as an early investor in Tamiflu.

See:

“…Since the first H5N1 outbreak occurred in 1997, there has been an increasing number of HPAI H5N1 bird-to-human transmissions leading to clinically severe and fatal human infections. However, because there is a significant species barrier that exists between birds and humans, the virus does not easily cross over to humans, though some cases of infection are being researched to discern whether human to human transmission is occurring.<10> More research is necessary to understand the pathogenesis and epidemiology of the H5N1 virus in humans. Exposure routes and other disease transmission characteristics such as genetic and immunological factors, that may increase the likelihood of infection, are not clearly understood. <14>

Although millions of birds have become infected with the virus since its discovery, 248 humans have died from the H5N1 in twelve countries according to WHO data as of January 2009. View the most current WHO Data regarding:Cumulative Number of Human Cases..."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avian_influenza


Then we had SARS, which at the beginning looked bad, but again, probably through fast effective work by world and local health care officials and workers became the latest doomsday prediction that has not panned out.

See:

“On November 16, 2002, an outbreak of what is believed to be severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), otherwise known as Yellow Pneumonia, began in the Guangdong province of China, which borders on Hong Kong. The first case of infection was speculated to be a farmer in Foshan County. The People's Republic of China (PRC) notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about this outbreak on February 10, reporting 305 cases (including 105 health-care workers) and 5 deaths;<1> it was later reported that the outbreak in Guangdong had peaked in mid-February, but that appears to be false, as later 806 infections and 34 deaths were reported.

June 2003: On June 23, Hong Kong is removed from WHO's list of 'Infected Areas'. The three places left on the list are Toronto, Beijing, and Taiwan.
On June 27, the World Health Organization said the world population should be SARS-free within the next two to three weeks, but warned the disease could emerge in China next winter
July 2003: On July 5, WHO declared the SARS outbreak contained and removed Taiwan from the list of affected areas. There have been no new cases for 20 days although around 200 people are still hospitalized with the disease."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progress_of_the_SARS_outbreak

Then we had last year's flu vaccine fiasco when they first urged everyone, then ran out of it or were unable to ship it, or for whatever reason, many millions of intended recipients did not have it available.

So, to answer your question, we do listen, and we have learned from the past. I agree things are better now in detecting, isolating and fighting outbreaks, as opposed to earlier ones you cite.

This ain't;

"..1918 the same pattern, early cases were mild... later cases were the sucker punch

1957 same damn pattern

1968 yep, you read that right..."

This is 2009 and we have a much better response time and many more tools to use in learning about and preventing such outbreaks. Unfortunately we also have a worldwide network of corporate controlled media, whose first mission is to generate viewers and ad income, and after that, well, look who owns the media?

We are not all sheep.

robdogbucky

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. Here is a critical difference between 1976 and now

in 1976 they got a cluster at Ft Dix and that was it

Nothing more

Perhaps they stemmed it and didn't realize it, since the army essentially put them in quarantine (which wasn't done in 1918)

This was is not only out there, but spreading, why people are concerned

There is more, people have been trained not so much by the 1976 fiasco, (or was that good response?) but also by the last eight years of bush

As to SARS it was the over reaction that contained it

To Bird Flu, ditto

And that is the point

Now to the media over reacting and hyping... at least MSNBC, my drug of choice, has kept mostly to the facts

They've had their moments

And darn it, they covered the torture just as much, if not more

And as I said above, if the US press wanted a panic, why didn't they use the "humanity at risk: WHO" headline?

To me each one of these "duds" is a run on the system, a fire drill, but the pandemic will happen... it is not a matter of if, but when

And I for one, I am peechy keen the adults are in charge.

And I am also annoyed at the selective hearing some folks have round these parts

[robdogbucky]

27. And there is this

Health officials urge against flu overreaction

“As swine flu has spread to most Bay Area counties over the past few days, worried residents have been descending on hospitals and clinics at the first sign of ill health, to the chagrin of the region's public health officials.
"People are not very sick. That's why this is not a health crisis," said Dr. Mitch Katz, director of San Francisco's Department of Public Health.

He was just the latest health professional to urge people to stay home unless they really need a doctor. Yet patients keep showing up at hospitals in some cities in search of swine flu tests.

