Why coronavirus: hoax or bioweapon?

I don't trust the media. They only report the facts they want, or spread lies
told by the authorities.

O-kay,,, backs away slowly...

I give a 30% chance that the virus is a hoax.

on what basis?

What purpose the hoax serves, I
am not sure.

possibly ‘cause you’re wron, and it ain't a hoax...

I give a 10% chance that the virus is a bioweapon.

on what basis?

Who created
and released it, I don't know.

possibly because it doesn’t make sense as a bioweapon.

I have not met anyone with the virus.

I have.

As businesses shut down, my life has
changed; but I ignore it and don't wear a mask or use hand sanitizer.

Cool.

Abhinav Lal
"Who do you serve?"

Titus G

2020-03-21 21:00:39 UTC

Post by a***@gmail.com
I give a 10% chance that the virus is a bioweapon.

on what basis?

Post by a***@gmail.com
Who created
and released it, I don't know.

possibly because it doesn’t make sense as a bioweapon.

Collateral damage? Friendly fire?

Wolffan

2020-03-22 00:43:38 UTC

Post by Titus G

Post by a***@gmail.com
I give a 10% chance that the virus is a bioweapon.

on what basis?

Post by a***@gmail.com
Who created
and released it, I don't know.

possibly because it doesn’t make sense as a bioweapon.

Collateral damage? Friendly fire?

It’s not contagious enough; a real bioweapon would be, at the least,
airborne. It hits the wrong demographic hardest; a real bioweapon would be
aimed at military-age personnel. It’s not lethal enough; a real bioweapon
would have a far higher death rate, or at least serious incapacitation rate.
ObSF: the bioweapon used in Dean Ing’s Quantrill stories, which was
airborne, highly contagious, went for all demographics, and among other
things blinded its victims, requiring extensive medical care by trained,
short supply, specialists... who often became infected.

Nah, it’s basically a new super flu. Not the first, won’t be the last.

If _I_ were building a bioweapon I’d base it on Ebola or other hemorrhagic
fevers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral_hemorrhagic_fever

Note that others have thought so too; according to Wiki, that would include
the Chinese. Ob-not-really-SF: Tom Clancy featured it prominently in the Jack
Ryan books.

D B Davis

2020-03-22 01:46:12 UTC

Post by a***@gmail.com
I give a 10% chance that the virus is a bioweapon.

on what basis?

Post by a***@gmail.com
Who created
and released it, I don't know.

possibly because it doesn’t make sense as a bioweapon.

Collateral damage? Friendly fire?

It’s not contagious enough; a real bioweapon would be, at the least,
airborne. It hits the wrong demographic hardest; a real bioweapon would be
aimed at military-age personnel. It’s not lethal enough; a real bioweapon
would have a far higher death rate, or at least serious incapacitation rate.
ObSF: the bioweapon used in Dean Ing’s Quantrill stories, which was
airborne, highly contagious, went for all demographics, and among other
things blinded its victims, requiring extensive medical care by trained,
short supply, specialists... who often became infected.
Nah, it’s basically a new super flu. Not the first, won’t be the last.
If _I_ were building a bioweapon I’d base it on Ebola or other hemorrhagic
fevers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral_hemorrhagic_fever
Note that others have thought so too; according to Wiki, that would include
the Chinese. Ob-not-really-SF: Tom Clancy featured it prominently in the Jack
Ryan books.

A psycho named Heverling's obsessed with weaponizing Ebola in _Outbreak_
(Cook).

☮

Thank you,

--
Don.......My cat's )\._.,--....,'``.
telltale tall tail /, _.. \ _\ (`._ ,.
tells tall tales.. `._.-(,_..'--(,_..'`-.;.'

h***@gmail.com

2020-03-21 15:10:34 UTC

Post by a***@gmail.com
I don't trust the media. They only report the facts they want, or spread lies told by the authorities.
I give a 30% chance that the virus is a hoax.

Yeah, those 11000 dead people in 79 countries have all been faked.

Post by a***@gmail.com
What purpose the hoax serves, I am not sure.
I give a 10% chance that the virus is a bioweapon. Who created and released it, I don't know.

It's a damned terrible bioweapon

Post by a***@gmail.com
I have not met anyone with the virus. As businesses shut down, my life has changed; but I ignore it and don't wear a mask or use hand sanitizer.

Wash your fucking hands.

Post by a***@gmail.com
"Who do you serve?"

a***@gmail.com

2020-03-21 17:41:12 UTC

Post by a***@gmail.com
I don't trust the media. They only report the facts they want, or spread lies told by the authorities.
I give a 30% chance that the virus is a hoax.

Yeah, those 11000 dead people in 79 countries have all been faked.

All they need to fake are the media reports. The global media is controlled by the shadow government, and puts public service below the interests of those in power.

Post by a***@gmail.com
What purpose the hoax serves, I am not sure.
I give a 10% chance that the virus is a bioweapon. Who created and released it, I don't know.

It's a damned terrible bioweapon

Are there any more successful bioweapons, proven in the field? Besides the thousands of deaths, there is economic contraction, and financial crashes.

