EricHiggin said:
You weren't too specific but since we were talking about covid and death in general I thought it fit. I would assume the lack of blame and credit goes both ways? Seeing news reporters in the field pointing out how terrible it is that people aren't staying inside and aren't wearing masks because of economical reasons (Trump), then getting called out on air by those very 'terrible' people as to how the camera crew is standing right there and not wearing masks either, for example. (1st clip 1:20 if you want quick) 'Professionals' in the public eye, who would even shame people based on the science, who like to shame Trump, don't even practice as they preach. If the problem was that bad, and masks were that effective, you'd think this wouldn't ever be a concern for the people on board with it. That's not saying the science explained to the people is wrong and masks are useless, but who really believes what, and how are people expected to follow anyone if they don't set a proper example? When someone praises their leader for saying and doing the right thing, and then you don't actually follow through yourself, it's no wonder why some people don't believe it. Plenty of reason to split up any blame. On a side note, notice all the sudden replies about covid here after your last response? The covid section of the debate didn't go so great for Trump as per many. Trump then get's covid shortly afterwards and look at everything being said about the situation. It's a mess and it's one heck of a coincidence. I'm not saying it's a conspiracy, but Trump again is getting people to play his game one way or another. Whether it works in his favor or not, we'll see. |
Yes. It goes both ways.
The cameraman should have definitely been wearing a mask. He was deservedly called out. And, I'm happy to say fuck him.
Difference is though, that the cameraman isn't the President of the US. The only people he's putting at risk are those around him. Don't get me wrong, that's absolutely disgusting, and again fuck him for that. But beyond the people he might affect and the people who he might influence (which since he's a cameraman is probably not a huge amount of people) he's not causing a massive amount of harm.
Trump on the other hand has a tremendous amount of power and influence. As Uncle Ben says, with great power comes great responsibility. His actions, I'm sure you would agree, have a much bigger impact than the cameraman. So, he deserves much more of the blame.
Also, a cameraman's job isn't to manage a pandemic. So, again, he should be held accountable for the risk he's posing to those around him, but he doesn't bear a responsibility for the national response to the pandemic, while Trump does.
As for the reporter in the first video, I don't see any reason to condemn him without more evidence. He can't really control his cameraman. Maybe he personally doesn't believe in wearing masks and is a hypocrite. It's also possible that he told his cameraman to wear a mask, and the cameraman said "fuck you". The reporter can't control the cameraman. Without knowing more, I can't say anything negative about the reporter in the first video. I had to go somewhere with my cousin, and she refuses to wear a mask and thinks the pandemic is a hoax. I tried my best to convince her, but she I couldn't. But it was important, and I had to go, so what am I gonna do?
On that subject I feel the next question is what can Trump do if people don't wear masks... And if Trump was doing everything he could to promote the views of the experts and some people still didn't listen (which some people wouldn't no matter what like my cousin whose decision to not wear a mask has nothing to do with Trump) then I would have no problem with him (for this at least). But he's actively fighting against the best advice of the experts.
In the second video, same thing mostly applies. But I'm not going to say fuck her just yet. It's hard to tell from the angle she's at, but I'm not sure how close she is to anyone else, and she was leaving so maybe she didn't plan on being near anyone else. I definitely think she should be wearing the mask at all times when she's outside to protect herself and others, but I don't know if she was really putting many people at risk here. I'm not expecting perfection.
So, it was a bad decision. But... it's not on the level of holding rallies with no protection or getting into a hermetically sealed vehicle when you actually have the fucking disease.
Basically the question is this. If the reporter and cameraman had been wearing their masks appropriately, would it have made a significant impact in the way the country as a whole viewed masks and how the virus progressed? I think no.
If Trump had been advocating the positions of the experts, who he had access to, and advising people to listen to the scientists and follow their recommendations on masks, would that have made a difference? I think you'd have to admit that there's at least a chance it would have.
As for the conspiracy theory, I really don't buy it. I would absolutely not put it past Trump to lie about this, but I have more respect for people around him, who I tend to think would not try to deceive the public in such a way (not that they wouldn't lie at all). I don't think the doctors at the hospital would be complicit. Just too many people involved. I'm not a conspiracy theorist.
As for whether it will help him, we'll see, but I really don't think anyone who wasn't already on his side is going to be swayed by this or be galvanized really. I think it's more likely that Democrats, who mostly see Covid as the #1 issue in the election, will be more motivated to vote. And I think undecided voters will view this more as a failure than a success. But who knows. My opinion is probably skewed because most people I know tend to think like me. And at least 40% of the country or so sees things very differently.
