[johnforbes]

At a time when rational interpretation of the Covid data indicates that we should be getting back to normal, we instead see an elaboration of arbitrary responses. These are invariably explained as being ‘guided by science’. In fact, they are doing something rather different: being guided by models, bad data and subjective opinion. Some of those claiming to be ‘following the science’ seem not to understand the meaning of the word.

Its fatality rate was estimated by the World Health Organisation at 3.4 per cent. Then from various sources, we heard 0.9 per cent, followed by 0.6 per cent. It could yet settle closer to 0.1 per cent — similar to seasonal flu — once we get a better understanding of milder, undetected cases and how many deaths it actually caused (rather than deaths where the virus was present).

In medical science there is a well-known classification of data quality known as ‘the hierarchy of evidence’. This seven-level system gives an idea of how much weight can be placed on any given study or recommendation. Near the top, at Level 2, we find randomised controlled trials (RCTs) where a new approach is tried on a group of patients and compared with (for example) a placebo. The results of such studies are pretty reliable, with little room for bias to creep in. A systematic review of several RCTs is the highest, most reliable form of medical evidence: Level 1.

Further down (Levels 5 and 6) comes evidence from much less compelling, descriptive-only studies looking for a pattern, without using controls. This is where we find virtually all evidence pertaining to Covid-19 policy: lockdown, social distancing, face masks, quarantine, R-numbers, second waves, you name it. And — to speed things up — most Covid research was not peer- reviewed.

Such is the quality of decision-making in the process generating our lockdown narrative. An early maintained but exaggerated belief in the lethality of the virus reinforced by modelling that was almost data-free, then amplified by further modelling with no proven predictive value. All summed up by recommendations from a committee based on qualitative data that hasn’t even been peer-reviewed.

[divermouse]

good god man you just won't give up stupid...
the hospitals are fucking full, the morgues can't process fast enough in some cities on rolling waves sets. and guess what the no duh data shows. put a fucking mask on in public. wash your hands. cheap and effective. kindly THINK for yourself. your adnauseam conservative think tank chirping is not solving anything. matter of fact the economic damage will get worse if you morons don't understand SCIENCE even no duh science. and not that you appear to care but people will die unnecessarily.you proud of that ?
The drs and nurses are tired. antagonistic sarcasm just kills more.

[johnforbes]

Let me get this straight, diver.

You think what I posted above was "stupid"?

Don't you realize it was quoted from one of the best publications in the UK?

[Clownkicker]

So you admit you plagiarized your post. I didn't see any quotation marks or attribution.

I should have known. It seemed far too lucid to be your own words.

But do you really think Trump supporters should be doing that after what Trump accused Biden of doing with his economic plan?

Or are you saying it's perfectly okay and Trump is just being melodramatic?

[divermouse]

ya john like what, the daily mash.
lets be snap knee milk out the nose funny at times like this.

[johnforbes]

So let's go back over the response.

What I posted was dumb, but then I revealed it was from a superb UK publication renowned for its incisive commentary.

Then, when I revealed that source, what I posted became ipso facto smart.

Geez, you kids are hopeless...

[divermouse]

well john i did go back to the "response" as it were. however as usual, no source, other than your personal claim, " Don't you realize it was quoted from one of the best publications in the UK?".

HOWEVER... here's some of that no duh data which I referred to. i think is more reliable than data mined from your office on mass ave. which end remains a mystery. THE MORGUES ARE FULL. never been with the just the flu. now show us all how you divert that fucking fact with your mindless wit.

i a stupid fuck you make me shine.

[johnforbes]

I did not call diver "stupid."

I give the average person who posts here 10 or 15 years before making such an assertion.

In Clown's case, the first 47 years he was online, I said nothing.

[Clownkicker]

johnny, I never said it was dumb and then said it was smart. You made it up.

I said it was "lucid" and it is. I never said it was right. To argue against its many problems simply takes too much time that I don't have.

Your plagiarized article misses the point just as you do. The mortality rate of the virus is not the point from a public policy perspective. It is one point of the medical policy perspective. The battle is against the clock. For now, spread of the virus and the resultant deaths it will cause should be minimized as the clock is ticking on treatments.

The fewer people who die over the next year, the fewer people who will die over all because treatments and vaccines will likely be developed by then. We assume science will eventually provide the tools for us to fight the virus. Your policy is to let the virus run rampant now and kill whomever it will kill before a vaccine is developed. You believe those deaths are merely sacrificial lambs who must die for the sake of herd immunity. You overlook the fact that many of those deaths are unnecessary. We know what to do to avoid them, but you don't care. You're incapable of even grasping how inhumane and immoral your value system is.