Abhinav Lal

"You can believe in me,
I'm with the high command"

Post by a***@gmail.com
I have not met anyone with the virus. As businesses shut down, my life has changed; but I ignore it and don't wear a mask or use hand sanitizer.

Wash your fucking hands.

Post by a***@gmail.com
"Who do you serve?"

David Johnston

2020-03-21 18:24:48 UTC

Post by a***@gmail.com
I don't trust the media. They only report the facts they want, or spread lies told by the authorities.
I give a 30% chance that the virus is a hoax.

Yeah, those 11000 dead people in 79 countries have all been faked.

All they need to fake are the media reports. The global media is controlled by the shadow government,

Your fantasies are silly.

a***@gmail.com

2020-03-21 18:39:17 UTC

Post by a***@gmail.com
I don't trust the media. They only report the facts they want, or spread lies told by the authorities.
I give a 30% chance that the virus is a hoax.

Yeah, those 11000 dead people in 79 countries have all been faked.

All they need to fake are the media reports. The global media is controlled by the shadow government,

Your fantasies are silly.

Shouldn't intelligent and critical thinkers who enjoy reading science fiction or fantasy, have a more open mind? I know the shadow government exists, because I have worked with it.

Abhinav Lal

"Don't believe the church and state,
and everything they tell you"

David Johnston

2020-03-21 19:01:43 UTC

Post by a***@gmail.com
I don't trust the media. They only report the facts they want, or spread lies told by the authorities.
I give a 30% chance that the virus is a hoax.

Yeah, those 11000 dead people in 79 countries have all been faked.

All they need to fake are the media reports. The global media is controlled by the shadow government,

Your fantasies are silly.

Shouldn't intelligent and critical thinkers who enjoy reading science fiction or fantasy, have a more open mind? I know the shadow government exists, because I have worked with it.

No. You haven't. If such a thing existed, and you had worked for it,
and you were going around nattering about it online then you would have
been vanished. Your fantasies are silly.

Wolffan

2020-03-22 00:50:04 UTC

I don't trust the media. They only report the facts they want, or
spread lies told by the authorities.
I give a 30% chance that the virus is a hoax.

Yeah, those 11000 dead people in 79 countries have all been faked.

All they need to fake are the media reports. The global media is
controlled by the shadow government,

Your fantasies are silly.

Shouldn't intelligent and critical thinkers who enjoy reading science
fiction or fantasy, have a more open mind? I know the shadow government
exists, because I have worked with it.

No. You haven't. If such a thing existed, and you had worked for it,
and you were going around nattering about it online then you would have
been vanished. Your fantasies are silly.

extremely so.

Wolffan

2020-03-22 00:49:33 UTC

I don't trust the media. They only report the facts they want, or spread
lies told by the authorities.
I give a 30% chance that the virus is a hoax.

Yeah, those 11000 dead people in 79 countries have all been faked.

All they need to fake are the media reports. The global media is
controlled by the shadow government,

Your fantasies are silly.

Shouldn't intelligent and critical thinkers who enjoy reading science fiction
or fantasy, have a more open mind?

not so open that their brains fall out.

Post by a***@gmail.com
I know the shadow government exists,

no you don't

Post by a***@gmail.com
because I have worked with it.

no you haven’t

Post by a***@gmail.com
Abhinav Lal
"Don't believe the church and state,
and everything they tell you”

paranoid much?

Christian Weisgerber

2020-03-22 01:43:16 UTC

Post by a***@gmail.com
"Don't believe the church and state,
and everything they tell you”

paranoid much?

It's from the lyrics of "Silent Running" by Mike and the Mechanics.

"Believe in me, I'm with the high command"

--
Christian "naddy" Weisgerber ***@mips.inka.de

Wolffan

2020-03-22 07:56:20 UTC

Post by Christian Weisgerber

Post by a***@gmail.com
"Don't believe the church and state,
and everything they tell you”

paranoid much?

It's from the lyrics of "Silent Running" by Mike and the Mechanics.
"Believe in me, I'm with the high command"

He’s still giving off paranoid vibes.

Lynn McGuire

2020-03-23 22:09:18 UTC

Post by Christian Weisgerber

Post by a***@gmail.com
"Don't believe the church and state,
and everything they tell you”

paranoid much?

It's from the lyrics of "Silent Running" by Mike and the Mechanics.
"Believe in me, I'm with the high command"

You beat me. Great song.

Lynn

Robert Carnegie

2020-03-21 20:44:08 UTC

Post by a***@gmail.com
I don't trust the media. They only report the facts they want, or spread lies told by the authorities.
I give a 30% chance that the virus is a hoax.

Yeah, those 11000 dead people in 79 countries have all been faked.

All they need to fake are the media reports. The global media is controlled by the shadow government, and puts public service below the interests of those in power.

Many people who have contracted the disease
have described their experience on public internet,
including some of the people who died. Their
families use the same channel to express their grief.
Local newspapers tell the stories of local victims.
This is real.

Post by a***@gmail.com
What purpose the hoax serves, I am not sure.
I give a 10% chance that the virus is a bioweapon. Who created and released it, I don't know.

