# We're all going to die!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 16, 2005, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-going-to-die/321978 "2005-09-16T15:22:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ParadoxMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@ParadoxMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParadoxMan)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-going-to-die/321978/1 "2005-09-16T15:22:55Z")
I’m getting sick and tired of newshows that predict certain death in the near future for hundred’s of thousands or millions. Last night, me and my wife were watching Primetime and they had a segment on a new strain of [bird flu](http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/Investigation/story?id=1130392&page=1). They were comparing this flu to the flu of 1918 that would be very virulent and fatal. Furthermore, they said there is no vaccine and that the only treatment, Tamiflu, is in extremely limited doses in the US. Conservative estimates of death in the US 200000+ according to the show. And it could all happen this winter. :eek: > [@](#): > > [snip] even the country’s top health officials concede that a killer flu epidemic this winter would make the scenes of Katrina pale in comparison. [snip] Now the show didn’t offer any solutions to the problem or what the average person could do in the event that a killer flu was to strike to protect themselves, other than apparently raiding the closest hospital for any Tamiflu. The only thing it accomplished was scaring the begebbers out of my wife. So screw you Primetime for giving my wife a panic attack. Now we’ll have to move out in to the desert, in an underground bunker, away from any potential contact with any people. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-going-to-die/321978/2 "2005-09-16T15:30:11Z")
> [@ParadoxMan](#): > > Now we’ll have to move out in to the desert, in an underground bunker, away from any potential contact with any people. Where a migrating duck will drop dead into your airshaft. Glad I could help! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-going-to-die/321978/3 "2005-09-16T15:32:12Z")
Is it a sweeps month? I love sweeps months because of the local news promos. “YOU HAVE A DEADLY KILLER IN YOUR KITCHEN! We’ll tell you what it is at 10” Thanks for the tip, I’m going to get my doctor to prescribe me some o’ that Tamilflu! ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-going-to-die/321978/4 "2005-09-16T15:34:27Z")
Well, we _are_ all gonna die. Eventually. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-going-to-die/321978/5 "2005-09-16T15:36:50Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > Well, we _are_ all gonna die. Eventually. 😉 Not me. I’ve made the conscience choice to never die. ---
**Author:** ![ParadoxMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@ParadoxMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParadoxMan)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-going-to-die/321978/6 "2005-09-16T15:38:34Z")
[QUOTE=August West] Is it a sweeps month? I love sweeps months because of the local news promos. “YOU HAVE A DEADLY KILLER IN YOUR KITCHEN! We’ll tell you what it is at 10” [\QUOTE] Holy crap!!! Hope you survived long enough to find out what it was. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-going-to-die/321978/7 "2005-09-16T15:42:34Z")
I just don’t buy the whole “Mutant Bird Flu!!!11” thing that’s going around, if only because it’s too prevalent and too fashionable. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-going-to-die/321978/8 "2005-09-16T15:46:45Z")
The warnings come from the WHO. It has been commented here too, and this bird flu story has been a news item for some time (And the risk mentionned for a long time) . My (rather serious) newspaper had a rather long article on this issue some days ago. The newshow is just doing its job by commenting on actual news. You should rather complain to the WHO. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-going-to-die/321978/9 "2005-09-16T15:49:35Z")
Fortunately, you won’t have to _buy_ it, because when it comes, it will be given away for **free**! Dontcha just luv free stuff? ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-going-to-die/321978/10 "2005-09-16T15:52:56Z")
I’m just going to paraphrase a quote by Bill Hicks from more than 10 years ago: "Ever watch CNN? Death, destruction, bombs, famine, crime, murders, death, despair… Then you look out your window and it’s **chirp** **chirp** **chirp** **chirp** **chirp** **chirp**" Actually, it’s scary and amusing how sadly relevant Bill Hicks’ routines are considering he died in '93. His stuff about Iraq and George Bush juxtapose perfectly :(. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-going-to-die/321978/11 "2005-09-16T15:53:11Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > The newshow is just doing its job by commenting on actual news. You should rather complain to the WHO. You’re missing something about the culture of the U.S. Our news shows take great pleasure in reporting anything with any possible danger as the next end of the world. Now this may have been a perfectly respectable and accurate job of reporting, but if so, it was an exception in this country. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-going-to-die/321978/12 "2005-09-16T15:54:13Z")
