topic Re: Security theatre and pandemic panics in Industry News

Security theatre and pandemic panics

rslade — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 09:27:04 GMT

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few weeks, you've seen videos, on the news, showing workers (and sometimes huge trucks) in China, Korea, and other places, spraying, and often fogging, huge outdoor areas. Supposedly this is doing something about the new (that's what "novel" means) covid-19 coronavirus.

Now, washing your hands, and possibly surfaces, regularly is a good preventative measure. But this isn't washing. It's just spraying (or fogging). Spraying surfaces with bleach, if there is a risk that they've been contaminated, or even just on a regular basis, probably will kill most bacteria, and even most viruses. But this obviously isn't bleach, because it's often being sprayed around food markets, and you don't want bleach all over your piles of fresh fish fillets.

I can't (and my opinion was seconded by an infectious disease expert) think of anything that you can randomly spray around large areas that would a) kill viruses, and, at the same time b) not kill people (or, at least, seriously compromise respiratory systems).

But, when people are scared, you (as a government) must be seen to be doing something, even if the "something" does nothing to address the actual risk.

Re: Security theatre and pandemic panics

Steve-Wilme — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 14:10:41 GMT

Ah yes, like the sudden strange restriction in airports and random bag inspections at company's. Last time I was stopped I asked the guard what he'd been asked to look for. He didn't know why he was searching bags, he'd just been told to do so. I felt much safer as I headed across the company car park with a laptop bag containing a company issued laptop, mouse and charger.

Re: Security theatre and pandemic panics

CraginS — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 15:36:01 GMT

@Steve-Wilme wrote:
Ah yes, like the sudden strange restriction in airports and random bag inspections at company's. Last time I was stopped I asked the guard what he'd been asked to look for. He didn't know why he was searching bags, he'd just been told to do so. I felt much safer as I headed across the company car park with a laptop bag containing a company issued laptop, mouse and charger.

Steve,

Recall in 2014 we had TSA searching bags at the airport for Bitcoins.

The First Person report on Reddit:

TSA "saw" Bitcoin in my bag and wanted to count it. Funniest thing I've seen do far

More complete 1st Person blog article:

The TSA is looking for Bitcoin

A contemporaneous news report on the situation:

TSA Reportedly Demands To Inspect Man’s Luggage For Bitcoin [Updated]

Doncha just love it?

Craig