It is easier for a person to justify his failures by saying that it is just a coincidence, an accident. In fact, many refuse to notice obvious truths, which led to sad consequences.
We will tell you about 5 cruel rules of life. They are unpleasant, but they are honest.
Who are covidiots
In 2020, the word covidiot Covidiot appeared in the online dictionary of English slang Urban Dictionary. It is a derivative of COVID‑19 (a disease caused by the SARS‑CoV‑2 virus) and idiot (idiot). Two categories of people are called Covidiots:
- Those who build a bunker and stuff it under the lid with toilet paper and canned food. At the same time, they don’t care whether food remains for their neighbors. The main thing is that they will be able to survive on reserves until 2134.
- Those who deny the existence of coronavirus or its danger.
Let's talk about the latter. In Russia they are also known as coronavirus dissidents. This group of people was named by analogy with HIV dissidents - those who deny the existence of the human immunodeficiency virus. Only in the case of coronavirus, the consequences may be even more dire. But more on that later.
What do Covidiots think about the virus?
Like any heterogeneous group of people, dissidents do not have one single point of view on COVID-19. Here are the most common options.
Coronavirus is a fiction, and panic is being artificially fanned
Most often, covidiots from this group are not just sure that the virus does not exist. They know exactly who benefited from declaring a pandemic. Indications may change from day to day. While restrictions were in effect only in China, it was believed that the coronavirus was intended to destroy the economy of this country and take it out of the race for world domination. Then other theories came into play:
- The authorities invented the virus to keep people at home and better control them.
- The Russian President personally caused the pandemic to combat unauthorized rallies before the referendum for constitutional amendments.
- The coronavirus story was started by vaccine manufacturers who want to get rich by inoculating against the new disease.
- The world government decided to create conditions for people to become poorer, and for the oligarchy to rise against their background.
- It's all Trump's fault.
In general, there are many versions, but one thing unites them: the coronavirus supposedly does not exist. All data about its contagiousness is falsification. Media representatives are vile, corrupt liars. And those who believe them are just fools who got scared and are sitting at home. It is not entirely clear how more than 100 thousand dead are included in this story. These are probably hired actors who played the role too well.
There is a coronavirus, but it's not that scary
They like to compare COVID‑19 with the flu: both are contagious, the symptoms are similar, and they also die from complications after ARVI. But seasonal flu epidemics don’t scare anyone, do they? The population of entire countries is not forced to stay at home, and the economy is not jeopardized. This means that even now everyone is simply making mountains out of molehills, because they are stupid or because someone needs it.
Of course, there is deceit here. Despite its similarity to the flu, COVID‑19 is much more dangerous, and here’s why.
- Longer incubation period: up to 14 days instead of four. The patient has no symptoms yet, but he is already becoming a source of infection. In 14 days you can transmit the virus to a much larger number of people. Now this ratio is approximately 1.3 people with flu versus 2–2.5 with coronavirus.
- The need for hospitalization. With the flu, 2% of those sick are hospitalized, with COVID‑19 - 19%.
- Mortality. Less than 0.1% of people who get sick die with the flu, and up to 3.4% with coronavirus.
- Vaccination. There is no vaccine against coronavirus, but you can protect yourself from flu strains.
- Herd immunity. The new coronavirus is not yet familiar to human bodies, and they do not always respond to it with the correct defense.
According to WHO, 3.5–5 million people fall ill with all types of influenza per year. More than 2 million people have already been infected with COVID-19. At the same time, the virus began to spread widely around the world in February.
However, dissidents are not limited to the flu. They compare the coronavirus to other highly contagious diseases, such as measles. Indeed, many people still die from measles. For example, in 2020, 110 thousand people, mostly children, died from measles. But the spread of this disease is well blocked by vaccination. Outbreaks occurred in places where vaccinations were not administered. Now is the time to say hello to the brothers of coronavirus dissidents - anti-vaxxers.
Alternative medicine will reliably protect against the virus
The virus, according to these dissidents, exists. But you don’t need to listen to doctors’ advice: what can they understand? Moreover, there is alternative - the most correct - medicine. You definitely won’t get infected with coronavirus if you eat garlic, carry ginger with you, or eat hawthorn tincture with lemon. Do this, and you can safely walk the streets, you are invulnerable.