Don’t worry, all the birds carrying the flu will be stung to death by killer bees. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-going-to-die/321978/13 "2005-09-16T15:55:17Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > Well, we _are_ all gonna die. Eventually. 😉 Eh, we had a decent run. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-going-to-die/321978/14 "2005-09-16T15:57:24Z")
Grey tape! I gotta get grey tape! Wrap the house in grey tape and plastic drop sheets! Gotta keep safe! ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-going-to-die/321978/15 "2005-09-16T16:09:15Z")
[Mice Infected With Bubonic Plague Missing](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050916/ap_on_sc/missing_mice) > [@](#): > > NEWARK, N.J. - Three mice infected with the bacteria responsible for bubonic plague apparently disappeared from a laboratory about two weeks ago, and authorities launched a search ---
**Author:** ![liberty3701](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@liberty3701](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liberty3701)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-going-to-die/321978/16 "2005-09-16T16:14:22Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > Not me. I’ve made the conscience choice to never die. > [@Catch 22](#): > > He had decided to live forever or die in the attempt 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-going-to-die/321978/17 "2005-09-16T16:14:59Z")
The Onion of course had this one covered back in February: [Nation’s Leading Alarmists Excited About Bird Flu](http://www.theonion.com/content/node/30868) > [@](#): > > Ruth Herrin, the New York Post’s veteran panic expert, has relied heavily on information provided by alarmists in the scientific community. > > “Listen, I’m no disease expert,” Herrin said. “But I know that people should be warned about global devastation any time a devastation scenario can be extrapolated from an actual news report. And for the 16th consecutive month, that time is now.” ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-going-to-die/321978/18 "2005-09-16T16:16:07Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > [Mice Infected With Bubonic Plague Missing](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050916/ap_on_sc/missing_mice) The lab is now saying they thing the missing mice were eaten by the other, now all dead, mice. Yummy breakfast news! After the piece the anchorblonde was sure to mention-- twice-- that the lab believes IT WASN’T TERRORISTS! In case you didn’t hear it, let me repeat: TERRORISTS DID[SIZE=1]n’t STEAL THE BUBONIC MICE IN AN EFFORT TO KILL US ALL[/SIZE] ---
**Author:** ![ParadoxMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@ParadoxMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParadoxMan)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-going-to-die/321978/19 "2005-09-16T16:18:12Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > The warnings come from the WHO. It has been commented here too, and this bird flu story has been a news item for some time (And the risk mentionned for a long time) . My (rather serious) newspaper had a rather long article on this issue some days ago. > The newshow is just doing its job by commenting on actual news. You should rather complain to the WHO. It’s not the substance of the story that I pit. The risk of a pandemic is something that should be prepared for and is a serious matter. What I pit is the way it was handled. The primetime show did nothing to help the situation. The only thing I could see that it accomplished was to educate that Tamiflu is our only defense, lay blame at the Bush administration for not buying more Tamiflu - admittedly bad policy in my book but still nothing of a solution, and tell us that there is no vaccine. The segment also made it sound like the pandemic flu is already in progress and by this winter will be killing thousands of people in the US and a billion worldwide. > [@](#): > > It could kill a billion people worldwide, make ghost towns out of parts of major cities, and there is not enough medicine to fight it. It is called the avian flu. If they’d leave off the scare tactics and quit panicing my wife (and I’m sure untold 1000’s of others) it would make a good story. But as is, it does little more than foster a mass panic/anxiety reaction. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-going-to-die/321978/20 "2005-09-16T17:03:03Z")
You never get that kind of newsmagazine crap when you set your TV to the Cartoon Network. I can get news from a newspaper. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-going-to-die/321978.md?page=2)