# My sister, a pro hoax believer, has Covid **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [July 19, 2020, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sister-a-pro-hoax-believer-has-covid/915770 "2020-07-19T21:27:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2020, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sister-a-pro-hoax-believer-has-covid/915770/41 "2020-07-20T16:29:21Z")
There might be a legitimate discussion here if some religious leader were advocating prayer or magic instead of proper disease control, but I doubt Jews are either more or less susceptible to that than any other religious group. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2020, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sister-a-pro-hoax-believer-has-covid/915770/42 "2020-07-20T16:30:26Z")
Your perhaps unintentional ‘lunatic’ claim is something we might have read in Der Sturmer. Given the current controversy about left-wing antisemitism, its wise to be careful about using inflammatory language about others. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2020, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sister-a-pro-hoax-believer-has-covid/915770/43 "2020-07-20T16:43:06Z")
I refuse to not find ridiculous rituals ridiculous just because they are part of the Jewish faith. I also find equally ridiculous rituals in the Christian, Wiccan, Islamic, Hindu, and various animistic or other “pagan” (for want of a better word) faiths. Those were not brought up in this thread; had they been, I would be equally derisive. The main point, though, is that what was brought up was the idea of _ **swinging a chicken around one’s head.** _ If I did that, as a way to ward off plague, my neighbor’s would (rightfully) look at me like I was a fucking lunatic. This concept was brought up in this thread; forgoing valid SCIENCE in favor of ridiculous and unhelpful nonsense. Unfortunately for @wolfpup, he (I assume, inadvertently) chose a picture of some non-Talmudic Jewish ritual performed by some subset of Jews, and suddenly anybody expressing any opinion on it apparently has to be anti-Semitic, rather than anti-woo. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2020, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sister-a-pro-hoax-believer-has-covid/915770/44 "2020-07-20T17:01:46Z")
Swinging a chicken around your head is done to atone for/ transfer sins. It has zip to do with warding off plague. You can also transfer your sins to a goat which is then exiled from the village. Yes, this is the origin of the term scapegoat. For those confused by my earlier post [Blood libel - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_libel) ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2020, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sister-a-pro-hoax-believer-has-covid/915770/45 "2020-07-20T17:07:58Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > Swinging a chicken around your head is done to atone for/ transfer sins. It has zip to do with warding off plague. It doesn’t do much for getting rid of your sins either. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2020, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sister-a-pro-hoax-believer-has-covid/915770/46 "2020-07-20T17:09:12Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > > [@DocCathode](#): > > > > Swinging a chicken around your head is done to atone for/ transfer sins. It has zip to do with warding off plague. > > It doesn’t do much for getting rid of your sins either. - Only if you choke the chicken before swinging it. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2020, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sister-a-pro-hoax-believer-has-covid/915770/47 "2020-07-20T17:11:20Z")
I took that as meaning a way to SPREAD plague, hence the valid reason to sue the governor. So the governor is secretly Jewish and that ritual is secretly infecting people like the OP’s sister. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2020, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sister-a-pro-hoax-believer-has-covid/915770/48 "2020-07-20T17:12:03Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Only if you choke the chicken before swinging it. Doesn’t that grow hair on your palms and cause you to go blind? I know it makes Baby Jebus cry. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2020, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sister-a-pro-hoax-believer-has-covid/915770/49 "2020-07-20T17:14:13Z")
> [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#): > > > [@running\_coach](#): > > > > Only if you choke the chicken before swinging it. > > Doesn’t that grow hair on your palms and cause you to go blind? I know it makes Baby Jebus cry. - I always thought the hair would _improve_ matters. I figured out early on that the entire world hasn’t gone blind… ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2020, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sister-a-pro-hoax-believer-has-covid/915770/50 "2020-07-20T18:41:15Z")