It seems easy to guess what's wrong here. Storm by Tim Minchin, the actor, comedian and musician Tim Minchin, spoke best on this matter.
Alternative medicine is one that either has not been proven to work or has been proven not to work. Do you know the name of alternative medicine that has been proven to work? Medicine.
Tim Minchin, actor, comedian, musician
Patients with COVID‑19 do not die from coronavirus
Indeed, most of the dead had concomitant diseases. Some suffered from diabetes or asthma, others were missing some organs. They, as well as older people, are at risk. The Ministry of Health explained who is at risk due to coronavirus precisely because the body is already weakened and copes worse with additional infections.
The fact that coronavirus has nothing to do with it is pure speculation. So we can say that people don’t die from falling from a height. They die from organ rupture, multiple fractures and painful shock. And firearms are completely safe, because they die from bleeding and damage.
It is useless to protect yourself from the virus, you will still get sick
Nobody argues with this. Sooner or later, you will most likely really get sick Virologist Vitaly Zverev: coronavirus is now with us forever. Like the flu or a cold. Restrictive measures are being introduced to ensure that this happens late rather than early. And here's why:
- The virus is new, so doctors are not entirely sure how to effectively deal with the complications it causes. Treatment protocols are regularly updated. Doctors are looking for combinations of drugs that will help reduce mortality. The later you get sick, the better your treatment will be.
- The number of hospitals, ventilators and the number of doctors is not infinite. Therefore, the fewer patients who need them at a time, the better.
- Scientists around the world are working on a vaccine. If you're lucky, you'll get there without contracting the disease.
Conspiracy theories, which sometimes seem crazy, arise from any event or phenomenon. For example, some people believe that global warming is a trap designed to destroy American industry. About 30% of American adults are convinced that the coronavirus was created artificially in a laboratory and then spread throughout the world, causing all this damage. By the way, the assassination of US President John F. Kennedy was and remains fertile ground for various conspiracy theories.
People tend to look for an explanation for everything that is incomprehensible or inexplicable. Conspiracy theories are popular not only in the Arab world, but also in other countries. They can have a negative impact on public health, development, political and economic thought, as when people do not wear medical masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus, or refuse vaccination against infectious and fatal diseases, or when conspiracy theories are used to justify the lack of work, self-development and laziness.
In his book Conspiracy Theories in the Middle East: Sources and Politics, Matthew Gray notes that conspiracy theories are commonplace and popular among all levels of society. But Western countries took a different path. Western sociologists, politicians and psychologists have become interested in researching conspiracy theories and their interpretations in society. Meanwhile, many researchers and scientists fear a decline in trust in science in light of politicians' and governments' growing support for political and ideological polarization.
What are conspiracy theories? What is their story? What kind of people tend to believe in conspiracy theories?
Joseph Ucinski, a political scientist at the University of Miami, says that a conspiracy theory is the belief that there is a small group of powerful people secretly acting in their own interests (economic, financial, political or authoritarian) and against the public interest, subverting the established rules of public morality , but their existence has not been confirmed by competent specialists. A conspiracy theory remains a mere doubt until it is confirmed by evidence and real facts. Accordingly, Watergate cannot be considered a conspiracy theory because it has been proven that US President Richard Nixon and others involved in the scandal did indeed conspire to undermine democracy, win elections, and cover up crimes.
Rai Al Youm 05/23/2020 Forbes 05/18/2020 Asharq Al-Awsat 05/08/2020 Al Yemen Al Araby 03/16/2020 Le Monde 02/06/2020 Dr. Ucinski believes that people have always believed in conspiracy theories. Evidence of this can be found even in the ancient world. They say, for example, that Emperor Nero ordered the burning of Rome in 64 AD. e., but there is no conclusive evidence that he actually did it. So believing in conspiracy theories is not unusual.
In a study published in The Journal of Social Psychology, Dr. Anthony Lantian and his colleagues summarize the characteristics of people who tend to believe in conspiracy theories. They believe that lovers of conspiracy theories are characterized by such personal qualities as openness to experience, distrust and nonconformity.
Political scientist Matthew Gray believes that sometimes governments and political elites support conspiracy theories and there are many reasons for this. They divert attention from pressing issues and create new truths to confuse people, so after a while it is difficult for people to get to the truth.
