Swine Flu

GavH

According to the news the whole world has it or is about to get it.

Anyone on here actually got it yet? :roll:

robmanic1

I've had it about a WEEEEEEEEEEEEK!

Agent57

I may have it. My body's covered in rashers. I've slapped some oinkment on, and called a hambulance. I'm told radiotherapy is the answer, and a dose of gammon radiation should work wonders.

softlad

yep - its the end of the world as we know it......and I feel fine......

The press haven't had a story like this for ages - you can't blame them for getting a bit over-excited.....

CHRISNOIR

Did anyone on here manage to get SARS or avian 'flu? Me neither...

Anonymous

I thought I had it and phoned the NHS helpline, there was no answer though, all I got was crackling!

finchy

To be fair, the WHO and governments are correct to take the approach of "prepare for the worst, hope for best" with a flu epidemic. The 1918 one killed more people than WW1.

It's the same with bird flu. It's better to be prepared for a disaster that doesn't happen than unprepared for one that does.

Frank the tank

johnfinch wrote:

To be fair, the WHO and governments are correct to take the approach of "prepare for the worst, hope for best" with a flu epidemic. The 1918 one killed more people than WW1.

It's the same with bird flu. It's better to be prepared for a disaster that doesn't happen than unprepared for one that does.

I feel a bit sorry for governments in such situations.

Undereact and thousands die, they're damned.

Over react and it costs industry/commerce millions for no appearent reason, they're damned.

howiejmidlands

I feel quite "perky" now

Crapaud

Agent57 wrote:

I may have it. My body's covered in rashers. I've slapped some oinkment on, and called a hambulance. I'm told radiotherapy is the answer, and a dose of gammon radiation should work wonders.

Stop spamming the board!

kthanxbai

bikerbill

I feel pig sick about the whole thing really.

whyamihere

I reckon it's all hogwash myself.

Crapaud

Frank the tank wrote:

johnfinch wrote:

To be fair, the WHO and governments are correct to take the approach of "prepare for the worst, hope for best" with a flu epidemic. The 1918 one killed more people than WW1.

It's the same with bird flu. It's better to be prepared for a disaster that doesn't happen than unprepared for one that does.

I feel a bit sorry for governments in such situations.

Undereact and thousands die, they're damned.

Over react and it costs industry/commerce millions for no appearent reason, they're damned.

[sing] There may be truffles ahead... [/sing]

Don't rely on the government to save your bacon.

SpinningJenny

all of you ham-fisted jokesters - they were all really weeeakkk comments

The Chingford Skinhead

Frank the tank wrote:

johnfinch wrote:

To be fair, the WHO and governments are correct to take the approach of "prepare for the worst, hope for best" with a flu epidemic. The 1918 one killed more people than WW1.

It's the same with bird flu. It's better to be prepared for a disaster that doesn't happen than unprepared for one that does.

I feel a bit sorry for governments in such situations.

Undereact and thousands die, they're damned.

Over react and it costs industry/commerce millions for no appearent reason, they're damned.

Fair points both of you. Though it is very frustrating with all the hyperbowl. Weren't half the population of the planet supposed to die of AIDS before the year 2000? Wasn't every meat eater going to get CJD? Weren't we all going to die from bird flu? Wasn't the (non-medical but still apocalyptical) millenium bug going to crash every computer in the world.

So much for science and logic being a more reliable system of belief than religeon. We're all doomed I tell ye! :roll: sensibl

finchy

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

Fair points both of you. Though it is very frustrating with all the hyperbowl. Weren't half the population of the planet supposed to die of AIDS before the year 2000? Wasn't every meat eater going to get CJD? Weren't we all going to die from bird flu? Wasn't the (non-medical but still apocalyptical) millenium bug going to crash every computer in the world.

