Topic: COVID19 - Political Bollocks & Conspiracy Twatishness In Here

[12C]

It is our 1st Amendment right to do this! And, as you know, the 1st Amendment means that no one, anywhere, may apply editorial control to the spaces they operate and control, that the Constitution was written by God, and the US Constitution applies to the whole world.

God wanted us to be free to use the internet because stone tablets could be broken.

[kesey]

Anyone else get a letter today about swab testing at home ? It's not compulsory , yet and you get a 50 quid voucher if you comply.

[CraigDS]

Anyone else get a letter today about swab testing at home ? It's not compulsory , yet and you get a 50 quid voucher if you comply.

Comply 

It wasn’t a demand. You said yourself it was optional.

Volunteer is the word you were looking for.

[Andy82lfc]

[djahern]

Anyone else get a letter today about swab testing at home ? It's not compulsory , yet and you get a 50 quid voucher if you comply.

Will likely be Imperial College or Oxford study, check the details.

They are sent to random households, they've been doing it for months. Expanded the numbers of households they're asking to take part recently I think.   

[Lee1-6Liv]

Anyone else get a letter today about swab testing at home ? It's not compulsory , yet and you get a 50 quid voucher if you comply.

Where are you going to spend your voucher?

[So… Howard Philips]

Where are you going to spend your voucher?

.

Send it to me. I'll do the test and spend the voucher.

[kesey]

Will likely be Imperial College or Oxford study, check the details.

They are sent to random households, they've been doing it for months. Expanded the numbers of households they're asking to take part recently I think.   

It is yes.

Where are you going to spend your voucher?

I'd accept 50 quids worth of bog roll mate being honest .

.

Send it to me. I'll do the test and spend the voucher.

I used it to wipe my arse with this morning.

[kesey]

Comply 

It wasn’t a demand. You said yourself it was optional.

Volunteer is the word you were looking for.

Maybe comply was the wrong word mate .

[kesey]

No. Actually comply is the correct word .

Compliance - The action or fact of agreeing to a wish or command .

Also , volunteers don't get 50 quid vouchers.

[ianburns252]

No. Actually comply is the correct word .

Compliance - The action or fact of agreeing to a wish or command .

Also , volunteers don't get 50 quid vouchers.

Not to split hairs but in the world of medical research (and marketing to be fair - presumably many others) the common parlance for those signing up to studies would be volunteer. If you do a focus group, or submit a swab for testing you have volunteered to do it as opposed to being obliged. It is also standard practice to get some sort of compensation (better seen as an enticement really) so yes - volunteers do often get vouchers.

[7777]

Fucking hell, Vallance trending on Twitter! £600k of shares in GSK

Just imagine that in any corporate environment where an award of a huge contract is to a company you just happen to have massive amount of shares in

The literal definition of conflict of interest

[CaseRed]

Fucking hell, Vallance trending on Twitter! £600k of shares in GSK

Just imagine that in any corporate environment where an award of a huge contract is to a company you just happen to have massive amount of shares in

The literal definition of conflict of interest

Came in for this and not disappointed!

This is a non story. He is a former GSK employee so I would be shocked if he didnt have shares in them.

Further there are 9 vaccine candidates in final stage trials with no guarantees for any of them to be approved for use outside of those trials.

There are many reasons to criticise Vallance but this is not one of them!

[So… Howard Philips]

Came in for this and not disappointed!

This is a non story. He is a former GSK employee so I would be shocked if he didnt have shares in them.

Further there are 9 vaccine candidates in final stage trials with no guarantees for any of them to be approved for use outside of those trials.

There are many reasons to criticise Vallance but this is not one of them!

Well he's rowed back on his initial herd immunity calls so that's one reason out if the way.

[kesey]

Not to split hairs but in the world of medical research (and marketing to be fair - presumably many others) the common parlance for those signing up to studies would be volunteer. If you do a focus group, or submit a swab for testing you have volunteered to do it as opposed to being obliged. It is also standard practice to get some sort of compensation (better seen as an enticement really) so yes - volunteers do often get vouchers.

Volunteers don't expect anything in return mate. A voucher is a payment.

Shall we both move on ? 