Ten reasons why people tend to believe in conspiracy theories, according to research by Dr. Anthony Lantian and his colleagues:
1. People who believe in conspiracy theories may feel "special" in a positive sense because they feel that they are more informed than others about important social and political events.
2. In his book "Untrusting Minds," Rob Brotherton, a psychologist at Barnard College, writes that conspiracy theories appeal to people of all ages. Conspiracy theories resonate with certain stereotypes and prejudices built into our brains, interacting with hidden desires, fears and ideas about the world and the people in it.
3. The Internet and social networks, full of unverified information, have caused a growing craving for conspiracy theories. According to a study published on August 4 in Media International Australia, rumors are circulating around the world that 5G towers transmit coronavirus. This claim has become a conspiracy theory that 5G is harming humanity, and Facebook has helped spread it widely.
4. Matthew Gray, senior fellow at the Center for Arab and Islamic Studies, believes ideology is the driving force behind conspiracy theories. He argues that ideologies such as socialism and Arab nationalism have failed to capture the minds of most people, and therefore, in the absence of a compelling ideology, conspiracy theories are spreading rapidly.
5. Some journalists and psychologists believe that conspiracy theories are believed by weak, impressionable people who believe that they are not able to influence the course of events. This is especially evident in societies of developing countries.
6. Growing distrust in governments and science, especially during the covid-19 pandemic, when chaos reigns and there is no unified and effective approach to combating the social, health and economic consequences, leads people to believe in conspiracy theories.
7. Anxiety, paranoia, isolation, and loss of control over life and politics all contribute to the belief in conspiracies.
8. Dr. Ucinski argues that socialization and the development of national identity contribute to belief in conspiracy theories.
9. People consider their parents, teachers, friends, and the media they view as reliable sources of information. The perception of global and local problems can be greatly influenced by the environment, the media and the desire to feel part of society. At worst, this can lead to regionalism and tribalism even in conspiracy theories.
10. Some people love conspiracy theories. As history has shown, people believed in conspiracy theories when it came, for example, to NASA's secret programs.
Conclusion:
Conspiracy theories will continue to flourish as distrust in government and science grows and spread at lightning speed through various communication technologies. The paradox is that the same communication technologies, websites and social networks make it easy to spread both truth and lies. Everything is limited only by their moral values.
Conspiracy theories deserve serious study by researchers in the fields of political sociology, psychology and politics, especially in the Arab world. Conspiracy theories are a social phenomenon directly related to politics and culture. Many stories that are not supported by scientific facts can easily be turned into conspiracy theories. But conspiracy theories are an important indicator that assesses the mood in society on any particular topic or issue. They can also identify fears that are often ignored at the official level. Scientists and policymakers must address the problem of conspiracy theories by building trust with the public through the creation of reliable social media channels and tools, just as conspiracy theorists and creators do.
InoSMI materials contain assessments exclusively of foreign media and do not reflect the position of the InoSMI editorial staff.
Why do people think there is no coronavirus?
There are several reasons for this.
This is the stage of accepting the inevitable
Typically, when a person experiences a serious loss, they go through five stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. This is how the psyche adapts to a new situation. The pandemic can definitely be considered a loss, at least of the familiar world. And denial is a powerful defense mechanism: coronavirus does not exist, which means that soon everything will be as before.
This is an attempt to postpone action
If you admit that a problem exists, this will entail the need for different solutions and actions. For example, it will become obvious that the economy is under threat. This means that it will be necessary to increase the financial safety net and find alternatives in case of job loss. All this is unpleasant and painful. It is much more convenient to pretend that nothing is happening.
This is mistrust
Trust ratings for the Russian authorities have increased amid the pandemic. Trust ratings for politicians, assessments of the work of the president and government, support for political parties. Nevertheless, many are suspicious of everything that comes from official sources. Coronavirus is no exception. Especially against the backdrop of an unclear status of self-isolation instead of quarantine and tracking the movements of citizens without a state of emergency.
This is an attempt to stand out against the background of others
While the whole world is going crazy, the dissident feels chosen. After all, he touched the mystery and figured out how things really are. All that remains is to wait for others to open their eyes and realize his greatness.
Why coronavirus dissidence is dangerous
Whatever a particular covidiot believes, one thing is important: he does not comply with the recommendations and restrictions that should stop the spread of the virus. The more such people there are, the more people become infected. As mentioned above, 20% of cases require hospitalization. But 20% of a thousand people and 100 thousand are very different numbers. As a result, the risks increase significantly that someone will not have enough ventilator support, and that a doctor simply will not have time to approach someone at a critical moment.