So much for science and logic being a more reliable system of belief than religeon. We're all doomed I tell ye! :roll: sensibl

Personally, for these potential catastrophic disasters of doom, death and destruction, I don't bother with mainstream news - look at the science press which is written with the layman in mind (New Scientist, BBC science pages, etc). That's much better. It explains what the potential risk is in a calm and even-handed way.

BTW, AIDS has killed more people than WW2, and even in countries like France, Spain and Italy have more than 100,000 people living with the illness. In my books, that's a disaster, although fair point that the trash media might have predicted worse. On the other hand, maybe without all the fuss less people would practice safe sex these days. Oh, God, it's all so complicated.

BTW part 2 - CJD has an incubation period of about 30-50 years, so you'll have to wait another few decades until you can sleep easily again.

The Chingford Skinhead

johnfinch wrote:

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

Fair points both of you. Though it is very frustrating with all the hyperbowl. Weren't half the population of the planet supposed to die of AIDS before the year 2000? Wasn't every meat eater going to get CJD? Weren't we all going to die from bird flu? Wasn't the (non-medical but still apocalyptical) millenium bug going to crash every computer in the world.

So much for science and logic being a more reliable system of belief than religeon. We're all doomed I tell ye! :roll: sensibl

Personally, for these potential catastrophic disasters of doom, death and destruction, I don't bother with mainstream news - look at the science press which is written with the layman in mind (New Scientist, BBC science pages, etc). That's much better. It explains what the potential risk is in a calm and even-handed way.

BTW, AIDS has killed more people than WW2, and even in countries like France, Spain and Italy have more than 100,000 people living with the illness. In my books, that's a disaster, although fair point that the trash media might have predicted worse. On the other hand, maybe without all the fuss less people would practice safe sex these days. Oh, God, it's all so complicated.

BTW part 2 - CJD has an incubation period of about 30-50 years, so you'll have to wait another few decades until you can sleep easily again.

Accept it is all difficult.

Sorry, I didn't mean to belittle the tragedy of AIDS, just question the scale of the disaster predicted. Agree there may be a deterent affect but equally therte is the risks assossiated with the "media" who cried wolf when things like this get so blown out of proportion.

As we all know there is a real disaster, one that could be halved easily: the number of road deaths and serious accidents each year. Problem is this would mean all of us having to take responsibility for our actions. Not something any politician or media is going to want to say.

On CJD, 35-50 years, um, think I'll take my chances with that then.

I keep meaning to buy Flat earth news by Nick Davis http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flat-Earth-News-Award-winning-Distortion/dp/0099512688/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241351498&sr=1-1 which looks at falsehood, distortion and propagander in the global media. It found that about 70% of press releases by certain organisations were simply reproduced without any checking

finchy

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

As we all know there is a real disaster, one that could be halved easily: the number of road deaths and serious accidents each year. Problem is this would mean all of us having to take responsibility for our actions. Not something any politician or media is going to want to say.



I keep meaning to buy Flat earth news by Nick Davis http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flat-Earth-News-Award-winning-Distortion/dp/0099512688/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241351498&sr=1-1 which looks at falsehood, distortion and propagander in the global media. It found that about 70% of press releases by certain organisations were simply reproduced without any checking

Road deaths - unfortunately society does seem to be becoming more and more selfish. People have just adapted the mentality of "I'm not going to let anyone tell ME what to do", and wear it like some badge of pride. It isn't just limited to driving either. I can't believe the amount of litter that people just chuck anywhere - town, countryside, beach, water. I love going to Austria because it's an escape from all of this.

Media propaganda and lies - people need to remember that newspapers are established, with a few exceptions, with the aim of pushing a certain political viewpoint. Sadly, bias and distortion are the natural consequences. At least some people (like you) can see what a load of crap we are being fed, but all too often you meet people who treat newspapers as gospel truth.

finchy

Seeing as this thread evolved into CJD, here's a joke you've probably already heard:

Two cows are standing in a field. One says "are you scared of mad cow disease"

The other says...

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"Why would I be? I'm a hedgehog"