Seriously?

So I've looked at various news sites today to try to come up with an idea for a blog entry.  You can probably guess what the biggest hot topic was.  Yep, swine flu. Covered from every angle from how it's going to be the end of life as we know it to how the WHO wants to change the name.   Apparently 'swine flu' isn't PC enough for some.  I'm not sure if it's pigs or people that are upset.  I did come by one very helpful site for anyone who's worried that they might have it.  http://doihavepigflu.com/.  If you're old enough to read this, you've probably had the flu and know what it's like.  Against apparently popular belief, while this strain seems to spread quicker than most, there's no actual hard data yet to suggest that it's any harder to get over or more deadly.  If you want a real shock, do a google search on the mortality rate of influenza (I did).  You'll be amazed to find out just how many die from it every year (I was).  This isn't to say that it can't kill you.  Pretty much any strain of the flu can under the right circumstances.  But the media craze over it just that.  It's the big celebrity of the moment catching it's 15 minutes of fame. 

Obviously any infectious illness can be a problem.  But what's all of the hubbub really about?  I stopped to think about this.  The world is not in great shape right now.  And what has often been something that has brought people together?  A common enemy.  It all makes sense.  What better common enemy than the flu?  Does anyone actually like it?   There are probably some that do, but they're probably outnumbered by a ratio of at least 1000000:1.  I had read a while back that the science fiction and fantasy media markets have always done far better when things weren't going well.  Wars, recessions, illnesses...these have all lead to golden ages in those genres.  It gave people something else to think about.  Something to focus on.  I've since realized that this is the same and it's why the media flocks to it.  Lost your job?  Can't worry about that right now, have to battle the swine flu!  Economy collapsing?  How can money matter when the swine flu is coming!  Stuck in a war that can't be won?  We can work together to beat the swine flu! 

It all ends up fitting together in a nice little package.  Too bad we're still reliant on fear and mass hysteria to shovel our problems under the rug rather than actually solving them. 

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Posted by Ryan Yetter on April 30, 2009 at 04:51 pm EST

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