That’s the thing, the COVID conspiracy people now posting this shirt saying, “SEE!?! IT WAS LAB LEAK!!” as if that justifies every single other insane thing they’ve ever said about COVID. Because there’s a huge difference between “covid CAME FROM a lab” and “lab leak possible origin.” One implies conspiracy, the other implies carelessness. What’s the old saying? ‘Never attribute to malice what can be attributed to greed?’ I very much think the same applies to stupidity—and honestly, in this case, greed probably caused the stupidity. How much funding-slashing has led to calamity in recent times? Plenty.

[–] itsonlygeorge@reddthat.com 17 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I think the lab with a long record of carelessness leaking the virus by accident is entirely plausible if not the most reasonable explanation. The issue is not so much about how/when it was leaked, but more along the lines of how poorly they handled the whole situation and subsequent coverup. For all we know, it could have been leaked by accident way earlier.

[–] GarbageShoot@hexbear.net 23 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think the lab with a long record of carelessness leaking the virus by accident is entirely plausible if not the most reasonable explanation

I personally don't think it came from Detrick, but I don't fault you for thinking so

[–] itsonlygeorge@reddthat.com -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It came from the lab in Wuhan, not Detrick. We shall never really know since every govt, especially China will deny and cover up the truth.

[–] CombatLiberalism@hexbear.net 21 points 1 year ago

It didn't come from a lab in Wuhan, it was first discovered in Wuhan but was already going around in Italy for months at that point based on waste samples.

The point was that we have just as much evidence to say it came from Detrick as we do to say it came from a Chinese lab. It most likely didn't come from either, but only one of these conspiracies gets pushed. If you provide any pushback that maybe China isn't responsible for COVID you get met with "well they would lie and cover it up, so I might as well be right"

[–] jonne@infosec.pub 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah, I don't really have any issues with accepting a lab leak possibility, but the lab leak people generally add a whole bunch of other conspiracies on top of that (it was designed as a bioweapon, leaked intentionally, etc), and nobody can really explain why this would be any good as a bioweapon if it hurts you as much as your enemies, and if you release it without having a vaccine for it.

[–] itsonlygeorge@reddthat.com 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think the bio weapon part is from people who don’t understand what research is going on lab. They hear “gain of function” research and immediately think Resident Evil type bio weapon.

Not that I agree that type of research is good for us to be doing in the first place. But I do understand the reason we do that type if research is to learn about viruses and how to combat them as they mutate. I think it’s stupid to be doing that type of research anywhere, especially finding China.

[–] notacat@mander.xyz 8 points 1 year ago

“Gain of function” is an extremely broad category that is an absolutely necessary part of molecular biology research.

[–] wintermute_oregon@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

Exactly The issue is how China handled all of this. America has had leaks before as have other countries. China has several well known leaks.

China is still trying to hide the origins which to me heavily suggest a lab leak.

[–] drbluefall@toast.ooo 14 points 1 year ago

The original saying is "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."