@OhioMike Yes, those on the forums are a tiny minority which makes their content even more inconsequential but I feel like that fact isn't too relevant to the root of the issue since we can assume CC will only get bigger. Being volunteers, I'm sure moderators aren't held to too much scrutiny and can moderate how they see fit. I think there is a fine line between moderation and censorship and, of course, the position of the line is subjective. I am just curious...if I simply post a comment that says 2+2=5 and then link a simple math textbook which obviously states 2+2 = 4, will that comment be censored? I doubt it....yet someone in a place of power could assume my shoddy math was right and get somebody killed by adopting it. CC isn't responsible for what people believe or any actions they take based off of those beliefs. CC isn't a publisher but a platform. Why then are the moderators acting like they are the former? That's what I want to know.
@slowblink we have had some "scrutinizing " moments over the years with Moderators. I've seen it!
Definitely legitimate concerns and good debate to be had concerning your thoughts. Have you considered contacting @Mark directly? Especially in private messages. I have found him to be very approachable on serious matters over the years here .😊
I did get a copy of @August1 's video and it's clearly a propaganda flick. So, thank you mods.
@Babichev I didn't post misinformation. I posted a peer reviewed article by medical experts published in the prestigious journal Nature. Please return my posts. If you'd like to discuss the matter, please message me privately.
There was nothing wrong with the article published in Nature. Your comments, however, did not accurately reflect the research, distorted it and were misleading. - Babichev
On the contrary, it's dangerous to make assumptions that vaccines protect people more than they do because it could cause someone who is immunocompromised to take a larger risk that they really want to take. Please don't censor accurate information. It's not controversial to say that current vaccines have poor efficacy at stopping Omicron infection. I could quote dozens of studies or the CDC. The primary benefit is reduced severity. Omicron specific boosters may improve the situation.
Not that it should matter, facts are facts, but I am a scientist and I'm working for the US government on COVID.
@dave31415, I appreciate the point you’re trying to make. I was just advised by my doctor yesterday that new variants weren’t much affected by the vaccines but, like you, she is hopeful that a new booster will make a difference.
That said, no vaccine has ever promised 100% immunity. I’ll take reduced severity for myself and my clients any day.
FWIW, I cuddled throughout the pandemic, testing regularly, and I’ve still never had Covid. I was among the first in my state to get the vaccine and just had my 4th shot. I consider myself super lucky. But I also still take precautions every day to minimize my risk.
@PeopleLikeUs LMAO 'thank you mods for protecting the children in the forum from this video I was able to watch without ill effect because I alone am a grownup.'
Your time out has been extended to 7 days. If, upon your return, you continue to disrespect the moderators, you will lose your forum privileges. Your choice. - Babichev
@AintMisbehavin I also have not had COVID to my knowledge. But the the IHME model that we are using in the US govt as well as other studies show that around 80% of Americans have probably have had COVID infection. More than half just didn’t have symptoms. The IHME model now estimates more COVID cases have occurred in the US than the entire US population. Obviously that implies many people have been infected multiple times, probably with different strains.
Unfortunately the first results coming out seem to show there is not much of a difference between Omicron specific boosters and the existing but we should wait to see if other studies agree. It's still good to get a booster if you haven't. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-02806-5
@dave31415 I had Alpha beginning of March and mild symptoms, then got double vaxxed, then got COVID a second time Christmas time, then was forced to get a third shot and guess what caught it a third time. Everytime minor symptoms, which is a good thing. Anyway others can read whatever they may like into it. That was any experience.
@PeopleLikeUs We are adults; this sounds so sad. Hopefully opposing views in the future will be more supported on this site.
Me and my son both got covid after being vaccinated . I've had booster. My friend just told me today she has covid and is boostered. I actually had covid right when it became a thing back in march 2020 before anybody knew what the hell they were doing. I will say that this time around was much easier . Whether that is due to vaccinations, the type of strain, or my natural antibodies from having already had it before, or all of the above, I honestly dont know.
If people were immune to propaganda, propaganda wouldn't exist. Repeated exposure to an idea does make you more likely to believe it—evidence be darned. People aren't necessarily moderate between actual extremes; they're moderate between perceived extremes.
I appreciate the mods' commitment to keeping harmful falsehoods out of the CC forums, even if they get it wrong every once in a while and take out a comment that's accurate but easily twisted.
Thanks, mods.
@DaringSprinter It is not their responsibility to filter propaganda. That is an individual's responsibility alone. Otherwise, you're outsourcing your critical thought to someone else which, ultimately, means you're giving them power over what you think...and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
The moderators’ responsibility is to enforce the forum rules. Please familiarize yourself with them. https://www.cuddlecomfort.com/forum/discussion/2999/forum-rules-your-moderators#latest.