[kesey]

[SamAteTheRedAcid]

Ah, a Ben Garrison cartoon - the alt-right racist Trump head.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Garrison

[So… Howard Philips]

Ah, a Ben Garrison cartoon - the alt-right racist Trump head.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Garrison

I thought the style of the cartoon Kesey posted reminded me of something.

Now I've read Garrison's bio it came back to me.

Der Sturmer edited by Julius Streicher.

[classycarra]

I fail to see how being delivered a note from a landlord or being invited to take part in health research that aides your community warrant the jackboot comparison

[kesey]

Ah, a Ben Garrison cartoon - the alt-right racist Trump head.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Garrison

It doesn't really matter who drew it though . Being honest I'd never even heard of him.

[kesey]

I fail to see how being delivered a note from a landlord or being invited to take part in health research that aides your community warrant the jackboot comparison

I didn't mention the jackboots regarding the letter though , or at least I think I didn't . Also , it wasn't from my landlord.

[classycarra]

I didn't mention the jackboots regarding the letter though , or at least I think I didn't .

Well you did say the leaflet was trying to tell you where to go, what to do in your own home, felt the council exerted unexpected 'power', and that the health research effort was an attempt at getting you to comply.

But I'm genuinely pleased for you that you feel better about it all today, and don't have that same level of concern about some relatively routine occurrences.

Also , it wasn't from my landlord.

Sorry, leaseholder then or whatever the correct word is

[ianburns252]

Volunteers don't expect anything in return mate. A voucher is a payment.

Shall we both move on ?

Its not a big deal - just a mention on the terminology I've found to be commonly used.

No problem, no beef with it.

[G a r y]

Anyone else get a letter today about swab testing at home ? It's not compulsory , yet and you get a 50 quid voucher if you comply.

Yep, we got one from the ONS. Worth over £2k for our household over the entire year. I've seen where you can spend the vouchers, they are as good as money.

[kesey]

they are as good as money.

There goes the volunteer theory then.

[LiamG]

Brilliant from south park
https://twitter.com/Zigmanfreud/status/1311529688590741506

[Garrus]

Brilliant from south park
https://twitter.com/Zigmanfreud/status/1311529688590741506

They were poking fun at the trigger happy police who used COVID as cover to shoot up a black kid. This isn't targeted at you specifically but the conservative you've quoted thinking it's really a dig at COVID precautions is funny.

[7777]

Yep, we got one from the ONS. Worth over £2k for our household over the entire year. I've seen where you can spend the vouchers, they are as good as money.

So at a time when the country is on its absolute arse, the Government are potentially paying households to provide tests over the next year?

To what end?

At a time when they’re looking to shut down regions on a tiered model of X cases per 100k?

Yeah, no ta

[G a r y]

So at a time when the country is on its absolute arse, the Government are potentially paying households to provide tests over the next year?

To what end?

At a time when they’re looking to shut down regions on a tiered model of X cases per 100k?

Yeah, no ta

I suppose they can track the spread of the infection if they are testing people regularly and i'd imagine it is a way to test new methods of testing too? You never know with this lot in charge and i'm no scientist but surely there is some meaning behind the study other than throwing money at people.

[7777]

I suppose they can track the spread of the infection if they are testing people regularly and i'd imagine it is a way to test new methods of testing too? You never know with this lot in charge and i'm no scientist but surely there is some meaning behind the study other than throwing money at people.

On the basis of not knowing the answers to any of that - it'd be a nah from me

I'd like to be able to trust motives at the moment but I've definitely joined the sceptical camp, not about the virus obviously but about these further restrictions, threat modelling, dodgy fucking graphs, Northern lockdowns, lockdown by case numbers alone, PCR efficacy, etc...there was finally an MP who stood up yesterday and said they're disproportionate affecting viable jobs, mental health

I would hope the distribution of these tests is fair across the country and not cynically mostly in the north given there is likely to be a tiered model for locking us down per X number of positive cases.

[classycarra]

On the basis of not knowing the answers to any of that - it'd be a nah from me

I'd like to be able to trust motives at the moment but I've definitely joined the sceptical camp, not about the virus obviously but about these further restrictions, threat modelling, dodgy fucking graphs, Northern lockdowns, lockdown by case numbers alone, PCR efficacy, etc...there was finally an MP who stood up yesterday and said they're disproportionate affecting viable jobs, mental health

I would hope the distribution of these tests is fair across the country and not cynically mostly in the north given there is likely to be a tiered model for locking us down per X number of positive cases.

