I deleted my earlier tweets about the origins of the pandemic because they were badly phrased. The origin of the pandemic is an important line of reporting that my colleagues are covering aggressively.
-
-
Replying to @apoorva_nyc
Could you clarify what you mean here? Suggesting it was/is racist to give credence to the lab leak possibility doesn't strike me as bad phraseology, but a bad underlying take. Do you still stand by that general sentiment?
6 replies 10 retweets 338 likes -
Replying to @kylepetz @apoorva_nyc
Here’s the main thread. What tweets were poorly phrased?pic.twitter.com/lkTSK5lCOF
13 replies 29 retweets 346 likes -
Replying to @kylepetz @apoorva_nyc
Of course, complicating this issue is the simple historical fact that EVERY major outbreak, epidemic, and pandemic has spawned conspiracy theories claiming a lab origin for the causation microbe, just like the Wuhan lab release hypothesis. HIV, Ebola, H1N1. Every. Single. One.
10 replies 7 retweets 31 likes -
No bearing whatsoever on the issue. None.
1 reply 0 retweets 7 likes -
No, it has EVERY bearing on the issue, because supporters of the lab leak hypothesis ALSO have to show why this time it’s more than just another predictable conspiracy theory. I don’t deny lab leak as a possibility, but I really don’t see any compelling evidence for it right now.
3 replies 0 retweets 1 like -
Replying to @gorskon @ICUdelirium and
Fair with regard to lab leak theory but what compelling evidence is there specific to it being zoonotic at this stage? Certainly history can be a useful guide but may not always be applicable. Point being: equal weighting should apply to each theory in the absence of evidence.
2 replies 0 retweets 1 like -
Replying to @3rdbolt @ICUdelirium and
“Equal weighting”? Um no. Scientific plausibility needs to be considered in weighing which hypothesis (not theory) is more likely to be true.
1 reply 0 retweets 2 likes
If you doubt scientific plausibility must be taken into account “in the absence of evidence,” then answer this: Why don’t we consider the hypothesis that aliens created the virus? In the absence of evidence, plausibility is the only basis upon which we can reject this possibility
-
Show additional replies, including those that may contain offensive content
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.