How did the pandemic start?

Post by **Jezza** » Mon Sep 06, 2021 5:44 pm

It's a question the intelligence community has been divided over, but which way do you lean?

Post by **stui magpie** » Mon Sep 06, 2021 5:52 pm

I've gone natural origins. IIRC both SARs and MERs are/were types of Coronaviruses that both had natural origins, crossing from Animals to Humans. That Covid19 is more infectious and deadly than either of those doesn't change that.

While I do think it's entirely possible that Covid19 originated from a lab leak that has been covered up by the Chinese Communist Party, in the absence of clear facts I consider the natural origins theory more plausible.

Post by **think positive** » Mon Sep 06, 2021 6:24 pm

Need a different option, biting heads off of live bats is hardly natural! I voted that today, but I wouldn’t be surprised at all to learn it was a lab leak

Post by **David** » Mon Sep 06, 2021 7:29 pm

I kind of feel like the best answer is "no idea", and that any assertion one way or the other is likely to be mostly a reflection on one's ideological leanings. All I know is that I don't trust anything on this coming from the Chinese government, I don't trust anything from the US intelligence community and I don't find the mainstream press particularly reliable either. And I think it's entirely possible (perhaps not more than 50% likely, but certainly more than a negligible chance) that even the Chinese government has no idea how it originated.

Post by **Jezza** » Mon Sep 06, 2021 8:51 pm

stui magpie wrote:I've gone natural origins. IIRC both SARs and MERs are/were types of Coronaviruses that both had natural origins, crossing from Animals to Humans. That Covid19 is more infectious and deadly than either of those doesn't change that.

Covid is less deadlier than SARS and MERS if we're talking about fatality rates.

SARS originated from civet cats, while MERS originated from bats but is believed to be transmitted into humans from camels.

Post by **stui magpie** » Mon Sep 06, 2021 9:07 pm

I'll take your word on the fatality rate, but covid19 must clearly be more infectious otherwise we wouldn't be where we are now.

Post by **Jezza** » Mon Sep 06, 2021 9:09 pm

stui magpie wrote:I'll take your word on the fatality rate, but covid19 must clearly be more infectious otherwise we wouldn't be where we are now.

Absolutely, it's more infectious.

If the virus was very deadly, it wouldn't spread across the world to this magnitude.

Post by **stui magpie** » Mon Sep 06, 2021 9:14 pm

Good point, it would kill the host before it had a chance to spread.

pietillidie · Post by **pietillidie** » Wed Sep 08, 2021 2:44 am

roar · Post by **roar** » Wed Sep 08, 2021 8:53 am

Read some more literature and you will see how silly that post is. Lab leak makes more sense.

pietillidie · Post by **pietillidie** » Wed Sep 08, 2021 5:23 pm

Post by **stui magpie** » Wed Sep 08, 2021 6:08 pm

I don't suppose there's any danger of you doing a post that isn't condescending and insulting?

pietillidie · Post by **pietillidie** » Wed Sep 08, 2021 6:11 pm

stui magpie wrote:I don't suppose there's any danger of you doing a post that isn't condescending and insulting?

More condescending than this, or are you unable to keep an even hand?

roar wrote:Read some more literature and you will see how silly that post is. Lab leak makes more sense.

The rules of condescension only apply to some, don't they? I'm responding in kind. If you're going to declare yourself the moral arbiter, arbitrate fairly.

Post by **stui magpie** » Wed Sep 08, 2021 6:47 pm

pietillidie wrote:
stui magpie wrote:I don't suppose there's any danger of you doing a post that isn't condescending and insulting?
More condescending than this, or are you unable to keep an even hand?

Maybe re-read your post.

Was it necessary to say some of the things you wrote?

20 years of debate where the usual people employing the usual fist-waving itch in their pants instead of disciplined reasoning were wrong about everything, and you still haven't grown up.

You think that's going to sway opinions to your view?

Pi · Post by Pi » Thu Sep 09, 2021 11:10 am

The only fist waving I see is from this guy.
http://img2.chinadaily.com.cn/images/20 ... bf03b.jpeg

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