# Let me be real clear: this message board does NOT need conservatives **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 28, 2021, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474 "2021-07-28T02:12:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 83
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/1646 "2021-08-18T08:46:11Z")
It actually might have been significant in the early days, to know where to look for other cases - but at this point the main use for such knowledge would be preventing future pandemics. However, public health officials and the media effectively lying about the issue for months has surely hindered stopping the pandemic, by reducing public trust in those institutions. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/1647 "2021-08-18T08:52:16Z")
Just to be clear, you have no evidence that it escaped from a lab; you’re just assuming that it did, which could ultimately be true, but we’ve got no proof of that yet. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/1648 "2021-08-18T09:00:14Z")
I’m saying that after looking into it I think virus escaping from lab is more likely than virus infecting people at wet market. That’s not the same as assuming the former is true. There’s no proof either way. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/1649 "2021-08-18T09:02:42Z")
But you accused public health officials (didn’t say which ones) of lying about the issue for months, without proof. You’re just tossing around baseless claims. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/1650 "2021-08-18T09:03:34Z")
As for the media and public health officials, they lied by saying the idea was impossible/debunked, when they should have been investigating it to see how plausible it was. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/1651 "2021-08-18T09:06:18Z")
I’ve seen nobody say that it was impossible; I’ve seen a number say that it’s unlikely but hedged short of saying it’s absolutely not possible. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/1652 "2021-08-18T09:29:07Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > It actually might have been significant in the early days, to know where to look for other cases - but at this point the main use for such knowledge would be preventing future pandemics. > > However, public health officials and the media effectively lying about the issue for months has surely hindered stopping the pandemic, by reducing public trust in those institutions It’s the legacy of Donald Trump, who was far more interested in assigning blame than he was in solving problems. Can you blame people for not wanting to follow in his footsteps? ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/1653 "2021-08-18T09:42:48Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > It’s the legacy of Donald Trump, who was far more interested in assigning blame than he was in solving problems. Can you blame people for not wanting to follow in his footsteps? Yes I can. Descending to his level doesn’t solve anything, it just makes the problem even worse. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/1654 "2021-08-18T11:42:15Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > According to this poster conservatives have poor social skills, they don’t value relationships, they are dumb, they are poor - and that’s their own fault (that bit was in an earlier post). Political belief system != inherent characteristics like race, gender, sexuality. It really isn’t that fucking hard. But then, you already know that. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/1655 "2021-08-18T11:43:18Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > they lied by saying the idea was impossible/debunked, Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/1656 "2021-08-18T12:30:47Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > > [@Chingon](#): > > > > For the record, two of the biggest whiners about conservative thought not getting respect around here (@Sam_Stone and @octopus ) both want us to believe that the situation in Afghanistan was caused by pronoun choices or diversity training. > > Meanwhile, the Taliban are entirely focused on military and economic issues, and spend no time worrying about their stance on social policies at all, which is why they were so efficiently able to outperform the US in Afghanistan! > > Wait, that’s not true at all. Apparently, the Taliban has plenty of time to bitch about not being allowed to have a Twitter account because FREEDOM OF SPEECH! > **[Taliban Spokesman Accuses Facebook of Stifling Free Speech by Banning Group](https://theintercept.com/2021/08/17/taliban-spokesman-accuses-facebook-stifling-free-speech-banning-group/)** > > At his first press conference in 20 years, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid joined the techlash by complaining about Facebook censorship. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/1657 "2021-08-18T13:09:01Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Political belief system != inherent characteristics like race, gender, sexuality. It really isn’t that fucking hard. But then, you already know that. No, I don’t ‘know that’. All are protected in the UK under the Equality Act 2010. > The following characteristics are protected characteristics— > > - age; > - disability; > - gender reassignment; > - marriage and civil partnership; > - pregnancy and maternity; > - race; > - **religion or belief;** > - sex; > - sexual orientation. This is a US board, but the US can scarcely be considered a liberal paradise. It’s a massive blind spot that bigotry based on beliefs is not just tolerated but welcomed and encouraged here. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/1658 "2021-08-18T13:20:02Z")