It's a damned terrible bioweapon

Are there any more successful bioweapons, proven in the field? Besides the thousands of deaths, there is economic contraction, and financial crashes.

It's hitting everybody. Who benefits?

I suppose that killing lots of old people means
that their heirs get richer. Is that a benefit
to the economy?

Has that been done in SF?

Dorothy J Heydt

2020-03-21 22:55:18 UTC

Post by a***@gmail.com
I don't trust the media. They only report the facts they want, or

spread lies told by the authorities.

Post by a***@gmail.com
I give a 30% chance that the virus is a hoax.

Yeah, those 11000 dead people in 79 countries have all been faked.

All they need to fake are the media reports. The global media is

controlled by the shadow government, and puts public service below the
interests of those in power.
Many people who have contracted the disease
have described their experience on public internet,
including some of the people who died. Their
families use the same channel to express their grief.
Local newspapers tell the stories of local victims.
This is real.

Post by a***@gmail.com
What purpose the hoax serves, I am not sure.
I give a 10% chance that the virus is a bioweapon. Who created

and released it, I don't know.

Post by h***@gmail.com
It's a damned terrible bioweapon

Are there any more successful bioweapons, proven in the field?

Besides the thousands of deaths, there is economic contraction, and
financial crashes.
It's hitting everybody. Who benefits?
I suppose that killing lots of old people means
that their heirs get richer. Is that a benefit
to the economy?

No, but removing a great many conservative voters might benefit
the country. But at what a cost to their friends and families!

Post by a***@gmail.com
Has that been done in SF?

No, but it happened in the fourteenth century, when the Black
Death killed half of Europe, and many of the survivors found
themselves richer. And others, formerly peasants, found their
labor so much in demand that they became richer to a smaller
extent.

--
Dorothy J. Heydt
Vallejo, California
djheydt at gmail dot com
www.kithrup.com/~djheydt/

Kevrob

2020-03-22 05:14:04 UTC

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by a***@gmail.com
I don't trust the media. They only report the facts they want, or

spread lies told by the authorities.

Post by a***@gmail.com
I give a 30% chance that the virus is a hoax.

Yeah, those 11000 dead people in 79 countries have all been faked.

All they need to fake are the media reports. The global media is

Post by a***@gmail.com
What purpose the hoax serves, I am not sure.
I give a 10% chance that the virus is a bioweapon. Who created

and released it, I don't know.

Post by h***@gmail.com
It's a damned terrible bioweapon

Are there any more successful bioweapons, proven in the field?

No, but removing a great many conservative voters might benefit
the country. But at what a cost to their friends and families!

The "Dead Kennedys," a Bay Area band, used to sing "Kill the Poor."
I hope that was offered in a similar spirit.

Post by Dorothy J Heydt

Post by a***@gmail.com
Has that been done in SF?

Spider Robinson wrote a story where ....
ovegu pregvsvpngrf pnzr jvgu na rkcvengvba qngr. [/r-13]

http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?51629

Post by Dorothy J Heydt
No, but it happened in the fourteenth century, when the Black
Death killed half of Europe, and many of the survivors found
themselves richer. And others, formerly peasants, found their
labor so much in demand that they became richer to a smaller
extent.

One motivation to kill off all the old folks would be to
relieve social insurance systems of the obligation to pay
old age pensions, and long-term health care. One would
also want to do it with something that acts quickly, to avoid
expensive end-of-life care. There was the crack Bill Maher
made when Dick Cheney shot a 78-year-old fellow hunter, that
it gave him an idea to fix Social Security.

Kevin R
a.a #2310

Quadibloc

2020-03-23 19:38:23 UTC

Those who say that efforts to prevent the spread of the virus will cause
economic problems have a point.

Imagine that for six months or a year, all non-essential work is shut down. Only
essential services operate.

The people doing these services get paid.

Everybody else gets money from the government so they can buy essentials like
food.

So the essential workers, getting their full wages, have money they can't spend,
because nothing non-essential is being produced.

Basically, the scene is being set for some very serious inflation, as there will
be too much money and too few goods.

However, the government can do things to correct for any economic problems. It
can't raise people from the dead. So using the economic problems as an argument
against taking precautions is getting priorities wrong.

Sure, it's _almost_ just like the flu, and we don't lock down the whole country
every flu season. But there are just two tiny differences:

1) We don't have a vaccine for it.

2) The chance of dying from it, if you get it, while still much smaller than the
chance of not dying from it, isn't really tiny - it's large enough to be a real
possibility, not a "winning the lottery" sort of improbability - which is where crossing the street or catching the flu is.

Those two things are enough reason to take very serious precautions against the
spread of this new virus. And then there's

3) The chance of dying from it is greater if everyone else is sick with it at
the same time, because the hospitals won't have enough ventilators.

Which is what is happening in Italy, and is the reason for "social distancing".

John Savard

a***@gmail.com

2020-03-22 03:26:59 UTC

Post by a***@gmail.com
I don't trust the media. They only report the facts they want, or spread lies told by the authorities.
I give a 30% chance that the virus is a hoax.

Yeah, those 11000 dead people in 79 countries have all been faked.

