[geofft]

I agree that they are rare. Dr. McCullough's claim was that they were impossible, that Rogan's friend who got it twice actually had influenza or something one of the times - a diagnosis he made based on no information other than appearing to have gotten it twice.

If he merely claimed they were rare, that would not discredit him.

[dublin]

And as mentioned above, he later clarified that he was talking about pre-Omicron variants, where that was true. It now seems possible to get Omicron more than once, but since it has virtually no impact (most people never even know they have it, especially here in Austin in Dec-Feb "Cedar Fever" season), it really makes no difference, other than that it's not yet known if it works the other way, so that an Omicron infection may provide protection against prior variants.

[vorpalhex]

To recap, you are upset because a doctor on a podcast used the phrase "impossible" instead of "very rare"?

[akiselev]

What's the point of professionals and experts if they don't communicate clearly and precisely? Why even have him on a podcast?

[coderaptor]

Communicating technical concepts to lay audiences is difficult, and a universal problem these days.

Very rare and impossible are nearly equivalent wrt policies that broadly and significantly impact personal health and liberty.

[akiselev]

I agree that communicating these concepts is hard, but that characterization of "very rare" and "impossible" only makes it harder.

Pandemics are very rare. Flying unicorns shooting Ebola out of their horns are impossible.

[bobthebuilders]

Nope. Genetic engineering and bioweapons could very make the latter a reality. And that's why you don't try to be pendantic.

[geofft]

I'm hardly "upset" - I just think the doctor is not a reliable source of medical information and not operating in good faith.

Are you upset because I hold that view based on observable evidence? Like, genuinely, I'm confused why you're so invested in arguing against me. What's the thing I said that you disagree with? Are you saying that the doctor is a reliable source of medical information despite his entirely unsubstantiated pronouncement that there was no possible way Joe Rogan's friend could have gotten covid twice, and one of those cases must have been influenza or something?

Attack facts and claims, not people.