I’m not new around here either but this thread is getting stranger by the second. Thank og it’s still the Dope we know and love. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2020, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sister-a-pro-hoax-believer-has-covid/915770/51 "2020-07-20T20:34:23Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Not sure specifically what that book is, but it’s clearly Hebrew. The picture appears to show an orthodox Jew practicing kapparot, a non-Biblical and non-Talmudic ritual in which one’s sins are transferred to a chicken which is then slaughtered in some ritual manner. Sort of reminds me of part of a Voudoun ritual I attended once… the nice Jewish man probably doesn’t want to know about that. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2020, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sister-a-pro-hoax-believer-has-covid/915770/52 "2020-07-20T20:37:57Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > If you enjoy that type of news: I just learned Wednesday that my rabid Trumper brother (Don’t blame the rest of our family, New England liberals all. He moved to Alabama thirty years and they DID something to him) has died from Covid. Can’t say I “enjoy” hearing that. I’m sorry your brother died, even if you weren’t close. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sister-a-pro-hoax-believer-has-covid/915770/53 "2020-07-23T12:34:53Z")
If we may un-hijack this thread (it’ll only take a moment), back to the OP: > [@racer72](#): > > My reply to her post was to get well and follow her doctor’s orders. After a few days of chicken-swinging hijack, any follow-up on your sister that you care to share? ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sister-a-pro-hoax-believer-has-covid/915770/54 "2020-07-23T13:50:28Z")
My niece called 911 on her mother and she was taken to a local hospital. The first doctor she saw read her the riot act and gave her two choices. Accept the treatment they would provide or go home and suffer the consequences. She also had to give the names of anyone she came in contact with the previous 7 days. They will all be told to be tested. My niece said she is improving and should be able to go home by Monday. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sister-a-pro-hoax-believer-has-covid/915770/55 "2020-07-23T14:18:25Z")
I’m glad to hear your sister is getting better. Does she still think coronavirus is a hoax? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sister-a-pro-hoax-believer-has-covid/915770/56 "2020-07-23T19:57:17Z")
I don’t wish ill on anyone’s sister, but if she gets a little sick for a few days and recovers, I imagine her new refrain will be “COVID might be real but it isn’t dangerous; all the deaths and lockdowns and mask rules are STILL hoaxes! I’ve just had it and now I know for sure.” ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sister-a-pro-hoax-believer-has-covid/915770/57 "2020-07-23T22:14:40Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > The first doctor she saw read her the riot act and gave her two choices. Accept the treatment they would provide or go home and suffer the consequences. Do you care to amplify on that a bit? Was she resisting whatever the doctors were recommending or getting belligerent or something? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2020, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sister-a-pro-hoax-believer-has-covid/915770/58 "2020-07-31T22:07:15Z")
@racer72: How’s your sister doing? ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Max](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9de053/32.png) [@Blue\_Max](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Max)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sister-a-pro-hoax-believer-has-covid/915770/59 "2020-08-02T03:33:10Z")
Look, this being a matter of life or death, I’d save the snark to post convalescence, and maybe do it in a mild way “Sis–I’d really rather you be wrong than dead”. As dumb as Herman Cain et al are, I don’t wish death upon them. I recommend listening to the following TV Episode for some insight on this: [John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight: Conspiracy Thories.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b_eHBZLM6U&t=1094s) I hope she recovers from both Covid and uncritical thinking, OP. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sister-a-pro-hoax-believer-has-covid/915770/60 "2020-08-02T11:36:30Z")
Thanks for the concern. My sister spent 6 days in the hospital and was released this past Wednesday. My niece has posted a couple updates, my sister is doing better. Lost her sense of taste and smell and had problems breathing. She should start feeling somewhat normal in a week or 2. Some symptoms will take longer to return such as her sense of taste. I have no idea if I will see her anytime soon, since this whole thing started I have followed all the recommendations and will continue to do so. I would like to talk to her about this but I doubt that will happen. Our political ideologies are vastly different, she called me a loser for a comment ridiculing the orange one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sister-a-pro-hoax-believer-has-covid/915770.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sister-a-pro-hoax-believer-has-covid/915770.md?page=4)