Is Swine Flu really all that bad?
THE ANSWER:
Well, I don't think so. Here's a well written rant by my friend:
Quote:
swine flu
a very important story/message
so.... tests are back and i had the swine flu.
and i though it only appropriate to write a rant.
i- world chaos and panic
the radio broadcasts nothing but it.
the television blasts 24 hours a day about it.
the paper has nothing but articles about it.
schools everywhere talk nothing but it.
now i'm pretty sure the world will end in 2012.
why? because we are digging our own grave,
we are making all matters worse,
we are taking one small event, and stretching it
until we create world chaos and panic
that distracts all from their work, learning, and lives.
it probably never crossed your mind
that you can't think of anyone you know
that suffered greatly, had their life affected,
or died due to swine flu. did it?
on the other hand, hundreds of other diseases
have affected our loved ones..
and perhaps our lives as well.
and yet, what is taking over your life?
what has crept into your life,
and without you even preventing or controlling it,
has consumed most of your time and attention?
swine flu.
can you name a disease that kills tens of thousands
of americans (not even of world population) every year?
how about the flu? (36,000) effects of smoking? (44,000)
cancer? (55,000) pneumonia? (60,000) and most of all-
effects of alcohol (85,000)
and how many lives in our country have been claimed by swine flu?
i can't even find that information!
(if you can, let me know and i will send to everyone).
there are 10,000 cases in the world, a small fraction of which
is in in united states, an even slimmer fraction of which have died.
and yet, what has been broadcasted non-stop in the last month
throughout every form of existing media?
swine flu.
let us discuss who it is that is actually affected by swine flu,
let alone dies from it.
- people in third world countries, where there are not the resources
to cure fevers or coughs, and people die/suffer from such symptoms.
in the united states and any other developed nation,
we take a motrin.. and advil... or one of many fever/pain killers.
- people who are already extremely ill or frail, (suffering from another disease)
and their bodies are already working to fight off such germs.
- people who cannot afford or are unable to get medical help
or refuse to recognize the symptoms (would rather make income).
these same people, listed above, die from world poverty/hunger,
common colds, and other things we don't even have to worry about.
and yet, you don't see information on these things filling the media.
well i have news for you:
everyone of of YOU that i am emailing at this moment
has complete access to everything they would need
should they be infected with swine flu.
this country is completely capable of curing any cases
of swine flu with its modern technologies and medicines.
you need to understand that the chances of you getting
swine flu are small (i am willing to give you $20 if you get it),
and even if you do, there are medicines all around you
that will help you get better nearly INSTANTLY because
that is the kind of world we are living in.
swine flu is a concern where they are unable to treat it.
(joining the list of several other diseases worldwide).
why should wine flu have the "privilege" of hogging the media
if world poverty, hunger, and common colds kill many times more?
in our nation especially, the media is something
that most of the population is able to access.
this means it is a way for everyone to get informed,
stay together, and create a united, educated nation.
what we don't need and can't have is confused, panicked people.
and what's not helping is the clueless, uninformed people
that are running our media. when people are uninformed,
they choose not to find all the facts, but spread what they know
because it appears to be some secret that needs to be shared.
but when the spread of few facts occurs,
the spaces in between truths are filled with guesses.
these guesses are assumed to be truths,
and soon, everyone is running around screaming lies.
i'm not saying that i have access to the facts that the media doesn't.
i don't have any facts at all. i just know what i have been seeing
around me; on the news, the radio, online, in the papers.
and i know what i have been through with this disease.
i also know about other diseases, and can put 2 and 2 together
(don't comment) to make the comparison, and overcome general chaos
to use my own mind to come to the conclusion that this whole event
is being blown to the extreme.
ii- the true extent of swine flu
my immune system is normal as far as i know.
i have had a little more than what i'd guess is the average
amount of diseases/viruses/etc.
i catch whatever my friends have,
fight it off with the help of medicines,
and am back in school within a day or two.
and i caught a normal case of swine flu.
i woke up tuesday after memorial day with a headache,
had a fever, called in sick, and went back to sleep.
throughout that day i took a lot of motrin/advil and had
a bad headache, coughing (not a tell-all symptom for me,
nearly always confused with my more-than-mild asthma).
the next morning i woke up late, my parents decided to let me sleep.
i went to the doctor to see what it was that i had had.
