Current Affairs Coronavirus Thread - Serious stuff !!!

[davek]

did you read the whole thing?

because it’s not actually asking trust is key.

It’s saying that lockdown policies are more effective in democracies than autocracies.

that democratic nations are more elastic to policy restrictions.

ie for the same level of policy restriction, mobility fell more in democracies than in autocracies.

it’s not saying that more stringent measures are less effective.

actually the conclusion would be that if our policy had hsve been more stringent we would have been much more effective at containment then respective autocracies.

I’m not sure ‘trust is key’ is the right conclusion.

Mate, he did the same with a link I gave yesterday. Dived in and commented without reading the linked piece.

It's just what he does. It's nothing personal.

 

[Barnfred 55]

Bored of the confrontational nature of the thread, and annoyed at my lack of willpower in tuning in.

Put Bully on ignore for a week or so and the thread won't show up. Give you some time away from it. Usually works for me

 

[OnlyBlueWillDo]

The Govt have displayed this chart every day for the last 7 weeks in the daily TV briefings showing global deaths.



Last two days they've stopped showing it, and chances are you'll never see it again now we are the worst case in Europe and only 2nd to the USA.

 

[Jebus_lives]

Sorry for the terse reply. Just frustrated at the confrontational nature of this thread. If people did a bit more learning and bit less blaming it would be a much nicer place to spend time. There's been a heap of research into media consumption during the pandemic, and it's impact on our mental wellbeing, and the general theme is that when it's both overwhelmingly negative, and overwhelmingly repetitive, then it does more harm than good. That seems to be what this thread has become lately. @JEBUS_LIVES posted a really interesting perspective from his position in the NHS yesterday and was nearly knocked over by tumbleweed because it only offered an opportunity to learn something rather than blame someone. Just gets tiring after a while.

Glad you found it interesting, I'll post more.

 

[Brennan]

It matters because that is what the Anglesey MP said in her statement that you are basing the rest of your argument on. “It is their home” she said, twice.

If she’d have said he had gone to his second / third / fourth home in February then you’d have more of a point, though even then you have to decide to believe them or the people who claim to have only recently started to see him around.

But it doesn't matter.

Getting hung up on the use of the word 'home' is irrelevant.

 

[mill]

Sorry for the terse reply. Just frustrated at the confrontational nature of this thread. If people did a bit more learning and bit less blaming it would be a much nicer place to spend time. There's been a heap of research into media consumption during the pandemic, and it's impact on our mental wellbeing, and the general theme is that when it's both overwhelmingly negative, and overwhelmingly repetitive, then it does more harm than good. That seems to be what this thread has become lately. @JEBUS_LIVES posted a really interesting perspective from his position in the NHS yesterday and was nearly knocked over by tumbleweed because it only offered an opportunity to learn something rather than blame someone. Just gets tiring after a while.

Completely agree. I’ve been really argumentative too this week and had to check myself so you are not alone.
The whole thing is difficult for everyone.
I found the article interesting and that’s one of the reasons why I engaged. My reply wasn’t meant to be incendiary but I can see how it may have been taken that way.
One thing I did consider a factor was how freedom of democracy would mean more mobility and freedom of movement in the first place and so may would expect sharper falls.

I’ve not dug too much into the actual data yet but if I get a chance I’ll have a look and see how they account for that.

If this kinda thing does interest you by the way you should look at Malcom Gladwell’s books. One called outliers (which explains the *only* reason why I never got to play for everton ) which I think is the one I read about the obedience factor.

it talked about South Korean airline pilots and how, relative to the average, SK had a lot more plane crashes. It was down to the culture of never questioning authority. It was causing more plane crashes because pilots were not being challenged enough by co pilots when errors were made (errors that are inevitable in that scenario). It was all down to culture. The pilots had to receive specific training to counteract it and now they have a really great record for crashes.

It’s quite pertinent now. As is things like the Japanese culture for not shaking hands etc.

but I see it in a lot of things. For instance, I’ve found the public school educated much more comfortable with questioning authority than state school educated. Public school educated are encouraged to challenge authority and question whilst that factor isn’t as strong in state educated (you see a similar thing across genders).

anyway it’s just one of the many factors but it’s interesting.

