Should sage members be stopped from talking to media.

[Againstmachine]

Every week there seems to be a talking head in media from sage who seems to make doom monger predictions this week it's Prof Semple who says we will possibly need winter lockdowns.

I don't think these people are helpful and think sage members ought not to be talking to the press.

One also wonders how much they are getting paid per appearance.

I don't think they should be prevented from speaking on the subject. I'd welcome it, but I'd also want to know why if these expectations and figures are already figured out, what is the Gov doing to try and stop it from getting to that point?

I find the thought of another winter like the last, mostly in lockdown, no family at Christmas a fucking despicable idea.

I'm all for caution, but fuxking hell, there must be a way to control it, as proved by NZ and AUS.

I have no problem at all with them appearing on the news etc.

However it should be made clear that whatever they are saying - whatever their opinion is - is their opinion not official govt advice.

Otherwise you get headlines and hysteria for days of what the latest "government advice" is. When in reality that is one person's opinion and how they would advise based on that, whereas there will be other scientists with other opinions.

@Againstmachine

Pillocks like Susan Michie are being a platform by virtue of being part of sage.

Oh the irony of you referring to to her as "a pillock"

Take a look in the mirror dear.

I am always astounded when anyone suggests giving the Government more power over freedom of information. I don’t want to live in China. I want to live in a free and open society.
This Government have had 10 years of virtual non opposition and have such a huge majority that their grip on power and decisions is total.
They really do not need more power.

@Lockheart @PracticingPerson

Indy Sage are activists first and foremost and as for the science, they are always wrong.

*Oh the irony of you referring to to her as "a pillock"

Take a look in the mirror dear.*

It you hold scaremongering members of the communist party in revere hats in you.

As a pp observed, these “experts” are just giving an answer to questions which produce an inevitable answer. Will the virus mutate ? Probably. Will the situation get worse? It might. What would end a virus? Everyone from now on in lockdown for months. Then you get a headline of “Immediate lockdown essential to stop escalation of mutant viruses!”

I am always astounded when anyone suggests giving the Government more power over freedom of information. I don’t want to live in China. I want to live in a free and open society.
This Government have had 10 years of virtual non opposition and have such a huge majority that their grip on power and decisions is total.
They really do not need more power

You do realize it's scientists paid by the government we offering opinions.

I can't cope with anymore lockdowns. Please make it stop.

This rings of my favourite Brexit quote " I'm sick of listening to experts"

Silencing scientific experts because you disagree with them is not how democracy works. If you dont like the news story no one is forcing you to listen but the public people have a right to hear from experts.

Scientists dont get paid for this shit, what expenses are you assuming they are claiming given that they would (mostly) be appearing remotely.

[quote Mathshelpme]**@Lockheart* @PracticingPerson*

Indy Sage are activists first and foremost and as for the science, they are always wrong.[/quote]
And what are your qualifications to be able to assert this?

@Againstmachine

*Oh the irony of you referring to to her as "a pillock"

Take a look in the mirror dear.*

It you hold scaremongering members of the communist party in revere hats in you.

Could you try that again in English?

@Againstmachine

*I am always astounded when anyone suggests giving the Government more power over freedom of information. I don’t want to live in China. I want to live in a free and open society. This Government have had 10 years of virtual non opposition and have such a huge majority that their grip on power and decisions is total. They really do not need more power*

You do realize it's scientists paid by the government we offering opinions.

Yes. I don’t see it as a problem. Quite a few of them are working for the NHS or other organisations too. What do you suggest ? Do you want to silence them ? That’s censorship. How do you suggest we police them ? Should could start a Stasi or KGB style authority to oversee this ?

Could you try that again in English?
If you hold people like michie in regard that says a lot ,and lets not forget whitty and vallsnce arent against lieing.

I’ve often wondered about this. Do members of any other committees advising the government go on tours of the media trying to influence the public with their personal opinions? Or is it just SAGE?

It’s surprising it’s allowed, because SAGE members may know a lot about the virus, but don’t really have the expertise (or the authority) to consider the social, economic, political and psychological implications of the various measures they are promoting.

No, I want to hear from them not just the government. Of course they should be telling us things.

Actually halfpast, Sage has a bunch of sociology and psychology experts as members

Except certain protess do get attention BLM had many last year .

You’ll notice that I used the word ‘most’.

Other protests that got coverage: many of the anti-lockdown protests.

You do realize it's scientists paid by the government we offering opinions.

Hang on, I thought you were talking about the non-civil servant members of SAGE.

@IrmaFayLear

As a pp observed, these “experts” are just giving an answer to questions which produce an inevitable answer. Will the virus mutate ? Probably. Will the situation get worse? It might. What would end a virus? Everyone from now on in lockdown for months. Then you get a headline of “Immediate lockdown essential to stop escalation of mutant viruses!”

@IrmaFayLear 👏👏👏👏

@Againstmachine

We have no idea at the moment how winter will pan out. If we're lucky the vaccinations will hold and we'll be ok, but it's sensible to plan for restrictions

Modellers with computers can't predict the weather, I find people making predictions months in advance dangerous.

And if find people refusing to accept the need to forward planvarious alternative scenarios horrifyingly naive

@Lockheart

My qualifications… I call myself ‘Inde Indy sage’. I have a degree in product design and achieved highly commended in my tap dancing exam.

Hang on, I thought you were talking about the non-civil servant members of SAGE

You imagine they are there for shits and giggles , if not getting paid getting expenses.

You imagine they are there for shits and giggles , if not getting paid getting expenses.

How much do you think these expenses are? You think they’re going to bend over and be the government’s puppets because the government’s reimbursed them for a train ticket and a Premier Inn?

But ‘expenses reimbursed’ is not the same as ‘paid’. If a person has out of pocket exposes incurred in their work to provide expert advice to the government, it’s right they be reimbursed. But that’s not the same as suggesting they profit financially from their participation.

@JassyRadlett

You imagine they are there for shits and giggles , if not getting paid getting expenses.

How much do you think these expenses are? You think they’re going to bend over and be the government’s puppets because the government’s reimbursed them for a train ticket and a Premier Inn?

But ‘expenses reimbursed’ is not the same as ‘paid’. If a person has out of pocket exposes incurred in their work to provide expert advice to the government, it’s right they be reimbursed. But that’s not the same as suggesting they profit financially from their participation.

This ^^

Also were in a pandemic I would imagine most of the meetings are taking place online so not even a train ticket