(i suspected sinus infection, swine flu, or strep)
strep was negative. next day, (general) flu test was positive.
and over a week later, swine flu test came back positive,
to everyone's shocking surprise (but mine).
i wasn't allowed to go back to school for 7 days
once they heard i had the flu (typical)
(no one knew about swine though, including me).
i felt fine on wednesday, thursday, friday, saturday,
sunday, and monday, but couldnt go back until tuesday.
there is a good reason i wasn't allowed at school,
i may have been contagious and they didn't me to spread it.
fair enough. but if this logic makes sense,
the same rules should logically be applied to the common cold!
it really is no worse, and if this is the so-called "swine flu"
i could have had it ten times before without even knowing!
if you spend enough time with me, you know i'm constantly
feeling crappy, and always suspected swine flu.
yes, i joined the rest of the stereotypical misinformed world
(though i am ashamed to admit now) and believed w/e i heard.
i now know that this "swine flu" is no worse than a cold,
deserves no more than 1/100th of the fuss it has gotten,
is easily curable, and no one is aware of how minor it is!!!
i've wanted to write this rant for the longest time,
but couldn't write it without being totally evidence-less
until i caught it myself.
and if i'm not evidence enough, i dont' know what i can do for you.
iii- hypocritical, but while i'm with it...
okay, you better understand now what a small deal
swine flu really is (otherwise i dont know what to say).
i've tried to pick out arguments whenever it comes up,
but i don't have the enthusiasm to scream into the face
of everyone i meet, including my best friends.
no one is going to believe me over world media.
i hope the fact i got swine flu proves my point and
maks you happy.
now for the hypocritical part...
you know i have enemies. and you know i have revenge.
(TOTALLY UNHEALTHY, not reccommended, rant later!)
anyways, i decided that once i knew i had had swine flu,
there were two things i could do:
a. shut up and keep it private so people don't leave me
in a five foot bubble of no contact.
b. spread school chaos
and i'm sorry, but the opportunity was just too great.
media is getting everyone panicked, and i just had
the disease at just the right (and only) time...
so i tried to put plan B into major action... or not?
situation one:
located by lockers.
me: *leans close to victim and slips in a few coughs*
oh, hey george. you know i got my swine flu test back
and i have it?! (partially a lie, i had it)
george: oh, so? (with not half the enthusiasm i had hoped for)
me: no, seriously, i HAVE swine flu
george: yeah, i know, i heard you the first time.
what'd you think of the math finals?
me: oh, it wasn't that it was hard,
it was just really long.
george: THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID!
me: UGH (because that just scares off all enemiess
i hate you! i'll give you SWINE FLU!
george: awesome, i'd get to miss SCHOOL!
situation two:
computer lab
me: oh hey, brian, i have swine flu you know?!
brian: no you don't.
me: no, really, i do.
brian: no... you don't.
me: (frustrated, realize i don't have proof).
yeah, i seriously do.
brian: that's not even funny.
me: OH MY GOD! don't you get it!?
i HAVE swine flu! for real!!
brian: umm, i'm pretty sure you don't.
me: you want to call my MOM and ask?
the school is sending out an EMAIL.
i HAVE SWINE FLU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
brian: *turns back to computer and
continues to type for rest of class period*
situation three:
hallway.
random kid i don't know: oh hey,
you're the one with swine flu, right?
me: (loss of words, so shocked that someone is interested!
all i can think to say smile yup.
random kid i don't know: cool.
and our paths split.
and all other instances fall under one of those three categories.
not as exciting as i had hoped.
and, through writing this very rant, i have changed my motives
and now turn to plan A which consists of un-spreading world chaos.
and i hope you join me on this mission...
to save the world...
badges promised as always
(i AM still working on the badge for "out to get me"
i really am, i promise, bug me about it so i remember!)
btw, record rant time, only took me 25 minutes! shortest yet?
