What IS the fuss about omicron?

[GingerHouse]

In all seriousness, data shows that not a single person has died from omicron and that’s in countries that have low vaccine uptake too.

The virus is going to mutate all the time and as things are showing this variant is very contagious and the vaccine doesn’t work as well against it, but it’s mild to almost everybody.

I feel like this is mass panic and for what reason?! I understand wearing a mask where applicable to help reduce the spread but I just don’t get it! Is this going to happen every winter forevermore?

@rrhuth I have stopped and engaged with everything going on around me, honestly you are rude.

Can you also explain, that omicron may also not risk overwhelming the NHS seen as most of the population are vaccinated? Can you also get cola in that this is no longer a new virus and that it’ll happen every year ICU capacity may need more funding if we’re to live with it? I realise doctors and nurses can’t just be churned out but maybe not make a new vaccine mandatory for them to be able and to work in this pandemic. I also did 2 years nursing before they dropped the bursary and took the other mandatory vaccines and didn’t question.

A PP said upthread they were considering private healthcare due to this. Do you not think there’s something going on? They’ve had 2 years.

SAGE and Ferguson were both warning of a massively spike in hospital admissions if restrictions were lifted in summer - that didn't happen.

Ferguson has a history of getting predictions wrong. He predicted that 20 million would die of swine flu.

Let's not blindly trust 'the science'. Science largely funded by billion dollar pharmaceutical companies.

[quote rrhuth]@GingerHouse

I’m asking WHY this particular VOC is causing so much havoc providing we have 2 years of research and vaccines and boosters readily available. This absolutely is an uninformed question. The answer has literally been published by the government. You have not read that paper. If you read it, you will have the answer.

That’s all I’m asking?! I’m not stupid or uneducated for asking that particular question am I? Yeah I am insulted and I’m insulted in the way you’re talking to me for asking a very valid question by the way. I haven't said you are stupid, I have said 'uninformed'. Your question shows you are uninformed, that you have not read the information which has been published by the government.[/quote]
How is anything an uniformed question? That’s the point of a question? To inform?!

If you have the information tell me then instead of saying I’m uninformed.

we all have different viewpoints, and that is the beauty of being human. So long as we can speculate in a constructive way and use those different opinions for a positive outcome.

The word speculation is . Is it helpful to speculate randomly?

'I think the earth is flat' is not equivalent to 'scientific evidence shows the earth is (roughly) round'.

'I think Omicron is milder so nothing to worry about' is not equivalent to the paper published by SAGE or Ferguson's modelling.

I apologise for my autocorrect. If you need any clarification please do let me know.

Making this variant as dangerous as the common cold.

Just one of many, many statements that show that you absolutely do not grasp the current situation with Omicron, at all.

I have read the reports, and no I’m not struggling to understand anything

Well, your responses would suggest you are still struggling to understand. People with 100 times more knowledge than me have kindly, patiently, and repeatedly tried to explain. It is fine to not understand, but not fine to ask questions in order to stir up ferment, in my view.

@rrhuth

we all have different viewpoints, and that is the beauty of being human. So long as we can speculate in a constructive way and use those different opinions for a positive outcome.

The word speculation is . Is it helpful to speculate randomly?

'I think the earth is flat' is not equivalent to 'scientific evidence shows the earth is (roughly) round'.

'I think Omicron is milder so nothing to worry about' is not equivalent to the paper published by SAGE or Ferguson's modelling.

@rrhuth entirely different? SAGE and Ferguson’s modelling is too, speculation unless they can tell the future.

@GingerHouse

If you have the information tell me then instead of saying I’m uninformed.
You've been told multiple times on the thread where to read the information, why don't you read it?

Of course there are informed and uninformed questions. Yours are uninformed. You won't read the basic information on the subject.

The question is why not?

@bigvig if you don’t like Ferguson/Sage perhaps you should look globally to see what other scientists are saying? There is a consensus of opinion.

Who do you want to trust then?

Private healthcare is worth fiuck all when you need a a&e bed or a icu bed tho So we still need further funding

The weight a comment should be given depends on how well, how comprehensively and how fairly they fit the known facts.