All they need to fake are the media reports. The global media is controlled by the shadow government, and puts public service below the interests of those in power.

Post by a***@gmail.com
What purpose the hoax serves, I am not sure.
I give a 10% chance that the virus is a bioweapon. Who created and released it, I don't know.

It's a damned terrible bioweapon

Are there any more successful bioweapons, proven in the field? Besides the thousands of deaths, there is economic contraction, and financial crashes.

It's hitting everybody. Who benefits?

The black plague and the two world wars reduced inequality. Catastrophies reduce inequality. So, I guess, the poor may benefit, but I am not seeing that now.

Abhinav Lal

"Life can only end in death"

Post by Robert Carnegie
I suppose that killing lots of old people means
that their heirs get richer. Is that a benefit
to the economy?
Has that been done in SF?

Paul S Person

2020-03-22 16:46:15 UTC

On Sat, 21 Mar 2020 13:44:08 -0700 (PDT), Robert Carnegie

Post by a***@gmail.com
I don't trust the media. They only report the facts they want, or spread lies told by the authorities.
I give a 30% chance that the virus is a hoax.

Yeah, those 11000 dead people in 79 countries have all been faked.

All they need to fake are the media reports. The global media is controlled by the shadow government, and puts public service below the interests of those in power.

Post by a***@gmail.com
What purpose the hoax serves, I am not sure.
I give a 10% chance that the virus is a bioweapon. Who created and released it, I don't know.

It's a damned terrible bioweapon

Are there any more successful bioweapons, proven in the field? Besides the thousands of deaths, there is economic contraction, and financial crashes.

It's hitting everybody. Who benefits?
I suppose that killing lots of old people means
that their heirs get richer. Is that a benefit
to the economy?

I read an article asserting that #BoomerRemover was a popular hashtag
among young adults -- the same ones who packed the beaches on Spring
vacation and engage in other acts of brave defiance against the State.
Or whatever.

Ah, to be be young -- and stupid -- again.

Post by Robert Carnegie
Has that been done in SF?

--
"I begin to envy Petronius."
"I have envied him long since."

Quadibloc

2020-03-23 19:26:17 UTC

Post by a***@gmail.com
All they need to fake are the media reports.

There are lots of people in Italy who have relatives who died from the virus. If
there _weren't_ they would be on YouTube letting us know about the hoax.

John Savard

Robert Carnegie

2020-03-21 15:30:39 UTC

Post by a***@gmail.com
I have not met anyone with the virus.

You do not know that.

Using a clean water supply and soap to wash your hands
is better than alcohol-based "hand sanitizer", and
protects against many other diseases. Not so much
because your hands get infected, but because you
touch your face, your eyes, your mouth, your food...
ways for a virus to enter your body.

Most masks don't keep disease out, but they may keep
disease in.

k***@outlook.com

2020-03-22 05:45:53 UTC

One of the ways we know it is not a bioweapon is that it is not controlled.
To be a weapon it has to be manageable.

Of course the soviets were making anthrax bombs.
The book "biohazard" by Ken Alibek looks believable.

As for shadow governments, I read that in Kafka; The Trial.
It was stupid and annoying. It wasn't about to get anything done.

Nils K. Hammer

Gary R. Schmidt

2020-03-22 09:39:47 UTC

Post by a***@gmail.com
I don't trust the media. They only report the facts they want, or spread lies told by the authorities.

So you don't know *any* medical staff?

Not surprising, they have no time for idiots.

Cheers,
Gary B-)

--
Waiting for a new signature to suggest itself...

a***@gmail.com

2020-03-22 10:06:25 UTC

Post by a***@gmail.com
I don't trust the media. They only report the facts they want, or spread lies told by the authorities.

So you don't know *any* medical staff?

I don't trust medical staff, as they treated me without consent, and refuse to cure my real mental and physical problems.

Post by Gary R. Schmidt
Not surprising, they have no time for idiots.

I have a European IQ of 153, and was a member of Mensa. That makes over 98% of the human populations idiots. Are you a genius or an idiot?

Abhinav Lal

"I am a contradiction"

Post by Gary R. Schmidt
Cheers,
Gary B-)
--
Waiting for a new signature to suggest itself...

Gary R. Schmidt

2020-03-22 12:15:45 UTC

Post by a***@gmail.com
I don't trust the media. They only report the facts they want, or spread lies told by the authorities.

So you don't know *any* medical staff?

I don't trust medical staff, as they treated me without consent, and refuse to cure my real mental and physical problems.

Ah, so you're an undedicated psychotic, or something similar? Explains
a little bit, anyway.

Post by Gary R. Schmidt
Not surprising, they have no time for idiots.

I have a European IQ of 153, and was a member of Mensa. That makes over 98% of the human populations idiots. Are you a genius or an idiot?

I have no idea what my IQ currently may be, on any scale, but several
decades ago I was offered membership in Mensa, but after looking at the
sort of people who belonged to it, I decided there were many more
pleasant people in the world to associate with than them

Post by a***@gmail.com
Abhinav Lal
"I am a contradiction"

No, you're an idiot - IQ "test" results don't prevent you being more
than a few sandwiches short of a picnic, you'd be a whole platter, a
pav, and several coldies short of one, sunshine.