The aspect of public policy that should concern even a partisan asshole like you is that your policy of inaction now could cause the health care system to collapse under the weight of too many corpses and burned out frontline workers. Then our country is in deep trouble. YOU won't be able to get medical care when you need it when half the hospitals in the country go out of business. Many are already failing.

But at least Trump will look good on TV as he loses the coming election, and that's all that really matters after all.

[johnforbes]

Why, thanks.

It was my work, in all its unchained lucidity.

[sillydaddy]

But at least Trump will look good on TV as he loses the coming election, and that's all that really matters after all.

HaHa,,, Clown reveals one of his wet dreams ...

But another such fantasy was posted by one ill-informed liberal who
said Trump should be made to resign as soon as Biden wins the election,
and let Joe take over...citing a state of national emergency...!
Only thing...the US Constitution will stand in the way of this idiot's suggestion.
If a President resigns, the VP takes over...
And these are the same "dimwits" who accuse Trump of not knowing the Constitution..!

[Clownkicker]

"Why, thanks.
It was my work, in all its unchained lucidity."-johnfuckingliar

Only it isn't your work, johnny. You just lied again.

The guy who actually wrote it certainly isn't a Trump supporter, and he doesn't piss away his life posting partisan propaganda and hypocrisy on a porn site forum the way you do.

[johnforbes]

Well, one way or the other, I was kidding.

The only remaining question -- which lingers in the early afternoon air much like a fine perfume -- is which way.

[Clownkicker]

But you weren't kidding, johnny.

You were lying. And no one wonders "which way." I already explained it to you.

That moronic Trump shit doesn't work on intelligent people. Only sillydummy actually believes you.

But then, he IS your intellectual equal.

[johnforbes]

Well, the article was good.

Nobody can dissent from that.

Whether it was yet another lucid, concise, wonderful example of my prose -- or the work of some other person -- is the sole remaining question

[Clownkicker]

But there IS no question about it, dimwit. It isn't yours. Nobody thinks it's yours. Nobody even thinks it MIGHT be yours.

You stole it and you were caught plagiarizing. You're no different than Biden, you hypocritical wind bag.

[johnforbes]

Caught?

No, I said it was an article by somebody else, although it could be my own given its lucidity and intrinsic and ineluctable logic.

Thus, the conclusion is clear:

It is mine, unless it isn't, although it could be and thus may be.

Hopefully that clears it up.

[Clownkicker]

Yes, johnny, you've been caught. You never said the article was by somebody else. You just lied again.

It isn't yours, it couldn't be yours, and thus it absolutely is not yours. There isn't the slightest doubt about it.

Like Trump, when you are caught in yet another lie, you double down on your stupidity and try to weasel out of responsibility for your lie.

The trouble is, such transparent tactics only work on Republican dimwits.

[johnforbes]

This thread -- in all its glory -- began when I invited attention to the article.

All along, I've been crystal clear.

Let me explain again;

It was an article by somebody else, although it could be my own given its lucidity and intrinsic and ineluctable logic.

Thus, the conclusion is clear:

It is mine, unless it isn't, although it could be and thus may be.

Hopefully that clears it up.

[Clownkicker]

Yes, it's crystal clear---you admit you are a liar and a plagiarist.

We got it.

[johnforbes]

Not at all.

All along, I've been crystal clear.

Let me re-explain my prior explanation:

It was an article by somebody else, although it could be my own given its lucidity and intrinsic and ineluctable logic.

I wanted the article to be assessed for its own merit, which was considerable.

Was it my own work, stemming from my background and experience in this varied world?

Perhaps, perhaps not.

So the article was mine, unless of course it was somebody else's, which could have been and perhaps was.

Thank you for your interest in this article which, as we all agree, is drenched in merit.

[Clownkicker]

Really, your ongoing explanations cannot make your lying and plagiarism any more clear to anyone.

Take my word, johnny, we got it. You're a first class liar and plagiarist. You're a true partisan Trump-supporting scumbag.

'Nuf said. Truly. You can't make yourself look worse, no matter what you say from now on, so why bother trying.

(Unless you start talking like your racist intellectual equal sillydummy, that is. But that goes without saying.)

[johnforbes]

Oh come on, surely you can tell when you are being kidded?

For example, I've several times made it clear that the material was mine.

Unless it was not.