SARS...fucking enough

KingJeremy · 04-28-2003, 10:48 PM

Why is the media making such a big fucking deal out of this? Tens of thousands of people die every day of cancer but a few hundred people total die of SARS and the media acts like the world is coming to an end.

13 · 07:14 AM

I just wish that all media coverage about this new (dare I say bioweapon) disease was on sars itself, and not on the hysteria surrounding it. Just the other day I caught a brief graphic of a crazed, frantic nurse trying to jump out from an upper floor window of a hospital in hong kong while other nurses were trying to pull her back in. The reporter made sure to mention that she wasn't infected and downplayed the threat, but the juxtaposition of that graphic with the report update on the situation created an irresponsible context that can only be regarded as sensationalist. Why all the reporting on these so called non events? It sort of reminds me of last summer's surge in child kidnapping coverage which later plateaued with the adoption of a national amber alert system.

I also wish that the media didn't treat that anthrax mailer, who's still on the loose, as a non event. It's as if it never happened.

spfreak · 04-29-2003, 09:31 AM

i agree they're making a HUGE deal out of it.
but mainly cuz its contagious. thats pretty much it,

KingJeremy · 04-29-2003, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by spfreak
i agree they're making a HUGE deal out of it.
but mainly cuz its contagious. thats pretty much it,

I don't have any stats to back me up on this, but I would bet that more people have died of the flu in the last 3 months than have died of SARS worldwide.

DeviousJ · 04-29-2003, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by KingJeremy
I don't have any stats to back me up on this, but I would bet that more people have died of the flu in the last 3 months than have died of SARS worldwide.

I guess they're worried because of the rate at which it's spreading, and how far it's getting too. And as it gets worse, it would become harder to treat everyone - but then I don't know a lot about these things. The media are going crazy over it, but then they're basically going for the 'unmissable viewing experience' and it makes for good tv. They keep showing people in China spraying steps and handrails with disinfectant too - I wonder if any of them have realized how often money changes hands? It's a little late for quarantining, put it that way.

guz · 04-29-2003, 01:01 PM

ya, pretty much what deviousj said.

they're pretty much baffled as to how to go about treating it, and with the rate that it seems to have been spreading...they're trying to get a handle on it before it creates more havoc.

Nimrod's Son · 04-29-2003, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KingJeremy
Why is the media making such a big fucking deal out of this? Tens of thousands of people die every day of cancer but a few hundred people total die of SARS and the media acts like the world is coming to an end.

Um, there are treatments for cancer. We understand how it works. SARS is a mystery and more than that, it's communicable and airbourne. Really, there is no comparison.

Random Female · 04-29-2003, 06:43 PM

We're making it a big deal because if we don't nip it in the bud, Random Female doesn't get to go to Asia in the Peace Corps and her plans for the future are ruiend and she'll go bonkers because she's a control freak about her life and can't function if she doesn't have a life to control.

heheh.
Anyway, to be serious, I understand and empathize... the death rate is 5-6% which is similar to most influenza-like diseases, and most countries (with the exception of China) are having successes at containing it.

between the war in iraq and SARS, it's the media's wet-dream. no stories to drum up.

Nimrod's Son · 04-29-2003, 06:50 PM

Actually, half of the people on this board think the media dreamed up both the war in Iraq AND SARS.

04-28-2003, 10:48 PM	#1
KingJeremy Apocalyptic Poster Posts: 2,880	SARS...fucking enough Why is the media making such a big fucking deal out of this? Tens of thousands of people die every day of cancer but a few hundred people total die of SARS and the media acts like the world is coming to an end.

04-29-2003, 05:06 AM	#2
13 Apocalyptic Poster Posts: 2,453	I just wish that all media coverage about this new (dare I say bioweapon) disease was on sars itself, and not on the hysteria surrounding it. Just the other day I caught a brief graphic of a crazed, frantic nurse trying to jump out from an upper floor window of a hospital in hong kong while other nurses were trying to pull her back in. The reporter made sure to mention that she wasn't infected and downplayed the threat, but the juxtaposition of that graphic with the report update on the situation created an irresponsible context that can only be regarded as sensationalist. Why all the reporting on these so called non events? It sort of reminds me of last summer's surge in child kidnapping coverage which later plateaued with the adoption of a national amber alert system. I also wish that the media didn't treat that anthrax mailer, who's still on the loose, as a non event. It's as if it never happened. Last edited by 13 : 04-29-2003 at 07:14 AM.

04-29-2003, 09:31 AM	#3
spfreak Apocalyptic Poster Location: Toronto Posts: 1,401	i agree they're making a HUGE deal out of it. but mainly cuz its contagious. thats pretty much it,

04-29-2003, 01:01 PM	#6
guz El Gringo Mexicano Location: I'd rather just have dome anyway Posts: 8,599	ya, pretty much what deviousj said. they're pretty much baffled as to how to go about treating it, and with the rate that it seems to have been spreading...they're trying to get a handle on it before it creates more havoc.

04-29-2003, 06:43 PM	#8
Random Female Apocalyptic Poster Location: white folks' ghetto, San Diego Posts: 2,005	We're making it a big deal because if we don't nip it in the bud, Random Female doesn't get to go to Asia in the Peace Corps and her plans for the future are ruiend and she'll go bonkers because she's a control freak about her life and can't function if she doesn't have a life to control. heheh. Anyway, to be serious, I understand and empathize... the death rate is 5-6% which is similar to most influenza-like diseases, and most countries (with the exception of China) are having successes at containing it. between the war in iraq and SARS, it's the media's wet-dream. no stories to drum up.

04-29-2003, 06:50 PM	#9
Nimrod's Son Master of Karate and Friendship Location: in your butt Posts: 72,943	Actually, half of the people on this board think the media dreamed up both the war in Iraq AND SARS.