Coronavirus (COVID-19)

[Guest JTS98]

22 minutes ago, bendan said:

Apart from advising students not to go to Australia because of alleged racist incidents, what other 'anti Australian' rhetoric has there been in the last few days?

First China told its citizens not to travel to Australia. Then when the Australians objected, the Chinese foreign ministry went back for more and spoke of  'many' Chinese people being 'hurt or even injured' in Australia due to the covid. They provided no evidence of this.

It's certainly striking for a government to tell its citizens not to visit a country that they typically holiday, study, and live in in large numbers.

I think that counts as striking. Especially on the back of the tariffs they imposed on Australian imports to China last month.

China seems to be going out of its way to have very few allies. This doesn't seem a sensible idea unless you consider that there may be trouble at home. There's no other reason to behave like this. It's for a domestic audience.

[sjc]

Just now, Scotty Tunbridge said:

That there is no money left for a second furlough.

 

Will the Government go down the lockdown route again or will they try the Swedish/Japanese approach instead?

[mizfit]

Will the Government go down the lockdown route again or will they try the Swedish/Japanese approach instead?

This is the conservatives. They’ll probably try and shoot the poor.

[welshbairn]

Just now, sjc said:

Will the Government go down the lockdown route again or will they try the Swedish/Japanese approach instead?

I think they'll go more targeted to protect the vulnerable but keep the economy going.

[sjc]

1 minute ago, welshbairn said:

That in the most part people do what they're told, and it is possible to control the infection rate. And any delay in implementation can be very costly.

That depends upon which approach/figures you believe, surely? 

[welshbairn]

Just now, sjc said:

That depends upon which approach/figures you believe, surely? 

Not really, it's just looking at what the most successful countries did.

[sjc]

Just now, welshbairn said:

I think they'll go more targeted to protect the vulnerable but keep the economy going.

Again, you talk of vulnerable, yet Japan has the oldest, most densely populated Cities in the World and has had no spike in deaths.

[bendan]

2 minutes ago, JTS98 said:

First China told its citizens not to travel to Australia. Then when the Australians objected, the Chinese foreign ministry went back for more and spoke of  'many' Chinese people being 'hurt or even injured' in Australia due to the covid. They provided no evidence of this.

It's certainly striking for a government to tell its citizens not to visit a country that they typically holiday, study, and live in in large numbers.

I think that counts as striking. Especially on the back of the tariffs they imposed on Australian imports to China last month.

China seems to be going out of its way to have very few allies. This doesn't seem a sensible idea unless you consider that there may be trouble at home. There's no other reason to behave like this. It's for a domestic audience.

I'd describe it as the typical tit for tat shite China engages in (whether they started it or not in this case depends on your view). Calling it striking anti Australian rhetoric is a huge  exaggeration. Does Australia even allow Chinese in at the moment?

[sjc]

1 minute ago, welshbairn said:

Not really, it's just looking at what the most successful countries did.

Japan did next to nothing! The UK/US/Italian figures makes no sense by comparison.

[welshbairn]

8 minutes ago, sjc said:

Again, you talk of vulnerable, yet Japan has the oldest, most densely populated Cities in the World and has had no spike in deaths.

There are all sorts of variables in the Far East that make comparisons with the UK not very useful, habitual use of face masks for one. Makes more sense to compare the UK with similar European countries. Do you think if we had copied Japan we would have had more or fewer than 40 thousand deaths?

Edited June 9, 2020 by welshbairn

[sjc]

Just now, welshbairn said:

There are all sorts of variables in the Far East that make comparisons with the UK not very useful, habitual use of face masks for one. Makes more sense to compare the UK with similar European countries.

Granted but we have had cases of coronavirus in Tokyo and Osaka, which, given Japan's age demographic and these Cities densities, you'd expect a spike in deaths. 

Masks only tend to be worn by those that are sick (which is what they're designed for). I'm deemed at high risk yet I'll only wear a mask indoors when in close proximity to other people (not at home obviously)

[Distant Doonhamer]

I would love to know what Boris thinks of himself, does he lack the self awareness to think everyone thinks he's doing a good job and he doesn't need to appear more than once a fortnight at the max or does he really not care. The First Minister has been doing a briefing 6 days a week for as long as this has been going on, I can see how some of the decisions can be criticized but in terms of being open and transparent she is doing well. Also pisses me off that the UK briefing has never had a Northern Irish publication asking questions as far as I know and almost never has regional news asking questions.

Boris is a psychopath. See definition below.

Psychopathy is traditionally a personality disorder characterized by persistent antisocial behavior, impaired empathy and remorse, and bold, disinhibited, and egotistical traits. It is sometimes considered synonymous with sociopathy.

[vikingTON]

22 minutes ago, JTS98 said:

China seems to be going out of its way to have very few allies.

