Muh Muh Muh My Corona (virus)

While I agree that Twitter and SEO are both terrible for cause-and-effect headlines, this quote in the linked story is fairly pointed:

Between March 28 and April 3, EasyJet cancelled 202 of its 3,517 flights scheduled to depart from the U.K., according to data provided to CBS MoneyWatch from Cirium, an aviation analytics company. By comparison, the carrier cancelled zero flights departing from the U.K. during the same period in 2019, before the pandemic.


An EasyJet spokesperson attributed the increase in cancelled flights to "higher than usual staff sickness levels" due to a recent surge in COVID-19 cases across Europe.

 

But the rise in sickness levels is not necessarily caused by the lack of masks. Staff spends time off the plane, too. The rise in sickness may be directly related to the overall rise in COVID cases, regardless of the airlines' policies.

 

One could argue (according to teh twitterz) that masks on planes have saved more lives than seatbelts.

 

Of course not.

But that cagey clickbait headline is still true in either case.

Whether caught on the plane or off, airlines that went maskless suffered covid cancellations due to staff shortages. (As did some others.) Was the uptick due to onboard masklessness?

Does the headline rise to the level of dishonesty?

According to Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding, an epidemiologist and health economist, such flight cancellations were all but guaranteed once passengers and crew members took off their masks.

"So damn predictable — UK govt drops restrictions, airlines like @easyJet drops masks ... and less than 2 weeks later ... huge spike in pilots and flight attendants out sick with #COVID19 unable to work, and 120 flights cancelled! Airline CEOs asked for this," he said on Twitter.

 

Feigl-Doom

 

I have long since given up on headlines, SEO and social media as megaphones for the half-true.

 

God bless the Tiger Ladies! I used to get scolded about my choice of canned jackfruit at K & S International by those barking little sparkplugs who were there to save us from ourselves. Glad they're leading the charge when it comes to masks.

Musta felt like old home week. To be fair, most of the people around here are live and let live types. There are those few who can't resist trying to "own" complete strangers who are just trying to get on with their day. Sad to say, most of my unpleasant encounters have been with women and couples. Yes, lady at Kroger with your mean kid mini-me, I'm talking about you. No one was impressed by your child pushing his kiddie cart into anyone wearing a mask and shrieking, "SCOOOZE MEEE TARDS!" Same goes for squat little 60-ish gnomes whose male half tried to grab my mask while I waited in line to pick up my mother's meds. His wife stood behind him and giggled.

Let me get this straight. The whole breathing thing is too complicated for them? I knew it!

 

jesus

 

@ChrisLong One year I shared a perch with someone from Orange County during the playoffs. When I'd go get something or call my editor to keep him posted, I always asked her if she needed anything. She told me later on it took her a bit to realize I wasn't being a jerk, and really meant it was no problem to go grab her a soda from the media lounge, etc.

 

Women are so cruel to other women… bullying by grown men is tolerated in some circles, not in the polite ones. Bullying by woman on another woman is viewed as a wonderful trait to have.

 

I feel so owned.

 

So maybe there should be a little reflection before posting a tweet or article that seemingly makes your political point?