A perception that there has been a sudden explosion of swine flu cases may be prompting people to seek medical care, said San Mateo County Health Officer Dr. Scott Morrow. But until last week, local health officials weren't even testing for H1N1, he said...

"Do not demand testing. This is not helpful for anybody," he said. "What people need to be doing right now is - nothing special."
Health officials in Mexico, the nation hardest hit by the outbreak, said Thursday that the spread of the disease appeared to be slowing, although officials at the World Health Organization warned that there is no evidence the worst has passed.

Seventeen confirmed cases of swine flu have been recorded in California, along with 41 probable cases - defined as cases that appear to be swine flu but have not been tested against the actual strain.

As the number of cases grew, health officials faced a dilemma as they sought to both reassure the public to avoid panic and to encourage reasonable caution, especially when it came to schools.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/01/MNSB17CGK6.DTL

robdogbucky

[robdogbucky]

28. Could

the complained-of slow response by WHO as made by Mexican officials be what fueled the panic in the media?

"MEXICO CITY — Mexico's chief epidemiologist accused the World Health Organization of being slow to respond to the country's warning about a health crisis that turned into a global swine flu scare and called for an investigation.

Dr. Miguel Angel Lezana told The Associated Press late Thursday his center alerted the Pan American Health Organization on April 16 about alarming occurrences of flu and atypical pneumonia in Mexico. But no action was taken until eight days later when the World Health Organization said it was "very, very concerned" the outbreak could grow into a pandemic.

"It seems it should have been more immediate," Lezana, director of the National Epidemiology Center, told AP in a telephone interview..."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/01/swine-flu-mexicos-epidemi_n_194382.html


robdogbucky

[nadinbrzezinski]

30. No, that is mexican politics

federal elections, midterms, are schedules for July 2

The PAN was starting to catch up to the PRI in polls... alas they will loose badly

This is partially finger pointing at its best

[uppityperson]

34. That very well could be. I had a fun time with one of the WHO pages that I can't find again now

It had a list of epidemics around the world in the last few yrs and it was a pretty long list. Lots we didn't hear about here.

I like the quote in your reply above "People are not very sick. That's why this is not a health crisis,"

[nadinbrzezinski]

29. Yes, that reaction is textbook

they had the same thing happen in Mexico... and the health authorities also had to urge people NOT to do that

Problem is they are getting contradicting information

CDC, if you feel sick seek medical attention

Public Health officials at local level, don't swam the ER

THey need to find a groove and stick to it

Preferred groove, go see your doctor, preferably call first

Now if you don't have a doctor (50 million americans don't have insurance) that can be a problem

[leftofthedial]

25. by golly! you're right!

I'm going out today and buying all the saran wrap and duct tape I can find!

[nadinbrzezinski]

31. which will not work in this case but I am sure you knew that

but hey, if it makes you feel better, by all means

[leftofthedial]

48. I think this particular "global pandemic" will fizzle.

But it was good to have serious, competent people in charge.

Imagine if a bunch of bush appointees were in charge when a real pandemic broke...

It'd be like a thousand Katrinas.

[nadinbrzezinski]

50. If the bush people were in charge

we'd have a MIssion accomplished banner at the ranch

What concerns the health authorities is the mutation POSSIBILITY for the fall

Why that, and the it is now going person to person, they raised the levels to 5

That leads to containment measures that might make it fizzle

But at that point it would be good and aggressive containment measures

It is one of those, if they work, people will go, but why did they do that? If they did nothing and people started falling off like flies... well it would be the but why didn't they do a thing?

They are damned if and damned if they don't

Frankly to me it is not over reacting what they are doing

Now the media... I have gotten another lesson from this, US Media consumers are really unsophisticated... truly

Given the coverage I am seeing in other places.

SOme of the stupid shit they have gone in the in depth reporting in places like Mexico, who have less educated people by statistics, would be well over the readying comprehension of most people here, college degree and all

That is a sad statement, and partly it is because they give us exactly what we want... and what will keep eyes on screen and commercials sold

Their job is not to inform, if they manage to do that, it is secondary. Their job is to sell add space

But cause a panic? Hardly... if that was the goal the WHO gave them the perfect panic inducing headline and that was not used in the states.

