Media panic

[Dreamstalker]

I had someone ask once, upon learning I love sushi: "Isn't that stuff instantly lethal?" (erm...fugu can be, but AFAIK it isn't consumed in this country)...I'm standing here talking to you, so obviously raw fish is not as lethal as you think. If you're talking about the mercury panic that crops up every so often, yes I do keep abreast of sushi-related scares and I would need to eat at least a pound of confirmed-contaminated raw tuna every day for it to have any adverse effects.

Where they got that from, I know not.

[tabbyblack13]

The worst part of the whole "swine" flu crap is that people stop consuming pork products.

A coworker was at a grocery store and there was a husband and wife shopping in the meat department. The husband picked up a packet of pork chops and the wife said "What about the swine flu? Won't we get it eating that?!" My coworker states " No, you should eat more pork. You'll develop immunity." The wife actually agreed with my coworker.

The sad thing is that the pigs are in more danger because they don't have an immune system that can handle this flu.

As for the Y2K thing. Do people remember that some thought that the world was going to end? That New Years Eve was the easiest one I ever worked. In fact all of the kitchen workers kept commenting on how easy the night was. When I woke up the next morning all I could do was laugh at those who spent the night in a bunker.

[Lace Neil Singer]

I spent the night getting completely plastered while wearing a "Vote Satan" t-shirt as a reaction to the amount of religious nutjobs who were proclaiming "The end of the world is nigh!". XD

Apparently there was this couple who put their house on the market and sold loads of their stuff cuz they were convinced that the Apocalypse was coming on New Year's Day, 2000. Sucks to be them. XD

[Rapscallion]

Where they got that from, I know not.

Probably had fugu in mind, Japanese blowfish dish. If certain parts aren't taken out of the fish, the consumer can die. Tends to result in chefs commiting sepukku and the high cost of a delicacy.

Rapscallion

[Lace Neil Singer]

Probably had fugu in mind, Japanese blowfish dish. If certain parts aren't taken out of the fish, the consumer can die. Tends to result in chefs commiting sepukku and the high cost of a delicacy.

Rapscallion

I only heard of fugu due to the Simpsons, to be honest; I'm sure there's only a tiny risk of sushi eaters getting the poisonous bits in their food.

[crazylegs]

I only heard of fugu due to the Simpsons, to be honest; I'm sure there's only a tiny risk of sushi eaters getting the poisonous bits in their food.

Well, the poison is in the liver, kidneys, reproductive organs, intestines, and skin.

You have to be a licenced chef who has undertaken a 2-3 year apprentice course to serve the stuff.

I think I'll still pass though.

[Slytovhand]

With 6 Billion people on the planet, 100 deaths in Mexico doesn't seem like a pandemic, yet to me.

I think it's a pandemic because of how widespread it has become. Last I heard, there were cases in New Zealand and Austria (or was it Switzerland??)... but anyway, that indicates it's travelled across the planet in a pretty quick amount of time - hence 'pandemic'.

But, as has been pointed out, people die every year from 'flu'. Young, old, already sick... the common cold is still a killer!

And personally, I think the more you panic about it, the more you're likely to die early (though, not necessarily from what you're panicking about).

[Dreamstalker]

Well, the poison is in the liver, kidneys, reproductive organs, intestines, and skin.

I think I'll still pass though.

Yeah; the mild-hallucinogen part is interesting, but the fact that even the imperial family is never allowed to consume it wins out. Basically if the skin or any organ is even poked with the knife the entire fish becomes deadly.

I was in the local Japanese grocery a few days ago. I tend to sneeze a bit if I'm out in direct sunlight; nothing major, it's just what happens. So I'm choosing bread (they make the BEST whole wheat pan and raisin pan), and oops, sneezy time. I turn away from the bread shelves and do it in the crook of my elbow; yes I'm holding bread at the time but it's bagged and I'm going to buy it so...

I get a terrified CBF from some lady who then turns stinkeye on the counter girl and huffs out muttering something about swine flu.

[Boozy]

Oh yes, 'tis a bad time to be an allergy sufferer. I'm not the most pleasant person to be around this time of year, what with the watery eyes, runny nose, and constant sinus headache.... but I've never been treated as a leper the way I am now.

One customer told me that I shouldn't have come in to work because I'm a possible "danger to others." I told her that I was suffering from allergies, and that taking the entire months of May and June off work was not financially feasible.

I got sick of the looks last week, so I decided to take allergy medication before work on Thursday. I usually never take it on workdays, since it knocks me out. I got through the day, but I felt (and acted) drunk the whole time.

So my options are people assuming that I have swine flu, or people assuming that I have a drinking problem.

[Slytovhand]

Boozy has a drinking problem... whodathunkit???

[Seshat]

So my options are people assuming that I have swine flu, or people assuming that I have a drinking problem.

Big cheerful badge. "Allergies, not flu."

[Nyoibo]

To miss quote.
Governor Tarkin: Fear will keep the local people in line. Fear of this new plague.