Re:Yes, experts will lie to you sometimes
by RyEgswuCsn on Monday March 29, 2021 @11:11AM
(#26622909)
When the rational thing to do (e.g. lying about the effectiveness of masks to prevent PPE shortages) contradicts the moral thing to do (i.e. telling the truth), what's the right choice?
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Re:Yes, experts will lie to you sometimes
by ed25519FUUU on Monday March 29, 2021 @11:15AM
(#26622978)
When you lie to the public, you not only keep them in the dark, but you actively discourage them from thinking the right way or finding the truth.
There are so many problems with this that I can’t even list. What would’ve happened if the government would’ve made a call at that time for mass PPE manufacturing?
Anyone trying to start up a PPE factory would literally be going against CDC guidance, and the CDC would have to double down against it to maintain the lie.
Be a leader that is willing to make hard choices. Tell the public that sale of N95 masks is restricted to healthcare workers, and outline ways people can reduce their risk of infection while waiting for production of new masks to ramp up. At least then it would have made the idea of lockdowns more palatable.
realize that distancing is the primary mitigation and that masks are at best marginal for the public, and recommend distancing when spending time indoors with non-household members.