Relatedly, I’ve noted basically no one in tech is aware of the term “trilemma” (aka “impossible trinity”) from economics — a choice with 3 worthy options, but you can only pick 2.

This continues to surprise me given its applicability in comp sci (e.g. with the CAP theorem).

— Kelly Shortridge (@swagitda_) March 24, 2021

I don’t think that’s true.

Nearly everyone in tech knows the old saw that goes, “Do you want it fast, cheap or good? Pick two.” Maybe that’s only in infrastructure, though I’ve heard programmers use that trilemma very frequently.

Those who characterise a 'maximum suppression' strategy as a 'lockdown strategy' and who paint those of us who support it as 'lockdown fanatics' miss the point entirely. The whole point is that it is the only effective 'anti-lockdown' strategy available. https://t.co/cfcdLffwOi pic.twitter.com/sWZeN4zRYN

— Stephen Reicher (@ReicherStephen) March 25, 2021

Most of that is fantasy in most places, and some of it is just wrong. But it’s interesting to see what the techo-weenie fantasy of the pandemic is, rather than what actually works or is likely to work in most countries on the ground.

But the below is absolute horseshit:

And, of course, the vaccines make infection suppression much easier. But even using optimistic assumptions about take up and effectiveness, relying on vaccines alone would leave the R at approximately 1.6 and using more middling assumptions it would be 2.5…

— Stephen Reicher (@ReicherStephen) March 25, 2021

That’s just not even remotely true, even with variants tossed in. This is a scare tactic, like “masks don’t work and you shouldn’t wear them” at the start of the pandemic.

The reality is that once we hit around 50% vaccination in the US, the R will be about 0.7 or so and cases will start rapidly declining. Believe this mook, you will spend your time hurting more people and destroying their mental health even more.

I think a lot of people are in fact lockdown fanatics. They love the idea of it. It gives them a frisson and fantasy of control, of virtuous sacrifice to make a difference. It gets them all hot and bothered in away that pleases them. We must resist this and those people or it’ll be a world of eternal lockdowns (already probably inevitable in some places).

Wow, she’s really good. Neutral mic and no backing. That’s talent.