Storms and tsunamis and such terms.

[Againstmachine]

So at two separate conferences in Scotland and Wales we have warning of a storm coming and a Tsunami of cases coming.

Why can't politicians use better terms instead of deliberately fearmongerng or just being factual.

It's nearly as bad as the often used one "on their knees".

What "correct term" would you suggest?

Fuck tonne.

I agree OP, I'd also add 'flood' to the natural disaster/ weather metaphors.

Makes a change from the war metaphors I suppose

An ongoing exponential rise in cases can be far more worrying than a tsunami. You can avoid a tsunami by reaching a certain height, so long as you are a foot above the water. You can be almost twice as high as the exponential wave and still be engulfed within 3 days, if that’s the doubling period.
People say “we should have made sure the nhs was ready for this” but nothing can ever have the capacity to deal with an exponential increase for long. It needs to stop doubling or it will swamp even the best health service.
Every exponential in nature curve flattens one way or another. Hopefully there is some mechanism that is going to flatten this one, but it’s not wrong to be apprehensive whilst it’s doubling. Tsunamis by comparison are much more predictable from the onset.

I don’t fully mind these words but have a slight problem with ‘tsunami’ after the Boxing Day tsunami. When I see it used for other things I have some of those images from then and just think ‘why don’t we not use that word’.

My apologies, I really didn’t mean to downplay the horror of tsunamis.

@HeronLanyon

I don’t fully mind these words but have a slight problem with ‘tsunami’ after the Boxing Day tsunami. When I see it used for other things I have some of those images from then and just think ‘why don’t we not use that word’.

Totally agree with this. I was actually offended by Nicola Sturgeons casual use of this word, ‘tidal wave’ would have been less evocative , less emotive and still as descriptive.

So I’ll put that back to you - why can’t you use a better term than ‘deliberate fearmongering’?

I am not in charge of a country using incorrect terms, so what I say won't scare people will it.

Which is a ‘shame’ as I find it a beautiful word and a great descriptor but I just can’t and don’t use it anymore or when I do inadvertently I wish I hadn’t.

And if you’re talking about factual terms - I’d say ‘tsunami beginning to hit’ is more factually accurate than the term ‘deliberate fearmongering’.

It isn't factually accurate at all unless there is a actual tsunami going to hit us.

@Kokeshi123

"Large increase" "sudden increase" "rapid growth" etc?

Sorry, but the OP has a point. The use of deliberately hysterical language has been a problem in this pandemic; it is desensitizing people, for one thing. And in those instances where the description turns out to be exaggerated (which it has on several occasions), it damages trust in the authorities and in public health.

Totally agree.

I suspect a large number of people eye roll with the choice of language used. And eye roll harder that each of them have to use different words. Tsunami, tidal wave etc.

The language is deliberately chosen to cause fear. But it's been done too often now and has lost effect.

It has become completely pointless. I'm just waiting for the upgrade from tsunamis and tidal waves to Armageddon and End of Days.

It's sad, isn't it. An objectively serious situation (the pandemic) discussed with emotive and frankly emotionally incontinent language.

We're all doomed so bide in yer houzeees. And don't say you weren't telt.

I find reporting on the news, particularly the BBC always uses emotive language which pisses me off because I want factual information. After the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004 that's what's in my mind. Perhaps they don't think we understand that fact that this particular virus has a faster rate of spread compared to the delta variant.
I just think reporting style is quite ridiculous sometimes and not just for COVID.

Wee Nic just loves it, she should have been one of those evangelical preachers

"Large number of cases"...

It is an unprecedented shitshower of cases they are warning about...

Tsunami is perfectly apt. People's determination to stay uninformed is mindboggling.

@Againstmachine

So I’ll put that back to you - why can’t you use a better term than ‘deliberate fearmongering’?

I am not in charge of a country using incorrect terms, so what I say won't scare people will it.

Hopefully not. But the language YOU choose, whether on here or in real life, WILL have an effect on others. You set out to downplay Covid. On another thread, at another moment, you might have gathered more "couldn't have said it better myself"s. Given that, yet again, the UK is about to find itself winning the records nobody wants, and this site is full of families worrying that again they are being asked to pay a price that, with a few sensible mitigations put in place by the govt, they'd never have been asked to pay, I'd say your minimising is, ill judged at best, and downright goady at worst.

I'm sick of all these over dramatic phrases. "Tsunami", "tidal wave", "ripping through like wildfire". Ugh.

@noblegiraffe

A shitshow of cases.

Yes I'd go with that one.

Would love to hear Chris Whitty say that from the podium.

Hopefully not.
But the language YOU choose, whether on here or in real life, WILL have an effect on others.
You set out to downplay Covid.
On another thread, at another moment, you might have gathered more "couldn't have said it better myself"s.
Given that, yet again, the UK is about to find itself winning the records nobody wants, and this site is full of families worrying that again they are being asked to pay a price that, with a few sensible mitigations put in place by the govt, they'd never have been asked to pay, I'd say your minimising is, ill judged at best, and downright goady at worst.

No I am not minimising anything or downplaying anything that's all in your own head you are putting words in peoples mouths, I am talking about those in charge using proper phrasing but obviously you like these phrases, shall we have a earthquake of cases next.

I am pretty sure you are the goady one with your post there to be honest.

This Covid board is fucking nuts.

There’s loads of terms I actively loathe - ‘rip through’ etc

But for some reason not this as much

It doesn’t make me fearful though - just reflects high numbers coming and shows that sometimes stopping it won’t work.

Also if people don’t respond in a shocked way to higher cases every day maybe that too

Although if it’s used as NS does to bring in ever increasing restrictions I see your point

'proper phrasing' 'incorrect terms'

This is deliberately chose fear language.

What are you on? Seriously. You should be afraid, ffs.

With actual figures.

A million new cases a day. A million. That's the actual figure expected.

It isn't factually accurate at all unless there is a actual tsunami going to hit us.

Oh, my god. Are you okay with 'wave'? Because there has never been a literal wave of cases either. Don't be ridiculous.

Here's a definition of the offending term:

tsunami
[tsuːˈnɑːmi]
NOUN

• a long, high sea wave caused by an earthquake or other disturbance.

"the loss of human lives from this latest tsunami is staggering"

• an arrival or occurrence of something in overwhelming quantities or amounts.

"a tsunami of data pours into the CNBC newsroom every minute of every trading day"

@milkyaqua

'proper phrasing' 'incorrect terms'

This is deliberately chose fear language.

What are you on? Seriously. You should be afraid, ffs.

With actual figures.

A million new cases a day. A million. That's the actual figure expected.

It isn't factually accurate at all unless there is a actual tsunami going to hit us.

Oh, my god. Are you okay with 'wave'? Because there has never been a literal wave of cases either. Don't be ridiculous.

Here's a definition of the offending term:

tsunami
[tsuːˈnɑːmi]
NOUN

• a long, high sea wave caused by an earthquake or other disturbance.

"the loss of human lives from this latest tsunami is staggering"

• an arrival or occurrence of something in overwhelming quantities or amounts.

"a tsunami of data pours into the CNBC newsroom every minute of every trading day"

You say we should be afraid. But the problem here is the governments have been using fear language for so long now it's lost all effect. People now just eye roll and said yeah yeah heard it before. That's the problem with the continual fear propaganda - it looses effect pretty quickly.

That, and the governments own actions.

Thanks for confirmation, @milkyaqua, that metaphorical language is recognised in dictionaries!