Cheers,
Gary B-)

--
Waiting for a new signature to suggest itself...

a***@gmail.com

2020-03-22 12:42:29 UTC

Post by a***@gmail.com
I don't trust the media. They only report the facts they want, or spread lies told by the authorities.

So you don't know *any* medical staff?

I don't trust medical staff, as they treated me without consent, and refuse to cure my real mental and physical problems.

Ah, so you're an undedicated psychotic, or something similar? Explains
a little bit, anyway.

You are arriving at wrong conclusions without knowing all the facts. That reflects on your intelligence.

Post by Gary R. Schmidt
Not surprising, they have no time for idiots.

I have a European IQ of 153, and was a member of Mensa. That makes over 98% of the human populations idiots. Are you a genius or an idiot?

Post by a***@gmail.com
Abhinav Lal
"I am a contradiction"

No, you're an idiot - IQ "test" results don't prevent you being more
than a few sandwiches short of a picnic, you'd be a whole platter, a
pav, and several coldies short of one, sunshine.

IQ measures general intelligence, and is a good predictor of academic and work success.

You must be really insecure, that you try to make people who think differently look bad. Your insults have no factual basis and actually highlight your own ordinary mind, in your belief that people who you disagree with are idiots.

Abhinav Lal

"I am the truth"

Post by Gary R. Schmidt
Cheers,
Gary B-)
--
Waiting for a new signature to suggest itself...

Quadibloc

2020-03-23 19:43:39 UTC

Post by Gary R. Schmidt
Ah, so you're an undedicated psychotic, or something similar? Explains
a little bit, anyway.

You are arriving at wrong conclusions without knowing all the facts. That
reflects on your intelligence.

He is coming to an extremely likely conclusion based on the nature and contents
of your posts.

John Savard

Quadibloc

2020-03-23 19:51:58 UTC

Post by a***@gmail.com
You must be really insecure, that you try to make people who think differently
look bad.

I feel quite secure and comfortable with my Windows computer and my Android
smartphone.

People who aren't allowed to upgrade their computers if they spend less than
$10,000 on them, and have considerably less choice of software for them... in
pointing out that they seem to have made an expensive choice, I don't think I'm
going out of my way to make them look bad.

John Savard

Juho Julkunen

2020-03-23 17:14:17 UTC

Post by a***@gmail.com
I have a European IQ of 153, and was a member of Mensa. That makes over 98% of the human populations idiots. Are you a genius or an idiot?

In my younger days I was quite keen on the idea of joining the Mensa one
day. I was permanently cured of the notion when I watched a televised
debate of the Finnish Mensa on the Nordic recession in the nineties. I
don't think I'd ever seen such an exhibition of concentrated stupidity
back then.

--
Juho Julkunen

Alan Baker

2020-03-23 17:23:22 UTC

Post by a***@gmail.com
I have a European IQ of 153, and was a member of Mensa. That makes over 98% of the human populations idiots. Are you a genius or an idiot?

The problem isn't that Mensans aren't intelligent:

It's the the sort of character it takes to want to join it makes them
jerks to begin with.

;-)

Quadibloc

2020-03-23 19:48:33 UTC

Post by Alan Baker
It's the the sort of character it takes to want to join it makes them
jerks to begin with.

I've certainly heard some recent news items - like the one a way back about the
sex club - that seem to indicate that the organization, however well-intentioned
was the idea of forming it in the beginning, is not working as intended.

Apparently there's a need to supplement the IQ test with a test for common
sense. But I'm not aware that one has been devised; apparently that trait is
difficult to test for.

John Savard

Jay E. Morris

2020-03-24 03:09:36 UTC

Post by Alan Baker
It's the the sort of character it takes to want to join it makes them
jerks to begin with.

I've certainly heard some recent news items - like the one a way back about the
sex club - that seem to indicate that the organization, however well-intentioned
was the idea of forming it in the beginning, is not working as intended.
Apparently there's a need to supplement the IQ test with a test for common
sense. But I'm not aware that one has been devised; apparently that trait is
difficult to test for.
John Savard

I'm thinking it's the usual case of the notorious getting all the news.
I quite like our local (San Antonio) branch. Course, I might be the jerk.

a***@gmail.com

2020-03-25 10:39:57 UTC

Post by Alan Baker

Post by a***@gmail.com
I have a European IQ of 153, and was a member of Mensa. That makes over 98% of the human populations idiots. Are you a genius or an idiot?

It's the the sort of character it takes to want to join it makes them
jerks to begin with.
;-)

High IQ people are concentrated in science and technology, where they produce the innovation that increases wealth in the economy, and happiness in society.

Those people who are poor in science and maths, but are outwardly charming, end up manipulating people to get into power in organisations, whether private or public.

Abhinav Lal

"Who benefits?"

Paul S Person

2020-03-25 17:00:29 UTC

Post by Alan Baker

Post by a***@gmail.com
I have a European IQ of 153, and was a member of Mensa. That makes over 98% of the human populations idiots. Are you a genius or an idiot?