swine flu victim and still in better shape than you are,
--
xoxoxooxoxox,
a very important story/message
so.... tests are back and i had the swine flu.
and i though it only appropriate to write a rant.
i- world chaos and panic
the radio broadcasts nothing but it.
the television blasts 24 hours a day about it.
the paper has nothing but articles about it.
schools everywhere talk nothing but it.
now i'm pretty sure the world will end in 2012.
why? because we are digging our own grave,
we are making all matters worse,
we are taking one small event, and stretching it
until we create world chaos and panic
that distracts all from their work, learning, and lives.
it probably never crossed your mind
that you can't think of anyone you know
that suffered greatly, had their life affected,
or died due to swine flu. did it?
on the other hand, hundreds of other diseases
have affected our loved ones..
and perhaps our lives as well.
and yet, what is taking over your life?
what has crept into your life,
and without you even preventing or controlling it,
has consumed most of your time and attention?
swine flu.
can you name a disease that kills tens of thousands
of americans (not even of world population) every year?
how about the flu? (36,000) effects of smoking? (44,000)
cancer? (55,000) pneumonia? (60,000) and most of all-
effects of alcohol (85,000)
and how many lives in our country have been claimed by swine flu?
i can't even find that information!
(if you can, let me know and i will send to everyone).
there are 10,000 cases in the world, a small fraction of which
is in in united states, an even slimmer fraction of which have died.
and yet, what has been broadcasted non-stop in the last month
throughout every form of existing media?
swine flu.
let us discuss who it is that is actually affected by swine flu,
let alone dies from it.
- people in third world countries, where there are not the resources
to cure fevers or coughs, and people die/suffer from such symptoms.
in the united states and any other developed nation,
we take a motrin.. and advil... or one of many fever/pain killers.
- people who are already extremely ill or frail, (suffering from another disease)
and their bodies are already working to fight off such germs.
- people who cannot afford or are unable to get medical help
or refuse to recognize the symptoms (would rather make income).
these same people, listed above, die from world poverty/hunger,
common colds, and other things we don't even have to worry about.
and yet, you don't see information on these things filling the media.
well i have news for you:
everyone of of YOU that i am emailing at this moment
has complete access to everything they would need
should they be infected with swine flu.
this country is completely capable of curing any cases
of swine flu with its modern technologies and medicines.
you need to understand that the chances of you getting
swine flu are small (i am willing to give you $20 if you get it),
and even if you do, there are medicines all around you
that will help you get better nearly INSTANTLY because
that is the kind of world we are living in.
swine flu is a concern where they are unable to treat it.
(joining the list of several other diseases worldwide).
why should wine flu have the "privilege" of hogging the media
if world poverty, hunger, and common colds kill many times more?
in our nation especially, the media is something
that most of the population is able to access.
this means it is a way for everyone to get informed,
stay together, and create a united, educated nation.
what we don't need and can't have is confused, panicked people.
and what's not helping is the clueless, uninformed people
that are running our media. when people are uninformed,
they choose not to find all the facts, but spread what they know
because it appears to be some secret that needs to be shared.
but when the spread of few facts occurs,
the spaces in between truths are filled with guesses.
these guesses are assumed to be truths,
and soon, everyone is running around screaming lies.
i'm not saying that i have access to the facts that the media doesn't.
i don't have any facts at all. i just know what i have been seeing
around me; on the news, the radio, online, in the papers.
and i know what i have been through with this disease.
i also know about other diseases, and can put 2 and 2 together
(don't comment) to make the comparison, and overcome general chaos
to use my own mind to come to the conclusion that this whole event
is being blown to the extreme.
ii- the true extent of swine flu
my immune system is normal as far as i know.
i have had a little more than what i'd guess is the average
amount of diseases/viruses/etc.
i catch whatever my friends have,
fight it off with the help of medicines,
and am back in school within a day or two.
and i caught a normal case of swine flu.
i woke up tuesday after memorial day with a headache,
had a fever, called in sick, and went back to sleep.
throughout that day i took a lot of motrin/advil and had
a bad headache, coughing (not a tell-all symptom for me,
nearly always confused with my more-than-mild asthma).
the next morning i woke up late, my parents decided to let me sleep.
i went to the doctor to see what it was that i had had.
