This is a Pareto Pandemic. A small category of events in specific settings—indoors, crowded, close-quarters, talking/breathing—are driving most of it, along with later household spread. Being misinformed with the non-stop beach/park photos makes it hard to do the right thing.
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I'm just trying to imagine a less appropriate picture to indicate the need for and the struggle over masks and failing! WTH
@washingtonpost? Seriously, this obsession with beach pictures has moved beyond misinformation into something pathological. h/t@makingarecordpic.twitter.com/bT9sBkQjDX
10 replies 36 retweets 198 likesShow this thread -
The idea that we can merely rely on strengthening traditional media to fight misinformation is naive. No joke. Many top media outlets are engaged in a persistent campaign of visual misinformation (the most powerful kind) about COVID risks (which aren't beaches). h/t
@dbchhbrpic.twitter.com/GE4M09DysY
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We screwed up the testing infrastructure so badly that people are waiting two weeks to get their results. Surely,
@Oregonian, it's the fault of these people undertaking an enjoyable, safe activity! By having fun safely, they've caused the labs to come to a halt. h/t@joeahandpic.twitter.com/NfANTDfOKC
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Yes,
@BBCNews, articles about Sweden and COVID must be illustrated by ... a beach picture, as Sweden is famous for beaches driving the pandemic! (The epidemiologists are all lying when they say there isn't a single known superspreader event on a beach). (ht@geunsmeyer)pic.twitter.com/Yo3YOYJ7ML
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You'd think this virus exclusively lives on beaches and preys on anyone daring to enjoy them. If they want to illustrate travel risks, isn't there a single picture of a bar, an indoor party or any of those things that we know are high risk? But hey can't compete with bikini pics!pic.twitter.com/bvqdz9qW70
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zeynep tufekci Retweeted PastaMonkey
I agree. Doctors are reporting emergency rooms full of "essential workers"—basically low-wage and largely non-white younger people who got forced back to indoors work or their family members. But media is stuck on moralizing about beaches. Misinformation.https://twitter.com/monkey_pasta/status/1287196060620853249 …
zeynep tufekci added,
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This was the Boston Globe headline, by the way, to add to the thread of shame. People going to the beach, especially in or near the town they already live in, is a safe and healthy activity. How about we focus on the risks, the essential workers and the colleges about to open.pic.twitter.com/Qpk7Bn1g2l
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zeynep tufekci Retweeted Julia Marcus, PhD, MPH
So
@JuliaLMarcus is absolutely correct. For the New York Times to use visuals of perhaps the three safest but fun activities—a beach, a park, and a drive-through movie, as a photo for virus’s resurgence is straight up misinformation. And it’s pathological.https://twitter.com/julialmarcus/status/1289984383378546689 …zeynep tufekci added,
Julia Marcus, PhD, MPHVerified account @JuliaLMarcusThe media's misinformation campaign continues on the front page of the Sunday@nytimes. What's driving the latest surge in cases? Apparently people enjoying themselves at spacious beaches and parks and drive-in movies. pic.twitter.com/Ho0UaMj0WDShow this thread21 replies 226 retweets 548 likesShow this thread -
Replying to @zeynep @JuliaLMarcus
Javier León Retweeted Bloomberg
Here is another photo, not at the beach but in a similar outdoor location And the article is about indoor parties! https://twitter.com/business/status/1290484118078156806?s=21 …https://twitter.com/business/status/1290484118078156806 …
Javier León added,
1 reply 0 retweets 1 like
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