 

[toffee9]

That’s not really necessary is it..

Why? I didn't abuse him in any way. I gave an evaluation of his contribution.

@tsubaki doesn't apologise for being wrong and spreading malicious rumours. Let him say he's sorry.

 

[tsubaki]

But it doesn't matter.

Getting hung up on the use of the word 'home' is irrelevant.

It does matter, though. Welsh (and English) guidance is that people should not stay at their second homes during the crisis irrespective of when they arrived, because of the extra stress it puts on local services.

 

[tsubaki]

That’s not really necessary is it..

Brennan take a look at his posting history

 

[ramacca]

Well done Joe Anderson. Safety first.

Video: “The safety of our children comes first” – Liverpool’s Labour mayor will not re-open schools while infection rates still high

 

[mill]

It does matter, though. Welsh (and English) guidance is that people should not stay at their second homes during the crisis irrespective of when they arrived, because of the extra stress it puts on local services.

You’ve got to be a little careful with politicians though. Because whilst in an official capacity their primary home is in their constituency, often their ‘second’ home is actually their proper house rather than a holiday home.
If he’s off on leave because of the baby and his wife being in hospital then I’d say that’s where he should be.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Completely agree. I’ve been really argumentative too this week and had to check myself so you are not alone.
The whole thing is difficult for everyone.
I found the article interesting and that’s one of the reasons why I engaged. My reply wasn’t meant to be incendiary but I can see how it may have been taken that way.
One thing I did consider a factor was how freedom of democracy would mean more mobility and freedom of movement in the first place and so may would expect sharper falls.

I’ve not dug too much into the actual data yet but if I get a chance I’ll have a look and see how they account for that.

If this kinda thing does interest you by the way you should look at Malcom Gladwell’s books. One called outliers (which explains the *only* reason why I never got to play for everton ) which I think is the one I read about the obedience factor.

it talked about South Korean airline pilots and how, relative to the average, SK had a lot more plane crashes. It was down to the culture of never questioning authority. It was causing more plane crashes because pilots were not being challenged enough by co pilots when errors were made (errors that are inevitable in that scenario). It was all down to culture. The pilots had to receive specific training to counteract it and now they have a really great record for crashes.

It’s quite pertinent now. As is things like the Japanese culture for not shaking hands etc.

but I see it in a lot of things. For instance, I’ve found the public school educated much more comfortable with questioning authority than state school educated. Public school educated are encouraged to challenge authority and question whilst that factor isn’t as strong in state educated (you see a similar thing across genders).

anyway it’s just one of the many factors but it’s interesting.

Aye, Gladwell's books are indeed interesting (less so his latest one), and Hofstede's work on culture is equally interesting, and has been quite important during this pandemic I think. If you can keep your head above water during all of this, then it's an utterly fascinating time tbh, as it's tipping so many aspects of life upside down, and seems likely to be hugely transformative in terms of whatever world we have on the other side.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Glad you found it interesting, I'll post more.

I did, very much so.

 

[tsubaki]

You’ve got to be a little careful with politicians though. Because whilst in an official capacity their primary home is in their constituency, often their ‘second’ home is actually their proper house rather than a holiday home.
If he’s off on leave because of the baby and his wife being in hospital then I’d say that’s where he should be.

I agree 100% with the second bit, but the first bit is stretching “in an official capacity” to breaking point; he has repeatedly said he lives in the constituency, and his online material still says that.

 

[ramacca]

Councils in England fear having to make 20% cuts

"The analysis comes as councillors claim they were told to expect to share the financial burden of fighting the virus by Jenrick, who also said local authorities should not “labour under the false impression” that all of their costs will be reimbursed.


There is also concern that councils have been asked to give estimates to the government on what is needed based on a lockdown period lasting three months only. Labour has said it is obvious that some elements of restriction are due to continue for longer.

Shadow communities and local government secretary Steve Reed said: “This government promised to do whatever it takes – if our loved ones see care taken away in their hour of need it will be devastating and unacceptable. The government should change course now.”