It's not a free for all, where all comments and opinions have equal weight

@GingerHouse putting the SAGE committee report under the heading of 'speculation' shows very limited understanding.

This is why people like me can't take you seriously.

[quote rrhuth]@GingerHouse

If you have the information tell me then instead of saying I’m uninformed.
You've been told multiple times on the thread where to read the information, why don't you read it?

Of course there are informed and uninformed questions. Yours are uninformed. You won't read the basic information on the subject.

The question is why not?[/quote]
@rruth

But I have? I’m taking that information and then asking for further information on the matter? Is there a right or wrong?

I strongly recommend everyone to watch a TV show called "Sidedoes". It is based on a truth story of "Opioid Addiction" in the US in the recent years. How the "Scientist", pharmaceutical company, and government work together to get ordinary hard working people addicted to drugs. They use charts, data, carefully select words to sell the drugs and making huge profits.

Sorry, it is called 'Dopesick'.

[quote rrhuth]@GingerHouse putting the SAGE committee report under the heading of 'speculation' shows very limited understanding.

This is why people like me can't take you seriously.[/quote]
Oh @rruth honestly, whatever, the more you act like this and dismiss normal people with normal questions about he variant as lower than you then you’ll carry on like this I don’t know why you’re gatekeeping your answers. But ok.

@GingerHouse

Maybe we should try another approach.

Specifically, which bits of the SAGE report (which you haven't read) did you disagree with scientifically?

I think it was UKHSA actually, sorry.

@DoOneBoJo

How else would they keep everyone scared and easy to control?

Exactly. Let's ignore the consequences to people's lives and the economy. As long as SAGE still have their power and final say.

@milkyaqua

Making this variant as dangerous as the common cold.

Just one of many, many statements that show that you absolutely do not grasp the current situation with Omicron, at all.

I have read the reports, and no I’m not struggling to understand anything

Well, your responses would suggest you are still struggling to understand. People with 100 times more knowledge than me have kindly, patiently, and repeatedly tried to explain. It is fine to not understand, but not fine to ask questions in order to stir up ferment, in my view.

I agree with the 'stir up ferment' comment, this is why I don't engage in detail, because these 'questions' are not genuine attempts to find something out.

If someone wanted to know, the information is already available.

@rrhuth

I think it was UKHSA actually, sorry.

Oh my gosh, @rrhuth I have never said I disagree I’m asking WHY the panic, I have read it. And as far I’m concerned vaccines and masks in public spaces are ok?! I don’t get the panic!!!!

@rrhuth I’ll think you’ll find many people are questioning it, especially due to last year and all the ‘scientific evidence’ the government held in their hands and still partied and did everything the ‘scientific advice’ told us not to. I’m not at all uniformed for asking a question and I can bet my bloody life on it there’s many others here asking the same.

You can be exposed to as much scientific evidence as you want but still have questions on it. You are being unnecessarily mean and for the what purpose?

Oh my gosh, @rrhuth I have never said I disagree I’m asking WHY the panic, I have read it. And as far I’m concerned vaccines and masks in public spaces are ok?! I don’t get the panic!!!!

If you have read it, and it explains the concerns, which you are now suggesting you understand, what is your question? The information available clearly explains that this variant has potential capability to overwhelm the healthcare system. That is why there is concern.

If you don't think having an overwhelmed healthcare system is a concern, you are living in a parallel reality.

@rrhuth

Oh my gosh, @rrhuth I have never said I disagree I’m asking WHY the panic, I have read it. And as far I’m concerned vaccines and masks in public spaces are ok?! I don’t get the panic!!!!

If you have read it, and it explains the concerns, which you are now suggesting you understand, what is your question? The information available clearly explains that this variant has potential capability to overwhelm the healthcare system. That is why there is concern.

If you don't think having an overwhelmed healthcare system is a concern, you are living in a parallel reality.

We’ve had 2 years as a country to deal with the fact that the virus will mutate and cause hospitalisations. Surely after 2 years we should have found a way to accommodate this instead of restricting people?