OT- naming covid variants after locations

[mstateglfr]

Why is it OK for mutations to be called the 'South African', 'Brazilian', and 'British' variants when it wasnt OK to call covid19 the 'Wuhan Flu' or 'China virus'?


- Do we as a collective just not give a **** at this point?
- Are those who initially complained and dont care now just inconsistent in their outrage?
- Is it easier to call variants by a name because the technical letter/number sequence for each variant too 17ing confusing?
- Is it because 'Wuhan Flu' was used as a pejorative and intended to attack a people/culture while the variant names are to simply identify without judgement or discrimination?



I have done 0 reading on this so maybe there is a procedural reason. My guess without knowing anything is that its a bit of the 3rd and a lot of the 4th reasons above. How words are used with a given intent matters in this instance. For the record, I think its also a strong bit of the 2nd reason I listed and people who were shitting themselves in anger over 'Wuhan flu' are just inconsistent in their outrage.

 

[Willow Grove Dawg]

It is almost like some folks were scared of pissing off the Chinese

 

[Maroon Eagle]

Experts don't like that shorthand at all.

But different folks (like me) and organizations use it.

Here's an opinion article from StatNews about it: Link.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Covid-19 is the disease, SARS-CoV2 is the virus. Coronavirus isn’t really correct either because there’s more than one coronavirus. Wuhan flu isnt correct either because it isn’t influenza.

China Virus or Wuhan Virus could have sufficed but apparently we can’t piss off China even though they royally 17ed up the initial info on what was happening.

It’s just easier to name it by a location than try to hash it out with an actual name.

 

[The Peeper]

The Biden family says you are WRONG and shouldn't be slandering them like that

 

[Cooterpoot]

I just hope we don't get a Jackson variant. That would be murder!

 

[mstateglfr]

It is almost like some folks were scared of pissing off the Chinese

Sure, that could be added to the list of possible reasons. Conversely, nobody gives a 17 if they piss off Brazil or South Africa, and its cool to make fun on England(brexit calamity, royalty calamity).

 

[Hump4Hoops]

It's an interesting question, and I think all of your guesses have some validity

The whole Wuhan Flu / China Virus ******** were obviously inflammatory on purpose, meant to deflect blame for anything we did wrong, because "China." Lots of reports of increased violence against Asian Americans over the past year, which is sad and unsurprising. Accusing everyone that dislikes this terminology of being Pro-China is propaganda that hardly deserves a response. 17 the CCP.

It's all about what's easy to say. "Covid" and "Coronavirus" are simple enough, so when you try to make them into "Wuhan Flu" or "China Virus" it's obvious it's for pejorative effect. The UK and South African variants, however, are named "B.1.1.7" and "B.1.351" so there's no way in hell we're remembering those. Nobody is using "UK variant" is a way to blame the UK.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

Because trump called it by the location of origin. That is why it was wrong.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

No chance. It can't survive without water.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

I agree that Trump was using it as a dig at the Chinese but it’s also the origin of the virus. It’s not uncommon to name a deadly virus after it’s supposed origin.

 

[johnson86-1]

The whole Wuhan Flu / China Virus ******** were obviously inflammatory on purpose, meant to deflect blame for anything we did wrong, because "China." Lots of reports of increased violence against Asian Americans over the past year, which is sad and unsurprising. Accusing everyone that dislikes this terminology of being Pro-China is propaganda that hardly deserves a response. 17 the CCP.

It's all about what's easy to say. "Covid" and "Coronavirus" are simple enough, so when you try to make them into "Wuhan Flu" or "China Virus" it's obvious it's for pejorative effect. The UK and South African variants, however, are named "B.1.1.7" and "B.1.351" so there's no way in hell we're remembering those. Nobody is using "UK variant" is a way to blame the UK.

The Wuhan Coronavirus was not inflammatory at all, at least not any more than any virus naming has been in the past.

Two things are different this time:
(1) Unlike most novel virus outbreaks, the country of origin was culpable in this case, at minimum for misleading WHO and other countries about what they knew about the disease, and possibly by actually initiating the pandemic through an inadvertent release from a lab doing gain of function research.
(2) The blameworthy country has a ton of influence peddlers on the payroll. Basically all major entertainment companies are dependent on access to the Chinese markets, tons of traditional media take payments in one form or another from China money, lots of universities take money from China, etc. Then you have lots of very influential non-media companies reliant on them either for supply chain (e.g., Apple) or access to markets (e.g. Google) or both, and they have put their thumbs on the scale also in small and large ways.