Hmm, now I don’t know what the law actually says but ya think this _religion_ might be giving us a clue as to what this _or belief_ means? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/1659 "2021-08-18T13:37:24Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Who knew posting on forums was a CCP version of microturkering. How much you making? I am genuinely concerned about your mental health. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/1660 "2021-08-18T14:43:15Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > What can you do when pretty much everyone on the board agrees with the bigotry? I don’t think anybody else on the board has been agreeing with that poster. Different people have been picking apart, and coherently objecting to, different pieces of what they’re saying – the ones that you list included. > [@DemonTree](#): > > As for the media and public health officials, they lied by saying the idea was impossible/debunked, when they should have been investigating it to see how plausible it was. Do you have a cite for any major media source or public health official, let alone all of them, saying that it was impossible it was a lab escape? What I saw, in multiple places, was such sources saying that it was impossible/debunked that it was deliberately engineered. Which is not the same thing at all. > [@DemonTree](#): > > religion or belief; It doesn’t say political belief. In that context, I’d take it as an attempt to include atheism and ‘spiritual but not religious’ beliefs. At least, unless somebody can bring court cases deciding otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/1661 "2021-08-18T15:02:43Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > It’s a massive blind spot that bigotry based on beliefs is not just tolerated but welcomed and encouraged here. Your argument that political beliefs are part of a protected class in the UK has been thoroughly debunked already, so I’ll move on: I ask again: if you don’t base your judgement of people based on their beliefs and actions, what DO you base your judgement on? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/1662 "2021-08-18T15:21:25Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > I ask again: if you don’t base your judgement of people based on their beliefs and actions, what DO you base your judgement on? Do you think it’s possible that one can know and love people in one’s life while having fundamental differences of morals or beliefs? ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/1663 "2021-08-18T15:34:35Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > I don’t think anybody else on the board has been agreeing with that poster. Different people have been picking apart, and coherently objecting to, different pieces of what they’re saying – the ones that you list included. You’re the only person who actually replied to that post. I just imagine what the reaction would be if someone said the same thing about almost any other group. Yet when it concerns a certain subset of Americans, who seem to me to be defined as much by their culture as their political beliefs, no one cares about courtesy, or being PC, or not stereotyping. All the rules are thrown out of the window. Just look at @Babale’s response. > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > It doesn’t say political belief. In that context, I’d take it as an attempt to include atheism and ‘spiritual but not religious’ beliefs. At least, unless somebody can bring court cases deciding otherwise. It includes philosophical beliefs, not specifically political ones. I believe there was a case a few years ago that concluded veganism was covered. > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > What I saw, in multiple places, was such sources saying that it was impossible/debunked that it was deliberately engineered. Which is not the same thing at all. Read this: > **[The Lab-Leak Theory: Inside the Fight to Uncover COVID-19’s Origins](https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/06/the-lab-leak-theory-inside-the-fight-to-uncover-covid-19s-origins)** > > Throughout 2020, the notion that the novel coronavirus leaked from a lab was off-limits. Those who dared to push for transparency say toxic politics and hidden agendas kept us in the dark. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/1664 "2021-08-18T15:39:51Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Do you think it’s possible that one can know and love people in one’s life while having fundamental differences of morals or beliefs? Yeah, of course. I disagree with my parents about a bunch of different things that are pretty fundamental to our beliefs, but that doesn’t mean I don’t “know and love” them. I don’t see what that has to do with anything, though. Do you think that the only two options are to completely avoid passing any sort of judgment on someone else’s belief, or to vehemently oppose and hate them? Because there’s a while lot of ground between those two extremes. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2021, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474/1665 "2021-08-18T15:43:07Z")
> [@DemonTree](#): > > Read this: > > [The Lab-Leak Theory: Inside the Fight to Uncover COVID-19’s Origins | Vanity Fair](https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/06/the-lab-leak-theory-inside-the-fight-to-uncover-covid-19s-origins) Did YOU read it? Specifically, did you read the linked statement published by Lancet, or just the 2 phrases they extracted from it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474.md?page=82) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-be-real-clear-this-message-board-does-not-need-conservatives/947474.md?page=84)