It's the the sort of character it takes to want to join it makes them
jerks to begin with.
;-)

High IQ people are concentrated in science and technology, where they produce the innovation that increases wealth in the economy, and happiness in society.
Those people who are poor in science and maths, but are outwardly charming, end up manipulating people to get into power in organisations, whether private or public.

An excellent summary of Ayn Rand, except that it conflates IQ with
being either a Creator of Value or a Second-hander.

Post by a***@gmail.com
Abhinav Lal
"Who benefits?"

Classic Ayn Rand quote.

--
"I begin to envy Petronius."
"I have envied him long since."

a***@gmail.com

2020-03-25 17:21:28 UTC

Post by Paul S Person

Post by Alan Baker

Post by a***@gmail.com
I have a European IQ of 153, and was a member of Mensa. That makes over 98% of the human populations idiots. Are you a genius or an idiot?

It's the the sort of character it takes to want to join it makes them
jerks to begin with.
;-)

High IQ people are concentrated in science and technology, where they produce the innovation that increases wealth in the economy, and happiness in society.
Those people who are poor in science and maths, but are outwardly charming, end up manipulating people to get into power in organisations, whether private or public.

An excellent summary of Ayn Rand, except that it conflates IQ with
being either a Creator of Value or a Second-hander.

I don't recall ever having read her. IQ is an excellent predictor of academic success. Most scientists and technologists with advanced degrees generally have high IQs.

The market rewards those whose skills are in demand. This includes those with good math skills, including investment and computer professionals.

Art is also important, and requires different skills. I would suggest that art is more subjective, and it requires less training and experience. I won an award in creative writing in college while studying a scientific discipline.

Everyone has a role to play in the economy, but some jobs are harder and thus better payed. Many artists also make good money.

Abhinav Lal

"Imagination is more important than knowledge"

Post by Paul S Person

Post by a***@gmail.com
Abhinav Lal
"Who benefits?"

Classic Ayn Rand quote.
--
"I begin to envy Petronius."
"I have envied him long since."

Kevrob

2020-03-25 18:20:37 UTC

Post by Paul S Person

Post by a***@gmail.com
"Who benefits?"

Classic Ayn Rand quote.

Lucius Cassius, attributed by Cicero.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cui_bono

It's also a succinct summary of "public choice" economic theory.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_choice_economics

--
Kevin R
a.a #2310

Quadibloc

2020-03-23 19:41:48 UTC

Post by a***@gmail.com
I don't trust medical staff, as they treated me without consent, and refuse to
cure my real mental and physical problems.

As opposed to the condition of "paranoid scizophrenia" which they just made up
because you are one of the people who knows about the shadow government.

You know, we've heard this kind of stuff before.

Because there are so many real paranoid scizophrenics out there, and you sound
just like one of them.

Of course, some of them, in simpler times, started major world religions.

John Savard

a***@gmail.com

2020-03-25 12:38:51 UTC

Post by a***@gmail.com
I don't trust medical staff, as they treated me without consent, and refuse to
cure my real mental and physical problems.

As opposed to the condition of "paranoid scizophrenia" which they just made up
because you are one of the people who knows about the shadow government.
You know, we've heard this kind of stuff before.
Because there are so many real paranoid scizophrenics out there, and you sound
just like one of them.
Of course, some of them, in simpler times, started major world religions.
John Savard

So as a paranoid schizophrenic, am I not responsible for my actions? How do I get myself declared as a crazy person? Then I will be free to fight for freedom and truth (and other human rights), without fear of punishment.

I suspect you of collaborating with the shadow government, but don't be paranoid, because it only exists in my paranoid mind.

Abhinav Lal

"Nature is cruel"

Quadibloc

2020-03-23 19:23:51 UTC

Post by a***@gmail.com
I don't trust the media. They only report the facts they want, or spread lies
told by the authorities.

In free countries, news organizations are in competition with each other. The ones
with a good reputation for accurate information will get more readers or
listeners, and be able to make more money from advertising.

Post by a***@gmail.com
I give a 30% chance that the virus is a hoax. What purpose the hoax serves, I
am not sure.

But then what is killing all those people in Italy?

Post by a***@gmail.com
I give a 10% chance that the virus is a bioweapon. Who created and released
it, I don't know.

Since China has a virology lab near Wuhan, and at one time years ago it was
involved in bioweapons research, it's understandable that this suspicion has
arisen.

However, it is claimed there is genetic evidence in the virus that it is not a
bioweapon. Also, what a way to wage a war: start by shooting yourself in the
foot.

As well, a report of a paper hastily pulled from a Chinese web site about poor
sanitary conditions at that lab where they were studying the bats with the virus
has turned out to be a hoax.

On our overcrowded planet, desperate poor people are putting more pressure on
remote wilderness areas to find farmland or otherwise get more food. This is one
thing that contributes to new diseases making their appearance.

John Savard

David Johnston

2020-03-23 19:52:21 UTC

Post by a***@gmail.com
I don't trust the media. They only report the facts they want, or spread lies
told by the authorities.