[leftofthedial]

64. I don't mind what health care organizations are doing.

The media, as usual, are behaving like idiots.

[Jennicut]

35. The # of cases is slowly growing but its not a full pandemic yet

I do wonder if it might come around again and get worse in the fall. The first time can be mild, the second time could be worse. I would not go traveling anywhere on a plane right now for sure (if you can avoid it) but I also would not panic as that helps no one and there simply are not enough cases to be that worried yet.

[nadinbrzezinski]

40. Which is exactly what the president said

:-)

To edit, not the plane bit, that was Biden pulling a biden

[Jennicut]

51. LOL. But it was kind of true. I wouldn't get on one unless I absolutely had to for work.

We just got our first case confirmed here in CT and 8 more possible cases. So its spreading every day. I would advise caution but not full on freak out.

[nadinbrzezinski]

52. But for some staying on top of the news

is freaking out

Oh and the problem with Biden's comment is not that it was that wrong... but that he is the Veep

I wouldn't get on one either if I don't absolutely need to

:-)

But then again, I don't get on planes unless I absolutely have to... that pesky asthma

Oh wait, does that mean I have not changed behaviors? Who knew?

:evilgrin:

[Jennicut]

54. I think I talked to you once before about this but I have diabetes

So I am extra cautious too. Joe was being too honest.

[nadinbrzezinski]

55. Yeah you did, I also have diabetes

now for me, I am getting a nice plus toy that they came for this, or its american cousin actually

Google achufy... I also posted it last night over here, it is in my journal

Mexicans are starting to come out with all kinds of dark gallows humor thingies

I was in the capital when this broke... I need a T-Shirt, I survived the FLU of 2009 T-SHIRT!

:evilgrin:

But I have a sick sense of humor...

[Jennicut]

57. Ha ha!

Is it supposed to be a swine flu germ? LMAO!




I think we worry more about this thing then others here nadinbrzezinski because of our health backgrounds.

[nadinbrzezinski]

59. I also was a health worker

but there is a also quite a bit of denial, and machismo going on

It is a paradox, for a nation that fears it's shadow and demands to right to carry concealed weapons because of the scary (insert here), they hide head in sand when things like this come up

It speaks volumes as to who we are as a nation

I am also told that Daily Koss is a little more mature about this, so I may just take a looksie over there... the reactions over here are, to a point, leftie versions of Free Republic

[Irreverend IX]

37. Do you see those funny little dots that I and other posters put at the end of sentences?

They're called periods. You should learn to use them if you want people to take you seriously, and bone up on grammar and paragraph structure while you're at it. I wouldn't trust a "health professional" who writes like you do to take my blood pressure.

[robdogbucky]

39. Just want to ask

Do you text?

Boy, if you don't, I would not recommend that you start if this stuff irritates you.

Just sayin'

Ever since reading "1999," a comic book from the 1970s ala R. Crumb and Heavy Metal, that depicted the dumbing down of our writing/language skills, I have watched the changes (can't say evolution about it, cause that usually implies moving forward)occurring in the public's devolution of the language and its arts.

Funny, that items like cell phones, blackberries, faxes, laptops, internet, were all supposed to make life faster, more portable, more profitable, and in every way, better. Instead many of these systems designed to give us freedoms only further enslave us (don't ask, I do work that oftentimes requires me to receive messages on the commode)to our jobs, bosses, mates, children, advertisers, etc. And cause us to foster bad reading/writing/spelling/grammar/context habits.

Just my dos centavos

robdogbucky

[Irreverend IX]

44. Texting forces bad writing...

Writing through a telephone pad is like compositional constipation, so no way is anyone going to take the extra 5 minutes to make it look good. But if you want to get on a digital soapbox saying you're a medical expert and that anyone disagreeing with you isn't a "grownup," it helps not to write like a 5-year-old. And you're right about America's dumbing down; I wonder how many children of this century will be able to read anything written during the previous ones.

[nadinbrzezinski]

42. Yeah I heard of them. If this sucks so much for you

then don't read the web...

