UKC

Thought it was worth a dedicated thread to say thanks for all the data and analysis

Took me a moment to work out what this was about, but yes, I’ll second that. Thanks Wintertree.

Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday Dear Wintertree
Happy Birthday to You.

I get the strangest looks when I say I get my Covid info from a climbing forum.

Thanks from me too.

I've had that too. Anyway great to have wintertree's input over the last year. It's certainly kept me engaged.

Cheers

M

Thanks for all the great analysis. Missed the first few threads because I thought it was something about making plans on a Friday night.

indeed!

I read it all and understood almost none of it 

Cheers WT!

Yes, most of it well above my pay grade. Bearing down on the waves of mischief from the conspiracy theorists and antivax nonsense-peddlers is much appreciated.

Indeed!  It has been brilliant and an example of serious dedication.  The best source of information and analysis available to my mind.  Thanks Wintertree 😀

Yes, great stuff, many thanks to WT.

Yep. Not sure I understand it all , but it’s very impressive.  

Agreed....!! We'll said...

<*Sends Wintertree virtual cake*>

Yes great stuff WT. There were dark times when your thoughts and analysis kept me from descending into "we're doomed, doomed I tell you...." for good!

Small admission though, I sometimes feel I am looking at a train crash, or something else I shouldn't watch when you are beating off another denier,  liar, or fool. But you stick to your views faithfully. Well done to you.

Maybe that's next year's project, "Statistics for Climbers" by Wintertree.

Really good stuff. Thanks to Wintertree. I'd use it as an example of exemplary data analysis and presentation skills for my undergraduates if they weren't so fed up of Covid! 

Thanks from me and everyone else who I've given information to which has originated on those threads

The star UKC poster called wintetree

Typifies what good posters here should be

He loves a good plot

But gets picked on a lot

From others who often are logic free.

Yes, statistics was never my strong point, so extremely helpful to have an authoritative, independent analysis that I can understand at least some of!

Wintertree should get the annual Tim Harford 'Is that a big number?' award.

Another big “thank you” to wintertree- his tireless efforts have been central to ensuring that ukc has remained an island of sanity in an ocean of COVID-related social media misinformation. I agree with his analysis that some of this is effectively terrorism, using misinformation as a weapon to damage the cohesion of our society, fomenting division and causing death and economic suffering. The pervasiveness of the messaging that minimises COVIDs seriousness, and undermines effective interventions while pushing treatments that don’t work is very worrying; and for many people who don’t have a good understanding of medicine and statistics, and who are already skeptical about whether the state has their interests at heart, it appears to be very persuasive. 
 

But the work of Wintertree and others on here has shown that a social media space can push back effectively against this. So thanks again, for helping keep me sane through the last 18 months- and a Tim Harford award would be well deserved..!

The mods deserve praise here as well for keeping a pretty good balance between allowing open discussion vs avoiding it being flooded by the trolls/nutters.

Yes- absolutely agree

Agreed.

I do hope that the trolls don't get entirely blocked. There's quite a lot of entertainment value in watching their 'arguments' being dissected and then having the shreds metaphorically shoved up their anuses. I do wonder why the antivaxxers bother?

It is a difficult balance to strike hence why I do think the mods need praise. Its allowing enough through so the "arguments" can be ripped apart and to allow the other side, such as it is, to be presented for debate without allowing them to spam so much the dissections disappear beneath the pile of crap.

ps. Wintertree and co have also done a great and much appreciated job.