Are The Scientists Right?

[diddlydo]

For all those on here who live by what the scientists say and support Boris at the same time, what do you make of this?

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/30/boris-johnson-contradicts-expert-advice-to-cancel-christmas-socialising

[diddlydo]

Oh so the people who accuse me of being irresponsible about masks are now saying that they'll go ahead with their Christmas plans whatever Boris may or may not dictate. Talk about hypocrisy and double standards.

[New Judge]

//Jenny Harries asks us not to do "unnecessary socialising"…//

I wonder what “socialising” is actually necessary.

//Oh so the people who accuse me of being irresponsible about masks are now saying that they'll go ahead with their Christmas plans whatever Boris may or may not dictate.//

They will be quite happy for you to do that so long as you wear your mask, diddly. It’s a vital tool, don’t ya know.

[Untitled]

I’m not “happy” for deskdiary to break the rules but I understand that spending your f-i-l’s last christmas with him is more important… (assuming he’s not a minister or something!) bit different from someone who won’t wear a mask because they deny the science and don’t feel like it…

[Deskdiary]

I assumed diddlydo wasn’t aiming her comment at me, because I’ve never pulled her up, or anybody else, over not wearing masks. I’ve only ever worn a mask where it’s been mandated. As soon as we were told we didn’t have to wear one in shops, I whipped mine off quicker than a chav whips off her drawers.

[david small]

Are the scientists right? In a word NO. They are abandoning true science for conjecture, statistics, and opinion. If you metaphorically put your head above the parapet, it will become a target for the hypocritical, the fearful, and the "expert" opinionated. Sometimes reminds me of the Salem Witch Trials.

[tomus42]

When scientists are asked to provide conjecture, statistics, and opinion, that's what they do David, and it's based on scientific knowledge.

Just because you don't like what they say it doesn't make them wrong.

[Peter Pedant]

If it is Boris the bonka or the Prof to choose from
I know which one I would choose....

unless it is about gurlz of course Boris is like Stan on that one

[Canary42]

Yes, go for it, let's have another post-Xmas spike like we did last year. All so that Boris can once again be seen as Mr Nice instead of Mr Sensible.

[Peter Pedant]

// Sometimes reminds me of the Salem Witch Trials.//

science wasnt called on - in the witch trials
and within ten years a judge on being told that evidence would be adduced that the accused in another witchcraft case flew on a broomstick said
" There is no law against flying"

ALTHO I agree that the girls who screamed - other villages asked if they could borrow them to search out their own witches....

[MrsCheese]

scientists seem to change their mind frequently so I now don't put so much faith in them, hilary jones (a gp) said not long ago that masks were not only useless but potentially dangerous, now he says the opposite. Chris whitty has said similar. plus the stupidity of needing a mask in Tesco but the virus leaving me alone at wetherspoons is bizarre.

[Zacs-Master]

'needing a mask in Tesco but the virus leaving me alone at wetherspoons is bizarre.'

It's not at all bizarre. It's about limiting risk, sensibly. A premises where people eat and drink isn't conducive to mask wearing.

[Mozz71]

OP-//For all those on here who live by what the scientists say and support Boris at the same time, what do you make of this?//

Well, lucky for me that I believe what the scientists say and couldn't give a monkeys what Boris waffles.

[MrsCheese]

You have seen the adverts Zacs, the virus is airborne, pouring out of people's mouths when they are speaking, mask up to shop in tesco but in the tesco cafe a few yards from the checkout no masks bizarre...

[david small]

Tomus42. I would say they are wrong. They conflict upon research. Research that is slanted, biased, and downright contradictory. They don’t know, so they add conjecture as a theory. That is not scientifically valid. They are the pop stars of the laboratory, they think, therefore it is.

[Mozz71]

Mrs Cheese - How do you expect people to eat wearing a mask. The only other option is to close the restaurant down.

[Zacs-Master]

Again, it's about minimising risk. You cant eat or drink with a mask on. You may argue that it's daft for supermarkets to have cafes open but that's a (largely) separate argument.

[MrsCheese]

Mozz if the virus is dangerous enough for the government to insist on boosters for all and discouraging social mixing then are they really safe?

[Zacs-Master]

Jesus, this is hard. They have been proven to be effective:
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02801-8
https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-what-does-the-science-actually-say-about-face-masks-12349337
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/science-briefs/masking-science-sars-cov2.html

(i'm hoping 3 articles is enough).

[Mozz71]

Probably not, but I'm not an expert. If you're worried, just don't go. I can't be bothered to worry about other people are doing.

[diddlydo]

Apparently a number of supermarkets including Tesco, Lidl, Aldi and the Co-op have said they won't challenge non mask-wearers. I might have to change where I normally shop until this mask nonsense is over.