(i suspected sinus infection, swine flu, or strep)
strep was negative. next day, (general) flu test was positive.
and over a week later, swine flu test came back positive,
to everyone's shocking surprise (but mine).
i wasn't allowed to go back to school for 7 days
once they heard i had the flu (typical)
(no one knew about swine though, including me).
i felt fine on wednesday, thursday, friday, saturday,
sunday, and monday, but couldnt go back until tuesday.
there is a good reason i wasn't allowed at school,
i may have been contagious and they didn't me to spread it.
fair enough. but if this logic makes sense,
the same rules should logically be applied to the common cold!
it really is no worse, and if this is the so-called "swine flu"
i could have had it ten times before without even knowing!
if you spend enough time with me, you know i'm constantly
feeling crappy, and always suspected swine flu.
yes, i joined the rest of the stereotypical misinformed world
(though i am ashamed to admit now) and believed w/e i heard.
i now know that this "swine flu" is no worse than a cold,
deserves no more than 1/100th of the fuss it has gotten,
is easily curable, and no one is aware of how minor it is!!!
i've wanted to write this rant for the longest time,
but couldn't write it without being totally evidence-less
until i caught it myself.
and if i'm not evidence enough, i dont' know what i can do for you.
iii- hypocritical, but while i'm with it...
okay, you better understand now what a small deal
swine flu really is (otherwise i dont know what to say).
i've tried to pick out arguments whenever it comes up,
but i don't have the enthusiasm to scream into the face
of everyone i meet, including my best friends.
no one is going to believe me over world media.
i hope the fact i got swine flu proves my point and
maks you happy.
now for the hypocritical part...
you know i have enemies. and you know i have revenge.
(TOTALLY UNHEALTHY, not reccommended, rant later!)
anyways, i decided that once i knew i had had swine flu,
there were two things i could do:
a. shut up and keep it private so people don't leave me
in a five foot bubble of no contact.
b. spread school chaos
and i'm sorry, but the opportunity was just too great.
media is getting everyone panicked, and i just had
the disease at just the right (and only) time...
so i tried to put plan B into major action... or not?
situation one:
located by lockers.
me: *leans close to victim and slips in a few coughs*
oh, hey george. you know i got my swine flu test back
and i have it?! (partially a lie, i had it)
george: oh, so? (with not half the enthusiasm i had hoped for)
me: no, seriously, i HAVE swine flu
george: yeah, i know, i heard you the first time.
what'd you think of the math finals?
me: oh, it wasn't that it was hard,
it was just really long.
george: THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID!
me: UGH (because that just scares off all enemiess
i hate you! i'll give you SWINE FLU!
george: awesome, i'd get to miss SCHOOL!
situation two:
computer lab
me: oh hey, brian, i have swine flu you know?!
brian: no you don't.
me: no, really, i do.
brian: no... you don't.
me: (frustrated, realize i don't have proof).
yeah, i seriously do.
brian: that's not even funny.
me: OH MY GOD! don't you get it!?
i HAVE swine flu! for real!!
brian: umm, i'm pretty sure you don't.
me: you want to call my MOM and ask?
the school is sending out an EMAIL.
i HAVE SWINE FLU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
brian: *turns back to computer and
continues to type for rest of class period*
situation three:
hallway.
random kid i don't know: oh hey,
you're the one with swine flu, right?
me: (loss of words, so shocked that someone is interested!
all i can think to say smile yup.
random kid i don't know: cool.
and our paths split.
and all other instances fall under one of those three categories.
not as exciting as i had hoped.
and, through writing this very rant, i have changed my motives
and now turn to plan A which consists of un-spreading world chaos.
and i hope you join me on this mission...
to save the world...
badges promised as always
(i AM still working on the badge for "out to get me"
i really am, i promise, bug me about it so i remember!)
btw, record rant time, only took me 25 minutes! shortest yet?
swine flu victim and still in better shape than you are,
--
xoxoxooxoxox,
Now you decide! (And decide that it's not a big deal)