Not all the ridiculous coverage was due to orangeman bad related derangement. Some of it was basically information ops aimed at distracting from China's culpability.

 

[ckDOG]

Don't forget the Kung Flu jabs

The whole Wuhan Flu / China Virus ******** were obviously inflammatory on purpose, meant to deflect blame for anything we did wrong, because "China." Lots of reports of increased violence against Asian Americans over the past year, which is sad and unsurprising. Accusing everyone that dislikes this terminology of being Pro-China is propaganda that hardly deserves a response. 17 the CCP.

It's all about what's easy to say. "Covid" and "Coronavirus" are simple enough, so when you try to make them into "Wuhan Flu" or "China Virus" it's obvious it's for pejorative effect. The UK and South African variants, however, are named "B.1.1.7" and "B.1.351" so there's no way in hell we're remembering those. Nobody is using "UK variant" is a way to blame the UK.

There's nothing wrong with referring to it based on geography and being critical of the Chinese government - when you leave it at that.

Trump, being the 74 year old toddler he is, couldn't help himself and acted an *** just to troll and to deflect any ownership of a reaction in this country. Classic Trump "not my problem, these people did it".

 

[aTotal360]

Because the election is over.

 

[Dawg_4_lifes]

Because trump called it by the location of origin. That is why it was wrong.

orange man bad

 

[kired]

Because trump called it by the location of origin. That is why it was wrong.

Him calling it the china virus made 50% of Americans disagree with calling it the china virus. Just like 2 out of 4 sixpackers like your post (as of 3:45pm today).

 

[Bulldog from Birth]

I thought the “Commie Cough” struck the right balance of not offending specific people groups but laying the blame exactly where it was deserved.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

And boom goes the dynamite.

 

[Raiderdawg.sixpack]

Why is it OK for mutations to be called the 'South African', 'Brazilian', and 'British' variants when it wasnt OK to call covid19 the 'Wuhan Flu' or 'China virus'?

- Is it easier to call variants by a name because the technical letter/number sequence for each variant too 17ing confusing?
.

This.

It’s much easier to talk about the location the variants emerged versus B.1.1.7 or P.1.

 

[RocketDawg]

The names weren't necessarily all that inflammatory - maybe mildly so, but that's where it started. We've been calling the Spanish Flu the Spanish Flu for over a hundred years - not necessarily perjorative but that was supposedly the source. Nobody's mentioned "Kung Flu", which is of course meant to be humorously inflammatory. When you (a country) screw up and lie about it, you deserve to be criticized or even made fun of.

 

[Raiderdawg.sixpack]

The WHO changed the naming conventions for viruses 4 or 5 years ago. Their stated reason was to not stigmatize the region.

Since China and the WHO were the primary identifiers, they were going to follow that guidance.

You’re right though. If I identified this virus, I would not have followed their guidance and would have called it WuC-V.

 

[Drebin]

I can appreciate the shocking honesty of your opinion here.

Your last paragraph is classic glfr, though. "I've done zero reading on this, but I'm going to offer an opinion anyway."

 

[PineGroveBully]

All I know is if thing had of climbed out of Noxapater there would be 7 billion people calling it the Noxapater Novel Virus and 400 people would be outraged.

 

[dawgoneyall]

I keep hearing this....what deflection. Explain.

At least Trump isn't senile.

 

[ckDOG]

Fixating on the Kung flu and Chynnnna virus gave insight to his maturity level

I keep hearing this....what deflection. Explain.

At least Trump isn't senile.

He cared more about playground insults than actually taking the situation seriously, owning the response to a problem he did not create, and leading like a president should.

And I have the same opinion when Biden does it. Calling state leaders Neanderthals is beneath the office. No good comes from it.

 

[DAWG61]

People are dumb so when you name it the China Virus you get dumbasses verbally attacking Asians all over our country regardless if they are actually Chinese and/or have anything at all to do with covid becoming a global pandemic. Asian-Americans born and raised here had to suddenly deal with extra racism just because they look Chinese to dumbasses. Saw the same thing happening with the "Build the Wall" ****. Suddenly all latinos were dubbed illegal aliens by racists and they needed to "go back to your country". Donny empowers racists and they love him for it.

You must be bored glfer cause I know you aren't stupid. Have a downvote.

