Media’s Fearful Failed Prophecies

[InChrist]

Today Is the 1-Year Anniversary of the Worst Pandemic Headline of 2020
The Atlantic’s prediction on what would happen if Georgia lifted pandemic restrictions was a hot mess. But it can teach us a lot.


”A year ago today.

The same month @TheAtlanticpublished this fatuous article, they rejected one submitted by a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School arguing for a focused protection strategy in lieu of lockdowns.“


”Failed Prophecy
Mull’s lurid predictions didn’t come to pass. Today the state’s COVID mortality rate stands 30-35 percent lower than many states that enforced strict lockdowns, such as New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.

While the article’s claim that Georgia was committing “human sacrifice” was hyperbolic, it was not particularly unique. Other publications would use similar language—”The Republicans Take America on a Death March,” one New Republic headline blared—when other states began to lift pandemic restrictions.

But The Atlantic is not The New Republic. It’s perhaps the most esteemed magazine in America. It’s where the “smart people” go to read because it still cares about good journalism and features writers like Graeme Wood.

How did The Atlantic fail so badly? The answer isn’t hard to find. Like so many media publications, the magazine fell prey to fear. Once this happened, the pandemic became a moral struggle between those who care about human lives and those who care about the economy. In taking up their crusade, the magazine, like many, fell for a simplistic fallacy: more government restrictions automatically equals fewer deaths.“

Today Is the 1-Year Anniversary of the Worst Pandemic Headline of 2020 | Jon Miltimore


Thoughts?

 

[Subduction Zone]

Did you not notice how the author failed? He or she compared the deaths in Georgia to those of New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Why didn't he compare the death rate to my state, Washington state for example. They had twice our death rate per capita. The population density of Georgia is much closer to that of my state than the states he chose.

Who would a thunk it? The pandemic is worse in high density areas. The opening did cost lives. Quite a few of them. The failure was the author's.

 

[Wandering Monk]

Today Is the 1-Year Anniversary of the Worst Pandemic Headline of 2020
The Atlantic’s prediction on what would happen if Georgia lifted pandemic restrictions was a hot mess. But it can teach us a lot.


”A year ago today.

The same month @TheAtlanticpublished this fatuous article, they rejected one submitted by a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School arguing for a focused protection strategy in lieu of lockdowns.“


”Failed Prophecy
Mull’s lurid predictions didn’t come to pass. Today the state’s COVID mortality rate stands 30-35 percent lower than many states that enforced strict lockdowns, such as New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.

While the article’s claim that Georgia was committing “human sacrifice” was hyperbolic, it was not particularly unique. Other publications would use similar language—”The Republicans Take America on a Death March,” one New Republic headline blared—when other states began to lift pandemic restrictions.

But The Atlantic is not The New Republic. It’s perhaps the most esteemed magazine in America. It’s where the “smart people” go to read because it still cares about good journalism and features writers like Graeme Wood.

How did The Atlantic fail so badly? The answer isn’t hard to find. Like so many media publications, the magazine fell prey to fear. Once this happened, the pandemic became a moral struggle between those who care about human lives and those who care about the economy. In taking up their crusade, the magazine, like many, fell for a simplistic fallacy: more government restrictions automatically equals fewer deaths.“

Today Is the 1-Year Anniversary of the Worst Pandemic Headline of 2020 | Jon Miltimore


Thoughts?

An example of media getting ahead of the science, though I would rather err on the side of caution.

Deaths per capita from Covid over the course of the entire outbreak is higher in Georgia than in California. Here is a map from the CDC. Darker colors are higher deaths per 100,000.

 

[Windwalker]

Here's a failed prophecy. Trump will win in 2020.

 

[Augustus]

Who would a thunk it? The pandemic is worse in high density areas.

Also would expect differences between hot and cold states.

Spending time in enclosed areas with others is most likely to spread disease with high viral loads.

An 'indoor culture' state would be expected to perform worse than an 'outdoor culture' state all things being equal. Also in hotter states public places are more likely to be well ventilated to cool them down.

 

[danieldemol]

Thoughts?

You'll have to try a lot harder than that to match the Bible's list of failed prophecies.

 

[Windwalker]

You'll have to try a lot harder than that to match the Bible's list of failed prophecies.

They're not failed. They're just not interpreted properly to make them fit right.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Today Is the 1-Year Anniversary of the Worst Pandemic Headline of 2020
The Atlantic’s prediction on what would happen if Georgia lifted pandemic restrictions was a hot mess. But it can teach us a lot.


”A year ago today.

The same month @TheAtlanticpublished this fatuous article, they rejected one submitted by a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School arguing for a focused protection strategy in lieu of lockdowns.“


”Failed Prophecy
Mull’s lurid predictions didn’t come to pass. Today the state’s COVID mortality rate stands 30-35 percent lower than many states that enforced strict lockdowns, such as New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.

While the article’s claim that Georgia was committing “human sacrifice” was hyperbolic, it was not particularly unique. Other publications would use similar language—”The Republicans Take America on a Death March,” one New Republic headline blared—when other states began to lift pandemic restrictions.

But The Atlantic is not The New Republic. It’s perhaps the most esteemed magazine in America. It’s where the “smart people” go to read because it still cares about good journalism and features writers like Graeme Wood.

How did The Atlantic fail so badly? The answer isn’t hard to find. Like so many media publications, the magazine fell prey to fear. Once this happened, the pandemic became a moral struggle between those who care about human lives and those who care about the economy. In taking up their crusade, the magazine, like many, fell for a simplistic fallacy: more government restrictions automatically equals fewer deaths.“

Today Is the 1-Year Anniversary of the Worst Pandemic Headline of 2020 | Jon Miltimore


Thoughts?

Because sometimes people deny things for sake of political reasons and Covid is likely the most politicized and weaponized pandemic in history.

 

[Kooky]

Thoughts?

Do you consider The Atlantic representative of all media? If so, why?

 

[Kooky]

Also would expect differences between hot and cold states.

Spending time in enclosed areas with others is most likely to spread disease with high viral loads.

An 'indoor culture' state would be expected to perform worse than an 'outdoor culture' state all things being equal. Also in hotter states public places are more likely to be well ventilated to cool them down.

That map two posts above you does not bear out your hot vs. cold state model, though.

Honestly, I don't think any one factor is to blame here.

 

[Augustus]

That map two posts above you does not bear out your hot vs. cold state model, though.

Honestly, I don't think any one factor is to blame here.

Each state had different policies, demographic profiles, economic situations. They aren't equal comparisons.

No one factor is to blame though I agree.