this post was submitted on 17 Aug 2023
646 points (92.2% liked)

World News

38979 readers
2562 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] Ajen@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Do you think the severity of infection is important? Meaning, if previous variants were wiped out and the only variants still spreading were less severe than a common cold, would you keep wearing masks?

[–] Zaktor@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

What's the point of this hypothetical? It's both not remotely close to where we are currently and has redefined the consequences to absurdity.

"Would you still wear a mask if the consequence of infection was a single light sneeze?"

"Would you wear a seat belt if the only consequence of car crashes was a small bruise?"

[–] KingJalopy@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

Yes because I don't want car crashes to spread to those are driving safely

[–] Ajen@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

The point of my hypothetical is that communicable diseases have a tendency to evolve to be less pathogenic over time. So it's likely that each new covid strain is less harmful than the last. I'm wondering where you draw the line?

Personally, preventing a light sneeze isn't a big enough reason to wear a mask.

[–] Zaktor@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

The point of my hypothetical is that communicable diseases have a tendency to evolve to be less pathogenic over time.

That's not actually a real thing. It was a theory by a guy in the 1800s that's been soundly debunked but spread because people want to believe it's true.

https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/dec/08/facebook-posts/viruses-and-other-pathogens-can-evolve-become-more/