zlacker

>>datafl+(OP)
I think the media successfully conflated four separate questions:

a) Did it form in nature or in a lab?

b) Did it become more communicable via nature or via the lab?

c) Did it make it to humans through nature (or wet market) or via the lab?

d) If it came from the lab was it on purpose or an accident?

as simply "OMG IT CAME FROM A LAB" and then claimed it's all a conspiracy theory.

The media as a whole shot themselves in the foot on this one and we'll all be worse off for it.

>>caseys+3r1
It's less "shot themselves in the foot" and more "broke our legs". Mass media's entire function has been reduced to hobbling public discourse.