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Native americans socially distanced for thousands of years and never got sick. Then some neighbors visited and BAM 90% smallpox die-off.

The things you're doing are just precautionary and absolutely feed into your run of good health. However, there is a greater than 0% chance luck is the primary factor too.

I don't discount anyone taking steps to remain healthy, but if I see you masking alone in a car or outside, I know you're a whackadoo.

GORDON wrote: Tue Apr 29, 2025 11:46 am Native americans socially distanced for thousands of years and never got sick. Then some neighbors visited and BAM 90% smallpox die-off.

As it turned out, their social distancing was actually bad for them.

Ditto for kids not exposed to lots of stuff growing up.

Leisher wrote: Tue Apr 29, 2025 11:47 am

GORDON wrote: Tue Apr 29, 2025 11:46 am Native americans socially distanced for thousands of years and never got sick. Then some neighbors visited and BAM 90% smallpox die-off.

As it turned out, their social distancing was actually bad for them.

Which is my point. I wonder how that next common cold will hit when he skipped the last 5 iterations. I wonder if the cause of death would be "extreme social distancing."

Leisher wrote: Tue Apr 29, 2025 11:47 am there is a greater than 0% chance luck is the primary factor too

Primary? Meh. It's been too long to say luck is the biggest reason. But I'd never argue that it's 0%. I'd argue that masks that are designed (and experts certify) that they can stop 95% of something from getting in your nose is a pretty big factor.

Leisher wrote: Tue Apr 29, 2025 11:47 am Ditto for kids not exposed to lots of stuff growing up.

And that's the key. Your immune system is built when you are young. Then it is what it is. You can't 'exercise' your immune system by getting sick with random stuff. You can develop antibodies after being sick, etc. But that's not strengthening your immune system. It's introducing an external thing. Kind of like getting a vaccine. But your immune system didn't change. I actually researched this a while ago for like 20 minutes when I started getting concerned by the fact that I wasn't getting sick any more. So, I know what I'm talking about.

I had my immune system erased at the age of 30 with a combination of plasmapheresis and chemotherapy.

It took about 10 years for it to build back up to where I didn't have sniffles 5 days out of 7. I had the immune system of a newborn.

Now I don't.

Cakedaddy wrote: Tue Apr 29, 2025 12:11 pm Then it is what it is. You can't 'exercise' your immune system by getting sick with random stuff.

People get shingles inoculations late in life. That is exactly building up your immune system as an adult.

Cakedaddy wrote: Tue Apr 29, 2025 12:11 pm I'd argue that masks that are designed (and experts certify) that they can stop 95% of something from getting in your nose is a pretty big factor.

Let me eat a breakfast of hard boiled eggs and beans with onions. Then let's go on a road trip together. You wear your mask. If you never have to roll the window down, your mask works.

Cakedaddy wrote: Tue Apr 29, 2025 12:11 pm And that's the key. Your immune system is built when you are young. Then it is what it is.

A large portion of it sure, but no, it is not a final product.

Leisher wrote: Tue Apr 29, 2025 4:21 pm Let me eat a breakfast of hard boiled eggs and beans with onions. Then let's go on a road trip together. You wear your mask. If you never have to roll the window down, your mask works.

That's not very scientific.

Particles that trigger a sense of smell are typically fairly simple molecules that are several orders of magnitude smaller than viruses. And since SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted as part of small droplets, the difference in size becomes even more pronounced.

At the risk of sounding like a woman (but I'm going to lean into it). . . We had already discussed the fact that you can smell through those masks which lead to a quick google search about smell vs viruses and it was learned that smell is WAY smaller than virus. I'm not sure why he doesn't remember that. . .

In fact, here's a screenshot of the conversation!!

TheCatt wrote: Tue Apr 29, 2025 5:37 pm That's not very scientific.

I cannot think of anything more scientific!

I'm probably horny because this reminded me of some of the experimentation I did with girls when I was single. "I've heard this increases pleasure..." and then we did it. Learn by doing!

Cakedaddy wrote: Tue Apr 29, 2025 7:12 pm I'm not sure why he doesn't remember that. . .

Because I'm not a woman.

Now on a business note: I need an update on the horns when you get a moment.

Covid vaccines are only going to be given to the elderly and people with existing conditions that make them more vulnerable.

