Comments on: Dead birds make good neighbors http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/17/dead-birds-make-good-neighbors/ The blog of the mystery writer, screenwriter and CEO of Pajamas Media Wed, 15 Feb 2012 23:37:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: AlanC http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/17/dead-birds-make-good-neighbors/#comment-75901 AlanC Sun, 19 Mar 2006 21:37:51 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/17/dead-birds-make-good-neighbors/#comment-75901 Gary, I can't agree with you. This smacks of the "if it saves one life" type of reasoning. Any activity has a down side of some type if only lost opportunity to do something else with the time and money. The biggest downside here IMHO is that this is just one more boy crying wolf. Why will anyone pay attention to the doom sayers in the future after the incessant drum beat of hyperbole at best when it comes to health issues? Be it Swine flu, Sars, Alar, Butter, cell-phone induced brain tumors or Eggs we have been bombarded by panic mongers and scare tactics to the point that no one listens. You're problem is that you see spreading panic to be cautious. Is it really? Gary, I can’t agree with you. This smacks of the “if it saves one life” type of reasoning. Any activity has a down side of some type if only lost opportunity to do something else with the time and money.

The biggest downside here IMHO is that this is just one more boy crying wolf. Why will anyone pay attention to the doom sayers in the future after the incessant drum beat of hyperbole at best when it comes to health issues?

Be it Swine flu, Sars, Alar, Butter, cell-phone induced brain tumors or Eggs we have been bombarded by panic mongers and scare tactics to the point that no one listens.

You’re problem is that you see spreading panic to be cautious. Is it really?

]]> By: Gary Rosen http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/17/dead-birds-make-good-neighbors/#comment-75900 Gary Rosen Sun, 19 Mar 2006 19:19:25 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/17/dead-birds-make-good-neighbors/#comment-75900 While I certainly agree with Henry's comment about the "24-hour news cycle", I think there is something to be said for the idea that if there is even a small chance the bird flu could become widespread it is better to err on the side of caution (partly by giving it all this publicity). While I certainly agree with Henry’s comment about the “24-hour news cycle”, I think there is something to be said for the idea that if there is even a small chance the bird flu could become widespread it is better to err on the side of caution (partly by giving it all this publicity).

]]> By: Henry Bowman http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/17/dead-birds-make-good-neighbors/#comment-75899 Henry Bowman Sun, 19 Mar 2006 13:28:09 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/17/dead-birds-make-good-neighbors/#comment-75899 A couple of comments. First, the Israelis are sometimes quite remarkable for what they put up with. An example is the near-constant digging of tunnels from Gaza into Israel. There are a variety of reasons for digging such tunnels, which are exceptionally difficult to detect, but a frequent reason is to smuggle munitions and personnel into Israel. At least twice in the past year or so, the folks digging the tunnels have severed sewage lines. At this point they contact the Israels for assistance, and, amazingly, the Israels thus far have always rescued them! I assume, of course, that after rescuing these people, they arrest them. The second comment is on the bird flu scare. We all recall the world-wide SARS epidemic that, two or three years ago, was to kill millions of people, right? The bird flu scare seems the same: it is possible that it could turn into a very serious killer, but I really doubt it, and the world-wide scare tells us more about the 24-hr news cycle than anything else. A couple of comments. First, the Israelis are sometimes quite remarkable for what they put up with. An example is the near-constant digging of tunnels from Gaza into Israel. There are a variety of reasons for digging such tunnels, which are exceptionally difficult to detect, but a frequent reason is to smuggle munitions and personnel into Israel. At least twice in the past year or so, the folks digging the tunnels have severed sewage lines. At this point they contact the Israels for assistance, and, amazingly, the Israels thus far have always rescued them! I assume, of course, that after rescuing these people, they arrest them.

The second comment is on the bird flu scare. We all recall the world-wide SARS epidemic that, two or three years ago, was to kill millions of people, right? The bird flu scare seems the same: it is possible that it could turn into a very serious killer, but I really doubt it, and the world-wide scare tells us more about the 24-hr news cycle than anything else.

]]> By: maria horvath http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/17/dead-birds-make-good-neighbors/#comment-75898 maria horvath Sat, 18 Mar 2006 22:21:18 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/17/dead-birds-make-good-neighbors/#comment-75898 AlanC: "Why is THIS flu scare so much more real than the Swine flu scare of a few years ago?" Because George Bush is president, of course. AlanC:

“Why is THIS flu scare so much more real than the Swine flu scare of a few years ago?”

Because George Bush is president, of course.

]]> By: Jamie Irons http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/17/dead-birds-make-good-neighbors/#comment-75897 Jamie Irons Sat, 18 Mar 2006 19:16:09 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/17/dead-birds-make-good-neighbors/#comment-75897 AlanC, Excellent question. Jamie Irons AlanC,

Excellent question.

