User Comments

1. 

   5/07/09

   harveyavatar

   On the same subject, this guy is rather funny too.
   
   www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu5biFY89hI

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2. 

   5/07/09

   TheBellyacher

   What can I say, it's an easy news story? The press love anything that will conjure up emotion and won't take long to research. People like a good old-fashioned panic ; even when there's far more serious things going on right on their doorstep. So the two go hand in hand quite nicely.
   
   Fortunately one day a real pandemic will break out and everybody will be so apathetic by that point nobody will give a damn...until it's too late of course.

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   1. 

      5/07/09

      ColdPhilter

      I agree with you. I think the media alongside the internet can create alarm in people to the point their irrational.
3. 

   5/07/09

   MadameX

   I always wonder about people who feel the need to read in strong, emotional, even irrational reactions to statements of concern. Why is it that we've reached a point in which no one can say "be careful" without phrases like "freaking out" and "panicking" starting to fly? Maybe people need to stop "freaking out" about other people's concerns/precautions, hm? Don't panic--people who are concerned about H1N1 can't do you any harm!

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   1. 

      5/07/09

      ColdPhilter

      They can't do any harm eh? Try explaining that to the Egyptian government that slaughtered over 300,000 pigs because they were "panicking" about the swine flu. This is the reason why the news stopped calling it the "swine" flu and now it's just H1N1 because people were slaughtering pigs for no reason other than their fear of getting sick.
   2. 

      5/07/09

      MadameX

      So you're freaking out about the slaughter of pigs, then?
   3. 

      5/07/09

      ColdPhilter

      I'm not freaking out. If I was freaking out, I wouldn't bother asking other people's opinions, because in my mind they wouldn't matter. You said that people concerned about the H1N1 can't do any harm. I would say 300,000 pigs being slaughtered out of fear is indeed harmful. Not only is it harmful to the pigs, but the farmers that raised them, as well as the economy of Egypt. When people panic, and stop thinking rationally, they make stupid mistakes that put other people/things in harms way. You disagree with that?
4. 

   5/07/09

   ScreamBucket

   If you study history at all, you are very happy to see the freak out. We think ourselves above nature with our technology and all, and thumb our noses at a simple sneeze.
   
   The "Spanish Flu" broke out in the trenches of Europe in 1918, the "Mexico" of its day. It was sporadic and mild, and barely made the casualty lists towards the end of the war. It traveled to Kansas with returning troops somewhat dormant until the fall.
   
   Then it killed 50 million people in ten weeks. Subsequent waves weakened, and it died out on it's own in ten week cycles. No vaccination or cure has ever been found.
   
   This is a different strain, but the same H1N1. It may just fizzle out, but that's a gamble no one should take, especially measured against the simple inconvenience of laying low for a while.
   
   Of course, for you conspiracy people, there is always this; Common sense and all medical and emergency opinion says be careful and yet...being careful will certainly quicken the economic collapse. When you are watching the media owned by corporations in financial free fall, keep this in mind.
   
   There is a very cool newspaper headline from 1919, and an exceptional video in this post that may make you reconsider;
   
   screambucket.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=288:influenza...

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   1. 

      5/07/09

      ColdPhilter

      H1N1 categorizes many different strains of the flu, including the common flu that comprises the majority of flu infections. The "Spanish Flu" is one particular strain not to be confused with the "Swine Flu". Now, while it's important to be aware of what's going on, it helps no one to become hysterical, or worried without justification. The mortality rate of swine flu is relatively low, and people shouldn't be worried over things until it's justified.
   2. 

      5/08/09

      harveyavatar

      For coincidence people, there was a worldwide vaccination campaign in 1918.
5. 

   5/07/09

   BiasViewer

   Well put. Here is the story:
   biasviewer.com/2009/05/04/swine-flu-farce/

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