@slowblink: Accepting assistance is not the same as giving up.
My meta-cognition is perfectly intact, thank you—I merely appreciate that here I don't often have to overtax it. I repeat: Thanks, @Babichev. I didn't need to be hit in the face with so much misinformation. I can counter it. I did, in fact. Wretched YouTube video, with its "the CDC director updated the information she was giving out so she's a liar!" message.
I very much appreciate not having to counter that kind of thing on the regular. It's nice.
As others have stated, it's doubtful that the real issue was vaccination or unvaccination. Why would she have asked you at the door rather than in advance? She was probably just looking for an excuse to ask you to leave, so she made up a BS reason.
@DaringSprinter Assistance is being provided council on the information...not deleting the information in question entirely. That is censorship. Also, You don't have to counter anything you don't want to. Is ignoring something you don't agree with not an option? And if so, why not? There is no valid reason for a mod to delete content that isn't blatantly inappropriate(like cussing,nsfw images, scammers, spam, etc.) the same way there is no reason you HAVE to counter something you don't like. None of this is anything that HAS to be done. It's something that WANTS to be done and I'm desperate to know why.
I love the commenters who watch the 'wretched video' -- boldly putting themselves at tremendous risk of being brainwashed -- and then thank Babichev for protecting the rest of us from it.
It's very clear, @DaringSprinter, that it's not your 'perfectly intact' thought processes you're concerned with. It's your neighbors.'
However did we manage 20-some years on the internet, without tech monopolies and self-satisfied, conformist shitlibs telling us what we could and couldn't read and watch.
@Mike_Girard Lol and how did all that chaotic freedom of expression lead to all this prosperity and innovation? By golly, it must've been a fluke of microscopic odds!!
That’s pretty rude. They could have asked before scheduling ? Was it on your profile ? If so that’s even worse.
@slowblink: Assistance comes in many forms. If you prefer pointers on how to deal with being pelted by garbage in a public park you frequent rather than a dedicated cleaning and prevention crew... well, go find a park that does that.
And yes—you do have to counter misinformation if you don't want it to take root in a corner of your mind somewhere.
Personally, I can block flying garbage in a public forum. But I appreciate the people who stop it from flying. If you enjoy it—to each their own, one man's trash and all that—no one's stopping you from going to a different park!
Here is a link to what the CDC is saying about effectiveness of vaccines against Omicron.
COVID-19 vaccines used in the United States continue to protect against severe disease, hospitalization, and death from known circulating variants. They may not be as effective in preventing infection from these variants. CDC will continue to monitor vaccine effectiveness to see what impact, if any, variants have on how well COVID-19 vaccines work in real-world conditions.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/effectiveness/work.html#:~:text=COVID-19 vaccines used,real-world conditions.
Note that this is exactly what I said and got censored for. I said the vaccines are primarily useful in reducing severity but are less effective at stopping spread. So I guess the CDC needs to be censored as well.
@dave31415: I agree that your post wasn't misinformation. The current Covid vaccines are helpful, but not a silver bullet. That's true.
What you were saying was misinterpreted.
@slowblink I agree. The video can be simply ignored. But he chooses to engage and have a fit. He is stating that I called someone a liar which is false. The tone sounds very emotional.
@Mike_Girard The point flew right over his head. At this point, he is arguing to argue. Life goes on.
'
The video in question, I've discovered, the one we must protect our cognitive processes from, is merely a superreel of CDC director Walensky's various statements in interviews and hearings. There is no commentary other than her own on vaccine efficacy or anything else. I guess it's disinformation because she doesn't come across at all well and she's a Biden appointee.
I admit I'm bad at dodging. Part of me always wonders. What if I'm wrong; what if this isn't garbage? It's always trash. But I can't help myself, because each time I wonder, What if?
Not very relaxing. Not what I go to this metaphorical park for. I'd rather have a nice game of chess or something.
@August1 it's cause DS's meta-cognition is so very intact, thank you very much. I'm in awe and wish that my viewing habits had been strictly controlled from '95 on. My meta-cognition is in tatters.
@Mike_Girard: Metacognition is what you use to avoid or mitigate cognitive bias. It's thinking about thought—noticing what you think and figuring out why.
It's what you use to keep misinformation from taking root in your mind.
I'm pretty sure just about everyone can block flying garbage in this way. I know I can. What you're missing here is that in this place, on this site, I don't want to have to.
Don’t mind me, just tossing my two cents in. If someone is going to deny cuddling because you are vaccinated or not, they need to ask before the session is booked. Ok carry on. @babichev I wish you got overtime pay (or pay at all.)