 

[paindonthurt_]

Wuhan wasn’t used that way until the media didn’t want to call it China virus anymore. At least not mainstream it wasn’t.

Are you saying you are ok with calling it Wuhan virus or China virus? Seems odd coming from you but I like it.

 

[paindonthurt_]

I’d love to see the actual data on increased violence against Asians in America. If such data exists, I’d love to see data on demographics committing the increased violence.

 

[DAWG61]

Google and reddit exist, learn how to use them and your thirst for knowledge will be quenched

 

[GloryDawg]

He cared more about playground insults than actually taking the situation seriously, owning the response to a problem he did not create, and leading like a president should.

And I have the same opinion when Biden does it. Calling state leaders Neanderthals is beneath the office. No good comes from it.

I suspect if Biden was President when it broke out we would still be waiting on vaccine. Just look how he handled H1N1. 60 million American infected. Lucky it didn't have the same kill rate.

 

[DAWG61]

We wouldn't need a vaccine if he was potus then

 

[Hugh's Burner Phone]

We wouldn't need a vaccine if he was potus then

Probably right. With his open borders policy and not wanting to hurt his master's feelings over in China the whole damn country would have been infected and either died or have herd immunity now.

 

[ckDOG]

You think private enterprise wouldn't have tried as hard?

I suspect if Biden was President when it broke out we would still be waiting on vaccine. Just look how he handled H1N1. 60 million American infected. Lucky it didn't have the same kill rate.

That's laughable. And what good is a vaccine if half of your supporters don't want to take it bc you spent so much energy convincing them it was a hoax or would go away on its own - like a miracle.

 

[paindonthurt_]

Wtf? You can’t be that stupid right? I mean yes you can but please give us some hope.

 

[GloryDawg]

That's laughable. And what good is a vaccine if half of your supporters don't want to take it bc you spent so much energy convincing them it was a hoax or would go away on its own - like a miracle.

Trump got rid of red tape that allowed it to be speed up. No other vaccine has ever been created that fast. Usually take five years. Biden would not have done that. He showed what he would have done just by his actions when Obama put him in charge of the H1N1 virus. 60 million Americans got infected. Thank god wasn't as deadly.

 

[RocketDawg]

That's laughable. And what good is a vaccine if half of your supporters don't want to take it bc you spent so much energy convincing them it was a hoax or would go away on its own - like a miracle.

Private enterprise didn't finance the effort. Trump pre-ordered hundreds of millions of doses in the hopes it would work, and it did.

 

[dawgdr]

Why is it OK for mutations to be called the 'South African', 'Brazilian', and 'British' variants when it wasnt OK to call covid19 the 'Wuhan Flu' or 'China virus'?


- Do we as a collective just not give a **** at this point?
- Are those who initially complained and dont care now just inconsistent in their outrage?
- Is it easier to call variants by a name because the technical letter/number sequence for each variant too 17ing confusing?
- Is it because 'Wuhan Flu' was used as a pejorative and intended to attack a people/culture while the variant names are to simply identify without judgement or discrimination?



I have done 0 reading on this so maybe there is a procedural reason. My guess without knowing anything is that its a bit of the 3rd and a lot of the 4th reasons above. How words are used with a given intent matters in this instance. For the record, I think its also a strong bit of the 2nd reason I listed and people who were shitting themselves in anger over 'Wuhan flu' are just inconsistent in their outrage.

I was wondering the same thing!! Amazing how that works!!

 

[ckDOG]

Yes and he deserves credit for cutting some red tape.

Trump got rid of red tape that allowed it to be speed up. No other vaccine has ever been created that fast. Usually take five years. Biden would not have done that. He showed what he would have done just by his actions when Obama put him in charge of the H1N1 virus. 60 million Americans got infected. Thank god wasn't as deadly.

I don't think you have anything to base the rest of your opinion on 1) mRNA tech has been in development for more than a decade 2) we weren't in a dire position with H1N1 - 12k died. If you preferred a covid type response for swine flu and the impact it caused I'd say you are blinded by politics or very unreasonable.

 

[ckDOG]

Pfizer didn't and produced at risk.

Private enterprise didn't finance the effort. Trump pre-ordered hundreds of millions of doses in the hopes it would work, and it did.

No workable vaccine - no cash from US to Pfizer.

The others took public money. I'm not sure why this is a praise from the conservative side of things. Usually when democrats throw taxpayer money at problems to find solutions, the right calls it radical socialism.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Yikes... please tell me you’re just trolling.