of Bread and Circuses

I dunno...

I know the economy is bad... but the Canadian economy wasn’t nearly as bad as some other countries who got hit.

However, the media really worked the story... all the gloom and doom news, all the time.

Media: Economy is bad. Businesses are closing! You’re all going to lose your jobs.

Public: ZOMG the economy is bad! We’re going to lose our jobs! *rein in spending*

Media: OK now the economy is in serious trouble people have stopped spending... * throw in dire financial stats and make direct references to soup lines and dust bowls of the Great Depression* you’re all going to lose your jobs and die penniless sleeping in your car

Public: ZOMG the economy is in serious trouble... we’re all going to die *stop spending entirely*

It made me mad that the media really “enjoyed” the story and whipped up a “self-fulfilling” gloom and doom mentality in the public.

There is a difference between 'reporting a story' and 'reporting a story with lurid glee'.

Same thing is happening with the Swine Flu... oh pardon me - the H1N1 flu.

The media has latched onto it with frightening ferocity ... anything to get our minds off the economy.

Now we’re not worried about dying penniless in the streets... we’re actually worried about actually dying.

The swine flu is a serious health threat – no question!

The WHO is increasing the pandemic alert levels alarmingly fast, and that is news, however, I do NOT feel that an hourly update about suspected cases is helpful. People are beginning to panic.

Pandemic alert levels are more “heads ups” to public health agencies, and governments around when to implement their pandemic plans and the mobilization of resources... and not public indicators of how soon we’re all gonna die.

I’m not saying there is no cause for concern – there most definitely is cause...

· Keep in mind that the last global pandemic (Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918) killed between 50 million to 100 million people worldwide – more than did the Black Death.

· And that flu epidemic came in two waves... the original mild form that quickly mutated into a much more virulent, fatal version within weeks....

There is cause for concern and precautions but there are no causes for panic ... However, if you feel you need to panic, please panic constructively.

There is a difference between panic, being cautious, and stupidity; Stupid should be painful.

A radio reporter pointed out to a guy at the airport on his way to Mexico that there was a travel advisory and that WHO and the Government were recommending only emergency travel to Mexico... “Who cares” he said “This is an emergency – I need a vacation”.

Ethical dilemma: Do you have to treat someone that arrogant and cavalier about his own health and the health of those around him?

Thoughts? what's it like where you are?