Do you feel nowadays that you don't know who to believe or trust regarding information on the coronavirus, how bad it is and what are the best measures to contain it?

Call me old-fashioned, but I go with that boring science stuff, and those stuffy experts.

I think I know which sources to trust. In my first white collar job I had a boss who swore by the 80/20 rule, that if 80% of the experts in whichever field were in agreement on something he'd stand with them. My gut has told me 80% of the medical scientists have said the virus is 'bad' and have recommended measures to contain it. I agree with that 80% (my rough calculation). I don't agree with the 20% (again, rough calculation) claiming the virus is a hoax, doesn't exist, that it's just another cold/flu/hepatitis, that it's lizards manipulating and scaremongering for the benefit of some imaginary force like 'the deep state', 'the media', the orcs, whatever.

The people that I don't need to believe are very easy to spot.

They don't wear masks.

They endlessly bleat about their right to not wear a mask.

They say this is on par with the flu.

They call it the "Chinese virus", "Kung-flu" or whatever flippant term of the week is being used.

They call it a "Democrat-fueled hoax".

Refusal to distance themselves socially.

The see the numbers, and the fact the numbers are going up, and dismiss it all anyway.

And finally, perhaps the scariest ones, the ones who just don't care.

summed it up beautifully.

As for who to trust that's easy. I just look for comments and statements by Anthony Faucci

The people that I don't need to believe are very easy to spot.

They don't wear masks.

They endlessly bleat about their right to not wear a mask.

They say this is on par with the flu.

They call it the "Chinese virus", "Kung-flu" or whatever flippant term of the week is being used.

They call it a "Democrat-fueled hoax".

Refusal to distance themselves socially.

The see the numbers, and the fact the numbers are going up, and dismiss it all anyway.

And finally, perhaps the scariest ones, the ones who just don't care.

Go with the science. But also know that science is about gaining new information and adjusting the way you act according to that. This is a new disease, even scientists are yet to know everything about it, and it seems like a lot of people get confused when science gives new information, sometimes different from what has been previously said. When this happens, many people seem to just turn completely away from scientists, thinking they can't be trusted at all. Sure, scientists can make mistakes and change their minds, but they are definitely more informed than you or your grandma on FB.

Go with the science.

The scientists and the medics. Especially those who have been at the front line and cared for patients who didn't make it.

The naysayers who tell other people to "wake up" and call the rest of us "sheeple" aren't the brightest, so it can be cause for an ironic chortle, if it wasn't so damn depressing and irresponsible.

I just go straight to government websites for information and minimize my exposure to news which tends to have a healthy dose of embellishment. However, I also trust those known experts that have statements that go against official government stances as there's a chance that whistle blowers that tend to give the actual reality that authorities don't want to be leaked out, but I still consider them with a grain of salt either way.

Rule 1:

Avoid conspiracy theories.

@kyronstavic. That’s how science works. It changes when new evidence is there. You are learning all the time.

There is no such thing as truly objective sources of information, considering that every human being has some kind of bias and prejudice against something. Even science is not a reliable since scientists are "biased" wvwn from when they are coming up with their hypothesis. There are especially many conspiracy theories regarding coronavirus and all of the information on the internet seem questionable. The influence those posts have on people is humongous, with millions on users around the world cam easily have access to them and be deceived. However, we can say that sources from experts are way more reliable than those from ordinary people. What we need is media literacy and critical thinking to not be controlled by false information.

There's lots of science out there, some of it's real, some fake and some twisted to suit a range of agendas. I think some of it is being distorted and suppressed to drag this crisis out even longer.

What and whose agendas?

By what or whose criteria do you judge ‘real’, ‘fake’ and ‘twisted’ science?

Who do you think is doing the suppressing and distorting, and most importantly, do you have any evidence of this?

Are you sure you’ve checked yourself to make sure your political view isn’t informing your perspective on science?

For those saying trust the science, are you the scientist doing the analysis? Or are you just trusting the scientist? What happens when the scientists are giving conflicting messages who do you trust then? Based on source (news), credentials, message or severity? Little bit of common sense yourself? But then is it really based on science then?

Yes, because scientists doing the science and told us the science as they know it.

What, are you going to trust the "judgement" of some right wing yahoos, anti-vaxxers, masks are for liberals, college age children/fools, people who think Bill Gates is doing something nefarious, or people who honestly think that a lying, draft dodging liar is their Messiah?

Are you sure you’ve checked yourself to make sure your political view isn’t informing your perspective on science?

