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The “Alabama college students are betting on who can get COVID-19 first” story is bullshit. It’s as believable as rainbow parties or pregnancy pacts. Let’s take this reporting apart. Thread/
First, the source.
ABC appears to have broken the story and it’s quite a read.
I admit my reaction to the headline was “hahaha that’s insane!” before I clicked on the story and saw the red flags. https://abcnews.go.com/US/alabama-students-throwing-covid-parties-infected-officials/story?id=71552514">https://abcnews.go.com/US/alabam...
ABC appears to have broken the story and it’s quite a read.
I admit my reaction to the headline was “hahaha that’s insane!” before I clicked on the story and saw the red flags. https://abcnews.go.com/US/alabama-students-throwing-covid-parties-infected-officials/story?id=71552514">https://abcnews.go.com/US/alabam...
The entire story is “a councillor said this crazy thing is happening.”
OK. How big are the parties? How often are they held? Which schools are impacted?
You won’t find that here or in any follow up stories I’ve seen!
OK. How big are the parties? How often are they held? Which schools are impacted?
You won’t find that here or in any follow up stories I’ve seen!
Also, where are the actual students?!?!
There are no posts about these parties on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook or Twitter?
No one has posted to social media a photo or video of a pot of cash for the first person to get COVID-19?
There are no posts about these parties on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook or Twitter?
No one has posted to social media a photo or video of a pot of cash for the first person to get COVID-19?
And even if someone finds ONE instance where a party like this took place, and there is no evidence it has even happened, that doesn’t make it the campus trend it’s been described as.
True or not, this story was made to go viral:
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">Setting is Alabama (“lol I bet they’re hicks who love Trump lmao”)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">”Those crazy kids are at it again!”https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤦🏻♂️" title="Mann schlägt sich die Hand vors Gesicht (heller Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Mann schlägt sich die Hand vors Gesicht (heller Hautton)">
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✅" title="Fettes weißes Häkchen" aria-label="Emoji: Fettes weißes Häkchen">Stupid people ignoring a global pandemic
There’s also something classist about this story’s popularity.
It went viral when it came out of Alabama. But “COVID-19 parties” didn’t go as viral when they were first reported (then retracted) in Washington state in May, though. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/walla-walla-county-retracts-claim-about-coronavirus-parties-says-they-never-occurred/">https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-n...
It went viral when it came out of Alabama. But “COVID-19 parties” didn’t go as viral when they were first reported (then retracted) in Washington state in May, though. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/walla-walla-county-retracts-claim-about-coronavirus-parties-says-they-never-occurred/">https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-n...
Let’s see how local media outlets are covering this story.
“...we have been unable to identify any students who may have participated in these types of activities.”
Keep in mind there are other colleges in Tuscaloosa. https://www.al.com/news/tuscaloosa/2020/07/ua-says-probe-into-covid-19-parties-doesnt-show-its-students-participating.html">https://www.al.com/news/tusc...
“...we have been unable to identify any students who may have participated in these types of activities.”
Keep in mind there are other colleges in Tuscaloosa. https://www.al.com/news/tuscaloosa/2020/07/ua-says-probe-into-covid-19-parties-doesnt-show-its-students-participating.html">https://www.al.com/news/tusc...
“While my nursing staff was triaging patients for COVID-19 swabbing, they were told about the COVID-19 house parties and were even shown videos of the parties by college students.”
So, it should be easy to find them, right? Also, about that doctor... https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/20200702/cases-rise-in-youth-amid-reports-of-rsquocovid-partiesrsquo">https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/2020...
So, it should be easy to find them, right? Also, about that doctor... https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/20200702/cases-rise-in-youth-amid-reports-of-rsquocovid-partiesrsquo">https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/2020...
This doctor is the only local health care worker confirming this is a thing. However, a quick Google search shows he’s not exactly a paragon of professionalism. https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/20190812/tuscaloosa-doctor-admits-unprofessional-conduct">https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/2019...
Finally, from the local Fox outlet: “At this time, no cases of COVID 19 have been epidemiologically linked to a party or parties.” https://www.wbrc.com/2020/07/03/covid-parties-tuscaloosa-whats-really-going/">https://www.wbrc.com/2020/07/0...
None of these stories quote a single local student or young person (ie. the people this story is about).
Here’s a local student with something to say. I’m in a different country, but it took, I don’t know, 12 seconds to find this tweet? https://twitter.com/sarah_cassibry/status/1278756606239543303?s=21">https://twitter.com/sarah_cas... https://twitter.com/sarah_cassibry/status/1278756606239543303">https://twitter.com/sarah_cas...
Here’s a local student with something to say. I’m in a different country, but it took, I don’t know, 12 seconds to find this tweet? https://twitter.com/sarah_cassibry/status/1278756606239543303?s=21">https://twitter.com/sarah_cas... https://twitter.com/sarah_cassibry/status/1278756606239543303">https://twitter.com/sarah_cas...
My theory is the “bowl of money” comes from rumours and a case of broken telephone, and some students contracted the virus at an event attended by someone with COVID-19. That’s happened here, too. https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/covid-19-hinshaw-to-give-update-friday-afternoon-3">https://edmontonjournal.com/news/loca...
“It might be tempting to blame the pandemic on imagined people who are getting sick on purpose, but responsibility for the mess we’re in starts at the top. That’s a story you won’t get if you trust everything you hear from public officials.” https://www.wired.com/story/covid-parties-are-not-a-thing/?mbid=social_twitter&utm_brand=wired&utm_medium=social&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=twitter">https://www.wired.com/story/cov...
Anyways when this is over and I can finally cross the border, I genuinely want to visit Alabama.