Though I also can go into the Grammar police and the need to belittle information and a tool do do such

:-)

I'll now remember to leave all the periods out for you

:evilgrin:

[xchrom]

41. recommend

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

43. Is this what the Chicken Littles are resorting to?

In order to head of claims of "I just told you so," they're now just falling back on "just wait until November! You'll see!"

[crimsonblue]

45. yawn....

call me when people start dying in the streets, because until then, I couldn't care less, and until then this new "pandemic" is a farce.

[nadinbrzezinski]

46. If people are going to say what the President said, the minimum they could do

is do a full report, that is the fracking point

And when people start dying in the streets, that is your take this seriously?

Good lord, I am glad the ADULTS are in charge and NOT people like you.

[crimsonblue]

47. the point is

that the global media reacted hysterically to the swine flu. It is not, and never will be, more dangerous than the normal flu.

[nadinbrzezinski]

49. The point is you and I don't know given the history of virology

but I am sure you know that

Here is a free clue for you

The last three pandemics were very mild in the beginning, but these viruses adapted better to their hosts and became deadlier... with 1918 being the worst

Yes, the virus could mutate, that pesky word, to something even milder, where it just tickles you, but it could MUTATE into something deadlier... we don't know yet. Thankfully the adults are taking this seriously.


Glad that the adults are in charge

I know you think, truthfully think this is a conspiracy... do tell me... why would they want to scare you? And by the way given how unsophisticated US Media consumers are... it is here on DU where we are hearing the THEY ARE TRYING TO SCARE US MEME

Go outside, get some fresh air, talk to your neighbors.

Panic? I have yet to see signs of any supposed panic... yep, no panic, just my usual neighbor who has bad allergies who wears a mask year in and year out during this time of the year... who knew?

[crimsonblue]

53. i don't think this is a conspiracy

and I never said as much. I do, however, think that it is largely an overreaction.

[nadinbrzezinski]

60. And if at the end of the day it still feels as an over reaction, a professional opinion

them plans to contain this worked

:-)

To add, by the early summer of next year be sure to thank your local health worker, especially at the health department

[Jennicut]

56. Its dangerous to a certain population. It would be dangerous to me because my immune system sucks.

There is no vaccine right now and even if its just a normal flu that is something I have to worry about every day. I was given a flu shot by my endocrinologist, I have diabetes. My doctor was adamant I get one as even a cold turns into infections for me at times. I do agree that for everyday people with no health issues its probably no big deal if its like a normal flu or milder.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

58. Hot off the presses: CDC says it's NOT like the 1918 virus.

"People aged 60 and older may have some immune protection against the new swine flu, a leading influenza scientist said Friday.

The head of the influenza division at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control also revealed that genetic study of the virus doesn't show the mutations thought to have made the virus that triggered the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic so virulent.

The Spanish flu virus was also an influenza A H1N1 virus, but is one that is believed to have jumped from birds to humans. The virus that is currently grabbing the world's attention is a swine H1N1."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hnQli1AF50u0Cw0p4hAE4RN0AJgw

[nadinbrzezinski]

61. GOOD, so it may not mutate the same way

GOOD

That is a happy dance

[Hannah Bell]

63. so maybe the grim prognostications about the next "wave" & "wait until october" will

slow a bit.

[Mojorabbit]

65. Then there is this from the same article

Dr. Nancy Cox said work being done in the CDC's Atlanta labs shows older people have some antibodies that react against the swine H1N1 virus.

"What we see is that there is more cross-reactive antibody in people over 60," Cox said in an interview from Atlanta.

"I think we start seeing some increased cross reactivity at 50, but there's more in people over 60."
and
The World Health Organization's leading expert on influenza cautioned more study is needed before conclusions can be drawn.

"I think it's . . . something that you really have to study and tease through before you make any pronouncements about what it means," Dr. Keiji Fukuda, acting director general for health security and environment, said in an interview from Geneva.

The bottom line is they don't know yet. I am in a wait and see mode. Too many things can happen. There is H5N1 in pigs in Indonesia and it is endemic in poultry there. South America's flu season is just starting. There could be some mixing and matching of viruses or not.

on edit, I like this quote from another article:
"We're trying to understand the severity of this virus at a pretty early stage," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, interim deputy director of the CDC's science and public health program. "It's like trying to estimate a baseball player's batting average the first week of the season."