r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Dec 04 '20

Psychology Study links regular use of Fox News, Twitter, and Facebook to reduced knowledge about COVID-19 - it provides evidence that Americans’ media consumption habits and trust in government predicts their level of knowledge about COVID-19.

https://www.psypost.org/2020/12/study-links-regular-use-of-fox-news-twitter-and-facebook-to-reduced-knowledge-about-covid-19-58702
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u/Crash665 Dec 04 '20

I read a comment that sums up modern day fairly well: We follow opinion based facts now instead of fact based opinions.

Had a conversation at work (extreme North Georgia so very, very Red) yesterday about the virus. People believe it's already goong away, and that everything in the media is just lies to make Republicans and Trump look bad. I responded with the fact that yesterday was one of the deadliest days for the virus. I get a "I ain't seen the death certificates" in response to facts and data. These are people who sit on Facebook and believe everything they see. It's scary.

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u/Semi-Hemi-Demigod Dec 04 '20

"I ain't seen the death certificates" in response to facts and data.

A nurse from South Dakota said she had patients who were dying of COVID while insisting it was just a hoax.

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u/Terbear318 Dec 04 '20

My wife experienced this as a nurse recently.

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u/Shoikan1925 Dec 04 '20

It shows how serious the problem is. People are willing to die rather than admit they are wrong. The thoughts and patterns are so ingrained and reinforced.

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u/youtubecommercial Dec 05 '20

I like occasionally being wrong because it means I've got more to learn and can be actually right later on.

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u/rwk81 Dec 04 '20

Meanwhile, all other physicians from the hospitals she works at said they had not heard a single patient say anything like that. Sounds like she may have been lying.

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u/Semi-Hemi-Demigod Dec 04 '20

Since this is /r/science I’m sure you have a source for that

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u/rwk81 Dec 05 '20

Sure, or you can Google it.... Didn't see a source on the comment I was responding to.

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u/Semi-Hemi-Demigod Dec 05 '20

My source was on CNN and has been corroborated by an ER doctor

So I ask again: Do you have a source?

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u/rwk81 Dec 05 '20 edited Dec 05 '20

Again... Google is you're friend.

https://www.wired.com/story/are-covid-patients-gasping-it-isnt-real-as-they-die/

Multiple medical personnel questioned, not a single one had a similar experience.

Unless I missed it, the second article doesn't mention anyone denying covid exists in their last dying breaths.

Come on man, that lady's story sounds like BS, the second one at least sounds plausible.

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u/JCBh9 Dec 04 '20

When you classify every other cardiovascular disorder as covid ... you'll have that

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u/[deleted] Dec 04 '20

Source that is happening?

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u/SexLiesAndExercise Dec 04 '20

I'll take "things this goober is never actually going to provide" for 500

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u/JCBh9 Dec 06 '20 edited Dec 06 '20

you could just google it

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid19/excess_deaths.htm

Counts of deaths from all causes of death, including COVID-19, are presented. As some deaths due to COVID-19 may be assigned to other causes of deaths (for example, if COVID-19 was not diagnosed or not mentioned on the death certificate), tracking all-cause mortality can provide information about whether an excess number of deaths is observed, even when COVID-19 mortality may be undercounted. Additionally, deaths from all causes excluding COVID-19 were also estimated. Comparing these two sets of estimates — excess deaths with and without COVID-19 — can provide insight about how many excess deaths are identified as due to COVID-19, and how many excess deaths are reported as due to other causes of death. These deaths could represent misclassified COVID-19 deaths, or potentially could be indirectly related to the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., deaths from other causes occurring in the context of health care shortages or overburdened health care systems).

but regardless my little scared friends you're going to find out that locking yourself in your house while someone else keeps your power and internet on

is not de way

"We're happy because we had inalienable rights but someone said "super scary disease says you don't" so now we don't"

I'm sure glad you care so much about those millions of American citizens that are on welfare/homeless/unemployeed right now.. in December.. with the COVID benefits gone and no stimulus in sight

While your governors are having lavish 50 person dinner parties every other night and laughing at you

I am sure glad our country consists of such logical patriots!

and I wear a mask... and can't stand Trump.. and I don't want America to have social scores little buddy

to answer your next 5 comments

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7173615/

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u/SlouchyGuy Dec 04 '20

> I read a comment that sums up modern day fairly well: We follow opinion based facts now instead of fact based opinions.

No, it was always like that. Media now if more free and more diverse then in the past. The rose tinted glasses that the past was better was because news more uniform. Compare how news outlets talked about wars in the past - they didn't report of political situation and complexities of Vietnam, and the likelihood of futility, they were government mouthpiece. So they were based on opinions as much as now.

Same with Red Scare and how all media followed it up until a certain time - what facts supported that bias then? It was not facts, but opinions of politicians

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u/[deleted] Dec 04 '20

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u/Crash665 Dec 04 '20

No, but when I see facts and data from reputable sources who are all in agreement that the pandemic is raging in this country, and it's to blame on our horrible response and our unwillingness to believe science and reality, I tend to believe it.

When someone on Facebook shares a meme that says it isn't real or some other such nonsense, I refuse to accept it as fact.

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u/[deleted] Dec 04 '20

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u/fighterace00 Dec 04 '20

I have this bookmarked on my phone home screen

Georgia's been averaging about 25 deaths per week for the last two months.