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70
Increases in vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks threaten years of progress
"The landscape of vaccination has evolved" is your way of putting it. Fine, I respect that. I see that I received approximately 10 vaccine doses between the age of 0 and 18, and that this number has now risen to 70 as per CDC guidelines. No need to put a spin on it, that's the reality. And the inconvenient fact is that people nowadays are not healthier than the previous couple of generations, quite the contrary. Those who start threads and routinely complain about "the rise of distrust in science" should take a step back, acknowledge these figures and understand that a significant number of people are simply not okay with this. -
27
Crime Brit Caught with Cocaine Stash While Overstaying Visa on Samui
Been answered before enough times in other threads - I really should have that answer saved to keep for you when you repeat the same question across threads... The involvement of British nationals in wrongdoing in Thailand is not necessarily disproportionately high compared to other nationalities. While British nationals are often highlighted in media stories about negative behavior, this is largely a perception driven by factors like the volume of British tourists, media coverage, and social media amplification, rather than an actual overrepresentation of Brits behaving poorly. The reasons a varied - but here's a go a them... Higher Number of British Tourists: The UK is one of the largest sources of international tourists to Thailand, so there are simply more British nationals in the country. Statistically, if more Brits are visiting, the number of incidents involving them will naturally be higher, even if the rate of wrongdoing isn’t disproportionately higher compared to other nationalities. Selective Media Coverage: British media tends to focus more on their nationals abroad, especially when the incidents are controversial or sensational. This creates a skewed perception, making it seem like British tourists are more involved in wrongdoing than others. Media outlets often highlight the "bad behavior" of British nationals, feeding into the stereotype, even though tourists from other countries may be involved in similar incidents that just don't get the same media attention. Social Media Dynamics: British tourists are very active on social media, and when incidents occur, they often share them online. This increases the visibility of the situation, contributing to a greater perception that Brits are more involved in wrongdoing. Other nationalities may not post or share their experiences as widely, leading to an underrepresentation of negative incidents involving them. Cultural and Behavioral Factors: While British tourists may sometimes engage in behaviors that are considered out of place in Thailand (like drinking excessively or disrespecting local customs), these behaviors are not necessarily worse or more frequent than those of tourists from other countries. However, British nationals, especially those engaged in party scenes, may sometimes draw more attention for their behavior due to cultural expectations or stereotypes. Volume vs. Proportion: Because of the sheer number of British tourists in Thailand, their involvement in incidents might seem disproportionately high. However, in reality, this is likely just a statistical artifact—with more Brits in Thailand, the number of incidents involving them will naturally be higher, but this doesn’t mean they’re behaving inappropriately at a rate higher than other nationalities. Other Nationalities and Arrests: In contrast, tourists from other countries, such as Russians and Chinese, may be arrested more frequently in Thailand for various reasons (such as involvement in illegal activities or visa violations). However, these incidents often don't get as much coverage in social media. This lack of visibility can be attributed to a British-centric media focus—where stories involving British nationals tend to dominate, especially when those stories are sensational or controversial. As a result, while tourists from other countries may actually be involved in more serious or more frequent legal trouble, these stories don’t get the same media attention, contributing to the perception that Brits are more prone to misbehaving. Media Imitation and Amplification: When one high-profile incident involving a British national gets reported in Thai media, it can create a snowball effect, encouraging other outlets to cover similar stories. Media organisations often look for stories that have already gained some traction, as they are more likely to attract attention and generate clicks. If a story about a British tourist misbehaving or breaking local laws goes viral or gains significant attention, other media outlets, both in Thailand and internationally, are more likely to pick it up. This "copycat reporting" phenomenon can lead to the perception that these incidents are happening more frequently than they actually are. Once one incident is reported, it can lead to more stories being covered, even if they are not directly related or involve similar circumstances. This amplifies the public's perception that British tourists are more prone to trouble in Thailand. Social Media Contagion: Social media plays a huge role in spreading stories quickly, especially those involving shocking or scandalous behavior. Once an incident involving a British tourist begins to gain traction on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, it can quickly become viral. As more people share, comment, and post about it, the incident reaches a wider audience, often including media outlets that rely on trending stories for their coverage. The contagion effect here is the spread of attention from one incident to another. When a story involving a British national attracts large numbers of views or shares, others may follow suit, either because of the subject's inherent controversy or because the incident fits into a broader narrative (e.g., "British tourists misbehaving in Thailand"). This can create a loop where media and social media outlets continuously highlight similar stories. Stereotype Reinforcement: When incidents involving British nationals are widely reported, it can reinforce negative stereotypes about them, such as being disrespectful or uninformed about local customs. As these stories are repeated and amplified, they start to feed into the contagion effect, where more tourists (including Brits) may begin to engage in similar behaviors, consciously or unconsciously. This could be due to the belief that certain behaviors are acceptable or "expected" when visiting a destination like Thailand, further driving the cycle. Focus on "Foreign" Behavior: The focus on British nationals may also be part of a broader media tendency to report more on “foreign” behavior, especially when it contrasts with local norms. Stories involving tourists, especially from countries with cultural or behavioral differences, often get more attention. The more a certain type of incident gets reported—like a British tourist acting inappropriately or breaking the law—the more other similar incidents may get covered, thus perpetuating the cycle. Now, that was a lot for you to read - so I'm expecting a one line flippant reply thats neither eloquent or remotely intelligent (and there's a reason I tucked this last comment away in the paragraph because I know you won't read this far !). -
70
Increases in vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks threaten years of progress
Of course I get my anti-vaccine information from anti-vaccine sources, just as you get yours from pro-vaccine sources. Both will naturally be formulated according to their bias, emphasising or minimising specific aspects in order to convey the desired message. The core issue is that people never think independently or research things in order to form their own opinion: they should. As I said, people can get acquainted with the information, parse what they deem to be relevant or not and draw their own conclusions. That's all it is about. There are moral and ethical issues about certain facts, such as the use of aborted fetal cells to develop what is colloquially referred to as "medecine". I certainly have reservations about this, and the problem is that the vast majority of the population is not informed about it. -
43
25 million deaths: what could happen if the US ends global health funding
How is this deflection? -
43
25 million deaths: what could happen if the US ends global health funding
Typical MAGA deflection -
43
25 million deaths: what could happen if the US ends global health funding
How much does a millionaire or a billionaire make in income? Do you know many people who are retired and are "millionaires"?- 1
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