MIT moves all classes online for the rest of the semester

Re:MIT moves all classes online for the rest of the semester by better_names on Tuesday March 10, 2020 @06:44PM (#22540676)

> to slow a spreading virus like COVID-19

The naming of this thing is such a disaster, even MIT can't get it right.

- the virus is called SARS-CoV-2 (like HIV)

- the disease it causes is named COVID-19 (like AIDS)

- pretty much everyone calls both the virus and the disease coronavirus

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:MIT moves all classes online for the rest of the semester by chrisco255 on Tuesday March 10, 2020 @06:52PM (#22540756)

That's because COVID-19 looks like a JIRA ticket, and people shudder a bit when they type it out.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:MIT moves all classes online for the rest of the semester by generationP on Tuesday March 10, 2020 @07:04PM (#22540907)

If it's also as slow as one, we're not in danger.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:MIT moves all classes online for the rest of the semester by JabavuAdams on Tuesday March 10, 2020 @09:06PM (#22541900)

Is this causing any actual or damaging confusion? Why care?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:MIT moves all classes online for the rest of the semester by tropo on Tuesday March 10, 2020 @10:00PM (#22542217)

Coronavirus is far too vague (there are many coronaviruses) and it gets confused with a type of beer. Those other names, SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, are only slightly more readable than sha256 hashes and UUIDs. We also don't need the virus and the disease to have separate names, especially not ones that are so unrelated.

The common and original name is "Wuhan virus". That is easy to remember, easy to type, and specific enough. Use it, for better communication.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:MIT moves all classes online for the rest of the semester by pbourke on Tuesday March 10, 2020 @06:52PM (#22540758)

https://xkcd.com/2275/

[ Parent | on HN ]