<story><title>Covid-19 update and guidance to limit spread</title><url>https://www.flattenthecurve.com/</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>manojlds</author><text>I am sure it has crossed many people&amp;#x27;s minds, but what if I want to get it before the medical systems are taxed? Like get it before the peak. I am sure it&amp;#x27;s very bad thinking, but what are some solid points against such thinking?</text></item><item><author>chickenpotpie</author><text>It&amp;#x27;s so nice to see someone who has the qualifications explain so clearly why the efforts we&amp;#x27;re making are important. I live in Seattle and I have a hard time explaining to my mother why me working from home and avoiding public events is important right now. She just keeps stating that everyone is going to get it eventually and it won&amp;#x27;t matter.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>dcolkitt</author><text>Regardless of the merits from an individually selfish standpoint, this kind of behavior would be extremely anti-social.&lt;p&gt;The overriding public health concern is slowing the spread as much as possible. Even if in the asymptote the same number of people are infected, spreading that burden out over a protracted time period minimizes overloading on the healthcare system.&lt;p&gt;If even a small percent of the population became &amp;quot;bug-chasers&amp;quot;, it would supercharge the rate of transmission. Especially because the incubation period is so long. The same unhygienic behavior of trying to acquire the disease, would very likely also spread the disease by the asymptomatic.&lt;p&gt;If you put any ethical weight on the consideration of other human beings, then the very minor plausible individuals benefits are more than outweighed by the massive social harm.</text></comment>
<story><title>Covid-19 update and guidance to limit spread</title><url>https://www.flattenthecurve.com/</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>manojlds</author><text>I am sure it has crossed many people&amp;#x27;s minds, but what if I want to get it before the medical systems are taxed? Like get it before the peak. I am sure it&amp;#x27;s very bad thinking, but what are some solid points against such thinking?</text></item><item><author>chickenpotpie</author><text>It&amp;#x27;s so nice to see someone who has the qualifications explain so clearly why the efforts we&amp;#x27;re making are important. I live in Seattle and I have a hard time explaining to my mother why me working from home and avoiding public events is important right now. She just keeps stating that everyone is going to get it eventually and it won&amp;#x27;t matter.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>aaron_m04</author><text>OK so you think the early &amp;quot;slots&amp;quot; are better. Maybe they are. If you manage to get in slot n anyone you infect will be forced to take n+1 (perhaps not as good) and the exponentially increasing set of people _they_ infect will be forced to take n+2, n+3, ...&lt;p&gt;Now there are a lot more people in those time slots all competing for the same doctors and hospital beds, etc.&lt;p&gt;Congratulations, you made the curve a little less flat :(</text></comment>