Jamie Irons

]]> By: AlanC http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/17/dead-birds-make-good-neighbors/#comment-75896 AlanC Sat, 18 Mar 2006 15:38:54 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/17/dead-birds-make-good-neighbors/#comment-75896 Hi all you knowledgeable folks. I've asked the following question on a number of occasions and never gotten an answer. I'm being completely serious here. Why is THIS flu scare so much more real than the Swine flu scare of a few years ago? I remember the same kind of "We're all gonna die!" panic and then perhaps the biggest anti-climax in epidemological history. We certainly haven't gotten rid of all the folks that make their living off pseudo-scientific scare mongering whether it's global warming/climate change, second hand smoke, Alar, butter or what have you, there are plenty of false panics. Why is this one real? Hi all you knowledgeable folks.

I’ve asked the following question on a number of occasions and never gotten an answer. I’m being completely serious here.

Why is THIS flu scare so much more real than the Swine flu scare of a few years ago?

I remember the same kind of “We’re all gonna die!” panic and then perhaps the biggest anti-climax in epidemological history.

We certainly haven’t gotten rid of all the folks that make their living off pseudo-scientific scare mongering whether it’s global warming/climate change, second hand smoke, Alar, butter or what have you, there are plenty of false panics.

Why is this one real?

]]> By: Jamie Irons http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/17/dead-birds-make-good-neighbors/#comment-75895 Jamie Irons Sat, 18 Mar 2006 15:03:27 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/17/dead-birds-make-good-neighbors/#comment-75895 Roger, Just as a follow-up to my comment above. It's obvious that of the nearly one thousand bird species known to fly around the US and Canada, not all of them are going to be likely to participate in speading this illness. I have spent my life since the age of eight learning to identify birds as a hobby; now, I'm no David Sibley, but I'm pretty good. There are many thousands of people of all ages, genders and gender identities, ethnic backgrounds and religions at my level. <b>Such people could volunteer as "profilers."</b> Of course, there will be howls of protest from the usual suspects: The Audubon Society, the SPCA, CAAR (Council on American Avian Relations). Jamie Irons Roger,

Just as a follow-up to my comment above.

It’s obvious that of the nearly one thousand bird species known to fly around the US and Canada, not all of them are going to be likely to participate in speading this illness.

I have spent my life since the age of eight learning to identify birds as a hobby; now, I’m no David Sibley, but I’m pretty good. There are many thousands of people of all ages, genders and gender identities, ethnic backgrounds and religions at my level.

Such people could volunteer as “profilers.”

Of course, there will be howls of protest from the usual suspects: The Audubon Society, the SPCA, CAAR (Council on American Avian Relations).

Jamie Irons

]]> By: Jamie Irons http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/17/dead-birds-make-good-neighbors/#comment-75894 Jamie Irons Sat, 18 Mar 2006 14:47:54 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/17/dead-birds-make-good-neighbors/#comment-75894 Roger, Certainly, the best remark on bird flu that anyone has recently uttered has to be James Lileks' on March 15: <blockquote>[You should] study the scenarios, lay in supplies, then get on with your life. <b>If we panic, the birds have won!</b></blockquote> ;-) Jamie Irons Roger,

Certainly, the best remark on bird flu that anyone has recently uttered has to be James Lileks’ on March 15:

[You should] study the scenarios, lay in supplies, then get on with your life. If we panic, the birds have won!

;-)

Jamie Irons

]]> By: rocketsbrain http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/17/dead-birds-make-good-neighbors/#comment-75893 rocketsbrain Sat, 18 Mar 2006 04:09:36 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/17/dead-birds-make-good-neighbors/#comment-75893 The avian flu could be a real problem. For up to the minute info on what the med/sci community is thinking check out: <a href="http://www.fluwikie.com" rel="nofollow">www.fluwikie.com</a> RBT The avian flu could be a real problem.

For up to the minute info on what the med/sci community is thinking check out:

http://www.fluwikie.com

RBT

]]> By: Soldier's Dad http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/17/dead-birds-make-good-neighbors/#comment-75892 Soldier's Dad Sat, 18 Mar 2006 02:26:20 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/03/17/dead-birds-make-good-neighbors/#comment-75892 Bonding experiences are bonding experiences. Personaly, I would prefer a live,wholesome, blond, blue eyed stripper to share. But if the Palestinians and Israeli's prefer a dead diseased bird..who am I to judge. Bonding experiences are bonding experiences.
Personaly, I would prefer a live,wholesome, blond, blue eyed stripper to share. But if the Palestinians and Israeli’s prefer a dead diseased bird..who am I to judge.

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