Ignoring requests and demands leads to the authorities tightening the screws. For example, yesterday 100 people went for a walk, and today no one can move further than 100 meters from home (this is an exaggerated statement - look for the rules of conduct for your city in the regional regulations).
It’s even worse when dissidence seeps into power. In March, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited coronavirus patients without protective equipment and suggested that his fellow citizens overcome herd immunity in order to obtain collective immunity. After some time, he became infected with coronavirus and ended up in intensive care. And after recovery, Boris Johnson’s Twitter account called on the British to observe self-isolation. If he hadn't been prime minister, it would have been just another story of dissidence. However, perhaps, if not for his position, quarantine in the UK would have been introduced earlier and the number of victims would have been lower.
Here is the time to remember where it all began - about HIV dissidents. Everything happens according to the same scheme for them, and the consequences can already be seen. If you turn a blind eye to a problem, it will end in death. In Tyumen, due to lack of treatment, HIV dissidents died and a two-year-old girl with AIDS was driven to death. Her parents didn't believe in HIV. In St. Petersburg, he died under similar circumstances. In St. Petersburg, HIV dissidents are being tried, whose daughter, a four-year-old child, died without treatment. These cases came to light because irresponsible parents were prosecuted. Unfortunately, there are no statistics on the mortality of HIV dissidents themselves, as well as data on the number of people they infected.
It is incorrect to compare SARS‑CoV‑2 with HIV: the viruses are too different. But there are very many HIV dissidents and covidiots. Both of them conduct experiments on the people around them, and the consequences can be sad.
Coronavirus. Number of infected:
69 382 813
in the world
2 569 126
in Russia View map
For believers and non-believers. Should you believe in God?
Should you believe in God?
Man by nature is an unbeliever. All children are atheists, because when we are born, we do not yet have time to assimilate the stereotypes and dogmas imposed on us in society. Not knowing about the tenets of the so-called “faith,” children do not know anything about God (gods) and, up to a certain point, the highest authority for them is their parents. And only then, from the parents and the general environment, the child develops certain ideas, be they atheistic or religious. One thing is undeniable: all children are initially atheists.
Who are the believers? Believers are those who recognize the existence of a higher, supernatural being or beings.
But what or who does God believe in, if we assume his existence at least as an unscientific hypothesis? Let's take the Christian god as the closest to us geographically.
The book of Genesis states that God created man in his own image. Hence, if he is a believer, it means that he created man as a believer. Jesus, his messenger, according to the Apostle Matthew, demands from us to be perfect, like the Lord God. This means that Christians should strive to be like their god in everything, try to reach his level. If he is a believer, it means that we should all be believers. But if he is an atheist, then we should all strive to become ideal atheists.
Let's assume that God exists and he is a believer. What should he believe? If we proceed from the concept of the omniscience of God, which is characteristic of absolutely all religions, then an omniscient being does not need to believe in anything, since he already knows everything. (Well, a chemist doesn’t believe in kerosene or water, or a mechanic believes in an internal combustion engine! No. Each of them KNOWS that kerosene, water and an internal combustion engine exist, knows what they consist of, knows about the methods of obtaining them, their properties and etc.). A believer considers God to be a supreme being and more. He also worships him (prays, makes bloody or bloodless sacrifices, asks for something, praises). Worship is an obligatory sign and element of behavior of any believer.
But what is higher than God that he could worship? Who should he pray to, especially if (in the monotheistic concept) he is generally alone and, naturally, as an omniscient being, knows about his loneliness? He has no need to worship anything or anyone, and his believers did not provide such an opportunity (in monotheism) to God! And if so, then:
A. God does not recognize any higher being above himself
b. God does not worship anyone, does not pray to anyone or anything
Conclusion: God is the purest, most unshakable, one hundred percent atheist!
Now let's return to the beginning of our argument. If God is an atheist who created man in his own image and likeness and everyone should strive to become as perfect as him (i.e. to know and not to believe), then no faith or religion is needed, faith and everyone should strive for knowledge, and not to faith, i.e. to the state of an ideal atheist.
Who needs us to believe in God? Churches. Why? Because this is a business built on ignorance.