Yes. Everyone’s perspective is going to be colored by their political views to some extent, but at least I’m honest enough to admit it. Are you?

How sure are you that you’re 100% objective?

In any case, science is never settled; we’re learning new things all the time, and tweaking and discarding theories that don’t hold up.

On this website it seems to be heresy to question motivations of governments, pharmaceutical companies and some former software guy. But it’s open season on anyone who has good reason to be skeptical. Yet anyone who just glibly says “I believe the science” without qualifying which science get a free pass.

What, are you going to trust the "judgement" of some right wing yahoos, anti-vaxxers, masks are for liberals, college age children/fools, people who think Bill Gates is doing something nefarious, or people who honestly think that a lying, draft dodging liar is their Messiah?

What, are you going to trust some left-wing yahoos, the gullible who believe anything they read and see in the mainstream media, press releases from pharmaceutical companies, governments who lie through their teeth as a matter of course and lock down states or countries and destroy their economies, governments that send infected people off to aged-care homes to infect and kill thousands of elderly people and dodge responsibility for it, a WHO that’s in thrall to the Chinese Communist Party?

The question was about faith and trust. Personally, I have faith and trust in myself, and my habit of erring on the side of caution. Doesn't make me a hermit, though.

LudditeToday  01:49 pm JST

Go with the science.

Which science? The science is constantly developing, and there's plenty of debate and disagreement among scientists about how dangerous this virus is to whom and how fast it spreads, what the best treatments are at different phases of symptoms, how safe and effective a vaccine will be.

Do you trust the scientists who have advised governments to lock down populations for months on end, or those who advise them to keep economies more open?

Do you trust Fauci and other WHO scientists who said back in March that masks are not helpful, or do you trust their opinion now that we should wear masks when out in public?

Do you trust scientists like Neil Ferguson, who predicted hundreds of thousands of deaths in the UK and advocated for lockdowns? The same guy who snuck out for trysts with his lover in contravention of the rules he wanted imposed on everyone else?

It's no wonder it's hard to get a clear picture when there's so much conflicting information out there, and so much hypocrisy and so many lies told by governments.

Having known people exposed to and infected by the virus, as well as people working in close proximity to infections constantly,

I know that it is 1.not likely to be fatal without an existing medical condition and 2.can be kept at bay by being cautious and by following protocols to limit infection.

There is no need for worldwide draconian measures which are damaging our lives-pure overkill!

No.

For those saying trust the science, are you the scientist doing the analysis? Or are you just trusting the scientist? What happens when the scientists are giving conflicting messages who do you trust then? Based on source (news), credentials, message or severity? Little bit of common sense yourself? But then is it really based on science then?

I don't trust the people around me after seeing the world's reaction to the virus. You don't trust scientists, but you use the products and technologies they are responsible for everyday? hmmmm....

What happens when the scientists are giving conflicting messages who do you trust then?

Just like to clarify that I mean different scientist giving conflicting messages. Not all scientist has the same message or conclusion especially at the beginning of the pandemic.

I just don't view the "trust science" answer as an answer. as unless you are doing the auditing or the analysis, you are just putting your trust in that person, not science. Not to say it's wrong to, as society doesn't work with no trust at all.

LudditeToday  06:11 pm JST

@kyronstavic. That’s how science works. It changes when new evidence is there. You are learning all the time.

Exactly, I wasn't having a go at you, just using your comment as a lead-in to an answer ;-)

There's lots of science out there, some of it's real, some fake and some twisted to suit a range of agendas. I think some of it is being distorted and suppressed to drag this crisis out even longer.

But what would I know?

Impossible

At least in the US. Some States and Hospitals want the corona cash and are inflating their numbers to get it. So a 20’s motorcycle crash victim is listed as a corona death.

Sadly, most of the deaths are the elderly. You get the occasional Hollywood/celebrity story(WGAS).

invalid CSRF

The scientists and the medics. Especially those who have been at the front line and cared for patients 

Like the ones who were banned from socia media?

As for who to trust that's easy. I just look for comments and statements by Anthony Faucci

Faucci doesn't even trust himself. When he sat in an empty baseball stadium sandwich tightly between to other people (no social distancing) and not wearing a mask. Faucci is corrupt, he funded the Wuhan lab research that likely produced this virus, and he stands to profit massively from vaccines.

I rely on MSM only to get some idea of what not to believe. I get info from a variety of scientists and doctors (and official stats) and use my own judgement as to what is likely the truth.