Post by a***@gmail.com
I give a 30% chance that the virus is a hoax. What purpose the hoax serves, I
am not sure.

But then what is killing all those people in Italy?

Vampires.

Post by a***@gmail.com
I give a 10% chance that the virus is a bioweapon. Who created and released
it, I don't know.

It has the exact opposite characteristics of a good bioweapon. Low
lethality long incubation period and high infectiousness mean it will do
minimal damage in the target zone and spread globally, harming friend,
foe and neutral equally.

Lynn McGuire

2020-03-23 22:03:23 UTC

Post by a***@gmail.com
I don't trust the media. They only report the facts they want, or spread lies told by the authorities.
I give a 30% chance that the virus is a hoax. What purpose the hoax serves, I am not sure. I give a 10% chance that the virus is a bioweapon. Who created and released it, I don't know.
I have not met anyone with the virus. As businesses shut down, my life has changed; but I ignore it and don't wear a mask or use hand sanitizer.
Abhinav Lal
"Who do you serve?"

Failed bioweapon.

Lynn

Chrysi Cat

2020-03-24 01:18:37 UTC

I don't trust the media. They only report the facts they want, or
spread lies told by the authorities.
I give a 30% chance that the virus is a hoax. What purpose the hoax
serves, I am not sure. I give a 10% chance that the virus is a
bioweapon. Who created and released it, I don't know.
I have not met anyone with the virus. As businesses shut down, my
life has changed; but I ignore it and don't wear a mask or use hand
sanitizer.
Abhinav Lal
"Who do you serve?"

Failed bioweapon.
Lynn

As pointed out in a different subthread, if humans designed it, it's
possibly the worst-designed bioweapon in history.

"Highly infectious" is good, and lethality can be argued either way
(since it also devastates the lungs of those who go symptomatic but
recover, which makes them less-useful slave labour for any conquering
party).

But that ridiculously long incubation period, _during which the victim
is contagious,_ is literally the opposite of what an actual bioweapon
would want, because if it's released outside actual wartime, the most
likely outcome is for people to visit _the releasing country_ and spread
it far and wide.

Actually, it started re-igniting _my_ belief in the supernatural,
because it _does_ still appear designed--it would be the perfect weapon
for an angry small-"g" god to smite us with, especially since it seems
partly designed to enforce "threescore-and-ten" a lot better than it's
been for the past 200 years.

But it definitely weren't artificially constructed by _no_ human nohow.

Does it have anyone else starting to suspect the existence of malevolent
higher beings?

--
Chrysi Cat
1/2 anthrocat, nearly 1/2 anthrofox, all magical
Transgoddess, quick to anger.
Call me Chrysi or call me Kat, I'll respond to either!

Robert Carnegie

2020-03-24 01:36:35 UTC

Post by Chrysi Cat

I don't trust the media. They only report the facts they want, or
spread lies told by the authorities.
I give a 30% chance that the virus is a hoax. What purpose the hoax
serves, I am not sure. I give a 10% chance that the virus is a
bioweapon. Who created and released it, I don't know.
I have not met anyone with the virus. As businesses shut down, my
life has changed; but I ignore it and don't wear a mask or use hand
sanitizer.
Abhinav Lal
"Who do you serve?"

Failed bioweapon.
Lynn

As pointed out in a different subthread, if humans designed it, it's
possibly the worst-designed bioweapon in history.
"Highly infectious" is good, and lethality can be argued either way
(since it also devastates the lungs of those who go symptomatic but
recover, which makes them less-useful slave labour for any conquering
party).
But that ridiculously long incubation period, _during which the victim
is contagious,_ is literally the opposite of what an actual bioweapon
would want, because if it's released outside actual wartime, the most
likely outcome is for people to visit _the releasing country_ and spread
it far and wide.
Actually, it started re-igniting _my_ belief in the supernatural,
because it _does_ still appear designed--it would be the perfect weapon
for an angry small-"g" god to smite us with, especially since it seems
partly designed to enforce "threescore-and-ten" a lot better than it's
been for the past 200 years.
But it definitely weren't artificially constructed by _no_ human nohow.
Does it have anyone else starting to suspect the existence of malevolent
higher beings?

Being forbidden to leave the house has me wondering
if an invasion happens next. Not that the country
would turn to me in this hour of need otherwise.

Kevrob

2020-03-24 03:46:54 UTC

Post by Robert Carnegie
Being forbidden to leave the house has me wondering
if an invasion happens next. Not that the country
would turn to me in this hour of need otherwise.

One can leave the house and stay on the property, if
it is large enough. We don't have much of a lawn. It's
about the size of a Little League baseball infield, inside
the skin, on the grass. [50' by 50' perhaps?] I should get
out and walk laps around it tomorrow, after it warms up a bit.

I could possibly walk the Greenway by the river, which is
a half mile away. I could take my grocery cart. If the cops
stop me, I can say I'm on the way to the supermarket, and maybe
even pick something up. I don't really need to shop, though.

Some of the bushes in the yard are turning, if not green, at
least yellow. There are signs of spring, even if it snowed a
bit today. We got much more rain.