Feels like this validates some more of what critics were saying, but I know we're not allowed to revisit how poorly the government responded to Covid.

That's dumb.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the only strains of Covid that are still out there are pretty mild. Live healthy and you'll be fine.

This isn't anti-vax (I, literally, just got part 2 of the Shingles vax Friday), but I do think if you don't need a vax, it makes more sense to not get a vax.

Leisher wrote: Wed May 21, 2025 10:05 am Correct me if I'm wrong, but the only strains of Covid that are still out there are pretty mild. Live healthy and you'll be fine.

This isn't anti-vax (I, literally, just got part 2 of the Shingles vax Friday), but I do think if you don't need a vax, it makes more sense to not get a vax.

I think people should be empowered to make their own health care decisions. The flu isn't going to kill me, but I'd rather not get it, or have it be milder, so I get a flu vaccine.

Ugh, I have to get the Shingles vaccine soon. How did it go?

TheCatt wrote: Wed May 21, 2025 10:06 am I think people should be empowered to make their own health care decisions.

If someone wants the vax and will pay for it, sure. I don't expect an insurance company to cover it, but that's a whole other topic.

TheCatt wrote: Wed May 21, 2025 10:06 am The flu isn't going to kill me

According to Copilot, the flu has surpassed Covid in kills for the first time since the pandemic, so it's the champ again.

TheCatt wrote: Wed May 21, 2025 10:06 am Ugh, I have to get the Shingles vaccine soon. How did it go?

Obviously, part 2 is fresher in my mind, but I believe both went the same for me: The arm that got the shot will be sore AF for about two days. You might also get mild body achiness and a general feeling of blah.

Leisher wrote: Wed May 21, 2025 10:15 am The arm that got the shot will be sore AF for about two days. You might also get mild body achiness and a general feeling of blah.

My FIL got it, and the arm pain was so bad he didn't realize he was actually having a heart attack.

Leisher wrote: Wed May 21, 2025 10:15 am If someone wants the vax and will pay for it, sure. I don't expect an insurance company to cover it, but that's a whole other topic.

I would expect insurance to pay for it, just like the flu vaccine.

TheCatt wrote: Wed May 21, 2025 10:32 am

Leisher wrote: Wed May 21, 2025 10:15 am The arm that got the shot will be sore AF for about two days. You might also get mild body achiness and a general feeling of blah.

My FIL got it, and the arm pain was so bad he didn't realize he was actually having a heart attack.

Mine wasn't that bad. Just really sore. It was fun having my right arm super sore and having golfer's elbow in my left arm.

TheCatt wrote: Wed May 21, 2025 10:33 am

Leisher wrote: Wed May 21, 2025 10:15 am If someone wants the vax and will pay for it, sure. I don't expect an insurance company to cover it, but that's a whole other topic.

I would expect insurance to pay for it, just like the flu vaccine.

Neither of us can honestly say we're right on this, and neither can the insurance companies. Not yet.

I think we need more years of data going forward. If Covid results in similar down time and medical costs as the flu in otherwise healthy people, then yes, it should be covered. However, based on the OG article and the flu now overtaking Covid, it doesn't seem like that will be the case. If you want it for the 1% chance that you might get sick enough to miss work for a day, I think the insurance company has the right to say they're willing to take that chance and won't cover it.

And I say that as someone that hates insurance companies. I'll also add the caveat that it shouldn't cost you $9,000 to get the shot either. Perhaps the insurance companies can use their pull to get the vax in bulk, and then add it to some "optional preventative measures also covered" listing in people's plans?

Sadly, as we discuss shingles shots, we're rapidly approaching this being a moot point for both of us.

Leisher wrote: Wed May 21, 2025 10:41 am having golfer's elbow in my left arm.

Ugh, I've got golfer's elbow in my right arm. And I don't even golf.

Leisher wrote: Wed May 21, 2025 10:41 am Sadly, as we discuss shingles shots, we're rapidly approaching this being a moot point for both of us.

I don't like talking to you any more

TheCatt wrote: Wed May 21, 2025 11:14 am Ugh, I've got golfer's elbow in my right arm. And I don't even golf.

The only perk of getting it, is I realized that golf has become so popular that tennis elbow became golfer's elbow. So, I learned an interesting tidbit.

Also, WTF? We have the same taste in women and the same ailments? Stop copying me!