Erm yes, I'm sure that the PLA is shitting itself at the prospect of having to confront *checks notes* Malaysia or fucking Laos without having other allies in the region to back them up right now. The reason why China is throwing its weight around in the region is because they reckon that the Dayglo clown in the White House has got enough on his plate to deal with to stop them, it's a blatantly obvious power play.

Edited June 9, 2020 by vikingTON

[Guest JTS98]

19 minutes ago, bendan said:

I'd describe it as the typical tit for tat shite China engages in (whether they started it or not in this case depends on your view). Calling it striking anti Australian rhetoric is a huge  exaggeration. Does Australia even allow Chinese in at the moment?

I think you're playing with words here.

I think one country telling its citizens that they should not visit a country them commonly visit because they'll likely be victim of a racist attack is striking rhetoric. If you don't, that's up to you.

Certainly, if you add to everything else China is involved with just now, we've got a bizarre pattern of behaviour. They're picking a lot of fights. 'Don't look over here, everybody, look over here'.

[The Moonster]

3 minutes ago, Distant Doonhamer said:

Boris is a psychopath. See definition below.

Psychopathy is traditionally a personality disorder characterized by persistent antisocial behavior, impaired empathy and remorse, and bold, disinhibited, and egotistical traits. It is sometimes considered synonymous with sociopathy.

I actually done this with my mate the other day - here is the Psychopath test:

•  glib and superficial charm
•  grandiose (exaggeratedly high) estimation of self
•  need for stimulation
•  pathological lying
•  cunning and manipulativeness
•  lack of remorse or guilt
•  shallow affect (superficial emotional responsiveness)
•  callousness and lack of empathy
•  parasitic lifestyle
•  poor behavioral controls
•  sexual promiscuity
•  early behavior problems
•  lack of realistic long-term goals
•  impulsivity
•  irresponsibility
•  failure to accept responsibility for own actions
•  many short-term marital relationships
•  juvenile delinquency
•  revocation of conditional release
•  criminal versatility

Scoring system is 0, 1 or 2 points based on how severe each item is for that person. Anyone scoring over 30 would be considered for psychopathic treatment. I don't know about you but when I go through that list and apply each one to Johnson I find myself nodding and saying "yip" to just about all of them.

[Guest JTS98]

10 minutes ago, virginton said:

Erm yes, I'm sure that the PLA is shitting itself at the prospect of having to confront *checks notes* Malaysia or fucking Laos without having other allies in the region to back them up right now. The reason why China is throwing its weight around in the region is because they reckon that the Dayglo clown in the White House has got enough on his plate to deal with to stop them, it's a blatantly obvious power play.

Ill-informed once more. Just a couple of weeks ago our American keepers sent a couple of boats to ward the Chinese off. They've been telt.

They're not seriously going to attack anybody. Everyone knows that. That's precisely the point. They're just doing this for news at home.

I enjoy your staggeringly out of touch views on Asian geopolitics and culture. Keep them coming.

 

[Donathan]

7 new deaths in Scotland. How does that compare to previous Tuesdays?

[Todd_is_God]

Today's figures continue an encouraging trend.

+14 infections brings the 7 day average to 26, and with 82 last wednesday and thursday combined this could drop considerably by the end of the week.

+7 deaths, whilst obviously shite for those impacted, is encouraging due to this being the first day after the weekend lag. 7 day average here is now 6.7

I read a stat last night that 7 day average ICU admissions were less than 1 by the week ending 31st May. This will be updated tomorrow for the week ending 7th June but it is a good indicator of the severity of the Covid cases that have been coming in to our hospitals.

Edited June 9, 2020 by Todd_is_God

[Distant Doonhamer]

I actually done this with my mate the other day - here is the Psychopath test:
•  glib and superficial charm
•  grandiose (exaggeratedly high) estimation of self
•  need for stimulation
•  pathological lying
•  cunning and manipulativeness
•  lack of remorse or guilt
•  shallow affect (superficial emotional responsiveness)
•  callousness and lack of empathy
•  parasitic lifestyle
•  poor behavioral controls
•  sexual promiscuity
•  early behavior problems
•  lack of realistic long-term goals
•  impulsivity
•  irresponsibility
•  failure to accept responsibility for own actions
•  many short-term marital relationships
•  juvenile delinquency
•  revocation of conditional release
•  criminal versatility
Scoring system is 0, 1 or 2 points based on how severe each item is for that person. Anyone scoring over 30 would be considered for psychopathic treatment. I don't know about you but when I go through that list and apply each one to Johnson I find myself nodding and saying "yip" to just about all of them.

Agreed.

[Todd_is_God]

2 minutes ago, Donathan said:

7 new deaths in Scotland. How does that compare to previous Tuesdays?

12, 18, 29 & 50 were the last 4