Kevin R

Lynn McGuire

2020-03-24 04:02:24 UTC

Post by Kevrob

Post by Robert Carnegie
Being forbidden to leave the house has me wondering
if an invasion happens next. Not that the country
would turn to me in this hour of need otherwise.

One can leave the house and stay on the property, if
it is large enough. We don't have much of a lawn. It's
about the size of a Little League baseball infield, inside
the skin, on the grass. [50' by 50' perhaps?] I should get
out and walk laps around it tomorrow, after it warms up a bit.
I could possibly walk the Greenway by the river, which is
a half mile away. I could take my grocery cart. If the cops
stop me, I can say I'm on the way to the supermarket, and maybe
even pick something up. I don't really need to shop, though.
Some of the bushes in the yard are turning, if not green, at
least yellow. There are signs of spring, even if it snowed a
bit today. We got much more rain.
Kevin R

We hit 87 F today. No rain. We had rain and 59 F on Saturday.
Everything is green. My sinuses are filling up with crap from the oak
pollen.

Harris County (Houston, Texas, biggest of the nine counties for Houston)
is locking down Tuesday night. I hope that Fort Bend County where I
have my business and home do not lock down.

Lynn

Robert Carnegie

2020-03-25 19:38:11 UTC

Post by Chrysi Cat

I don't trust the media. They only report the facts they want, or
spread lies told by the authorities.
I give a 30% chance that the virus is a hoax. What purpose the hoax
serves, I am not sure. I give a 10% chance that the virus is a
bioweapon. Who created and released it, I don't know.
I have not met anyone with the virus. As businesses shut down, my
life has changed; but I ignore it and don't wear a mask or use hand
sanitizer.
Abhinav Lal
"Who do you serve?"

Failed bioweapon.
Lynn

As pointed out in a different subthread, if humans designed it, it's
possibly the worst-designed bioweapon in history.
"Highly infectious" is good, and lethality can be argued either way
(since it also devastates the lungs of those who go symptomatic but
recover, which makes them less-useful slave labour for any conquering
party).
But that ridiculously long incubation period, _during which the victim
is contagious,_ is literally the opposite of what an actual bioweapon
would want, because if it's released outside actual wartime, the most
likely outcome is for people to visit _the releasing country_ and spread
it far and wide.
Actually, it started re-igniting _my_ belief in the supernatural,
because it _does_ still appear designed--it would be the perfect weapon
for an angry small-"g" god to smite us with, especially since it seems
partly designed to enforce "threescore-and-ten" a lot better than it's
been for the past 200 years.
But it definitely weren't artificially constructed by _no_ human nohow.
Does it have anyone else starting to suspect the existence of malevolent
higher beings?

Being forbidden to leave the house has me wondering
if an invasion happens next. Not that the country
would turn to me in this hour of need otherwise.

...on reflection, if someone wants to carry out genocide
selectively within the population - for instance -
shutting all the victims up in their homes is a useful
first move. Then they (we?) can be exterminated
at your leisure. Or, if that's not the intended
purpose of isolating households, it's still an
opportunity for a different interest group that has
that goal, to do it.

Kevrob

2020-03-25 20:43:24 UTC

Post by Robert Carnegie
Being forbidden to leave the house has me wondering
if an invasion happens next. Not that the country
would turn to me in this hour of need otherwise.

So, the "ambulance" rolls up to the house and takes "the
patients" away to be "treated." They don't survive, poor
dears. [/conspiracy]

Kevin R

Robert Carnegie

2020-03-25 21:27:02 UTC

Post by Kevrob

Post by Robert Carnegie
Being forbidden to leave the house has me wondering
if an invasion happens next. Not that the country
would turn to me in this hour of need otherwise.

So, the "ambulance" rolls up to the house and takes "the
patients" away to be "treated." They don't survive, poor
dears. [/conspiracy]

Well, I was thinking more "multiple axe murder"
times whatever.

But, look out for unconvincing "ambulances".

h***@gmail.com

2020-03-24 02:43:09 UTC

Post by Chrysi Cat
Does it have anyone else starting to suspect the existence of malevolent
higher beings?

I'm reminded of a David Gemmell book (I think it's The King Beyond The Gate) where one of his characters has the theory that there are gods but they've all gone senile and now amuse themselves by playing tricks on mortals.
Another character is rapidly becoming a believer

Titus G

2020-03-24 03:25:59 UTC

Post by Chrysi Cat
Actually, it started re-igniting _my_ belief in the supernatural,
because it _does_ still appear designed--it would be the perfect weapon
for an angry small-"g" god to smite us with, especially since it seems
partly designed to enforce "threescore-and-ten" a lot better than it's
been for the past 200 years.
But it definitely weren't artificially constructed by _no_ human nohow.
Does it have anyone else starting to suspect the existence of malevolent
higher beings?

Yes!!!!!

Yes. Yes. Yes.

It is just the sort of tactic the Cockroaches would try.
That is why restaurants, bars etc are being closed; to cut off their
main food source.
You and Lala did get the email didn't you?

Dimensional Traveler

2020-03-24 04:27:30 UTC

Post by Chrysi Cat