Fact: More people will die of heart disease and traffic accidents today than have died by Swine Flu in the past week.
Fact: People will drive to and from work today, probably stuffing their faces with McGriddle sandwiches, breakfast burritos or grease-burgers while living in fear of getting sick by the media-hyped pandemic.
Fact: Some of those scared people will have a heart attack or get creamed by a drunk driver in the next few days.
Fact: Humans positively suck at risk analysis.
Reference: CDC - Leading Causes of Death in the US
Yep.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many transit riders will stop riding transit this week?
Schneier just posted a good article on this same issue.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2009/04/conficker.html
Indeed, but humans' inability to rationally handle risk and fear is pretty much the point of Schneier's entire site.
ReplyDeleteI find it fascinating, however, that the media runs with it like they do, and exactly how insane the unwashed masses have become with the spread of misinformation. Of course, I am pretty sure mainstream media has never said that eating pork could cause Swine Flu (it won't, cooking would kill it) but it's out there and the rumors are spreading.
You mean I can't eat any more raw bacon?
ReplyDeleteSpeak the word brother!
ReplyDelete