They're conducting research to try to get representive estimates of the current number of people infected.

Here you go, methods are all written up here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/methodologies/covid19infectionsurveypilotmethodsandfurtherinformation

And information for volunteers on the survey here:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/surveys/informationforhouseholdsandindividuals/householdandindividualsurveys/covid19infectionsurveycis

Why do you think they'd be trying to find a way to use their research to get 'the north' shut down? Who wants that, and what would they gain? Not sure what's wrong with government bodies distributing modest vouchers or donations to charity either? If you think the countries on its arse, surely thats a positive (on a small scale)

Definitely recommend slowing things down a little and keeping off the news/twitter if you are feeling prone to ideas like that.

[G a r y]

End of the day, I get tested regularly to see if I have coronavirus whilst getting paid for it. What's not to like?

[djahern]

So at a time when the country is on its absolute arse, the Government are potentially paying households to provide tests over the next year?

To what end?

At a time when they’re looking to shut down regions on a tiered model of X cases per 100k?

Yeah, no ta

You do realise these longitudinal surveys are capable of answering all the questions and scepticism you spoke of earlier in the other thread with regard to tests? They can basically answer all the things you have issues with but don't agree with them because of those of issues?

The infections surveys are one of the very few things this country has done right.

[7777]

You do realise these longitudinal surveys are capable of answering all the questions and scepticism you spoke of earlier in the other thread with regard to tests? They can basically answer all the things you have issues with but don't agree with them because of those of issues?

The infections surveys are one of the very few things this country has done right.

I do yes

I've explained my issue with more testing based on our current methodology for determining a positive cases and locking down regions based on that number - my only issue.

Well that and Vallances chart 

If my scepticism is unncessary, I'm sure it'll become clear at the end of this 6 months we're about to go through and you can all say I told you so

In the meantime, 200+ businesses have had to close in Liverpool, 9000 children self isolating, 500 teachers self isolating. Whole sectors decimated, all based on case numbers.

Proportionate

[classycarra]

9000 children self isolating, 500 teachers self isolating. Whole sectors decimated, all based on case numbers.

Proportionate

Very Opta

Can you tell me what you're sceptical about in terms of those self isolating? You are sceptical that its worth those that have been in contact with the virus try not to infect others before they find out if they have the infection themselves?

You talk about whole sectors being decimated based on case numbers. I think you are blaming numbers for a pandemic there, not sure your point.

Would recommend you read up on the economic costs of citizens dying if you think that the economy is as simple as fewer businesses closing is preferable to fewer deaths.

[kesey]

End of the day, I get tested regularly to see if I have coronavirus whilst getting paid for it. What's not to like?

Hook , line and sinker .

On the basis of not knowing the answers to any of that - it'd be a nah from me

I'd like to be able to trust motives at the moment but I've definitely joined the sceptical camp, not about the virus obviously but about these further restrictions, threat modelling, dodgy fucking graphs, Northern lockdowns, lockdown by case numbers alone, PCR efficacy, etc...there was finally an MP who stood up yesterday and said they're disproportionate affecting viable jobs, mental health

I would hope the distribution of these tests is fair across the country and not cynically mostly in the north given there is likely to be a tiered model for locking us down per X number of positive cases.

I'll spell it for you and everyone else. This won't be over until they get what they want . It's that simple.

[LiamG]

Best put this in here as it would probably get moved from the other thread anyway

but this guy makes a lot of sense and backs it up
https://twitter.com/FatEmperor/status/1312014606240489472?s=20

[classycarra]

Best put this in here as it would probably get moved from the other thread anyway

but this guy makes a lot of sense and backs it up
https://twitter.com/FatEmperor/status/1312014606240489472?s=20

Wonderful, more right wing propoganda being spread from that numpty

[kesey]

Best put this in here as it would probably get moved from the other thread anyway

but this guy makes a lot of sense and backs it up
https://twitter.com/FatEmperor/status/1312014606240489472?s=20

Someone will most probably try to discredit him on here though.  Owes parking fines , got collared with a spliff as a teen etc.

[CraigDS]

Wonderful, more right wing propoganda being spread by RAWKites from that numpty

It’s almost like some members are so blinded by their pre conceived ideas that they don’t bother to even check the source of the information they are promoting in their attempt to support this.