Editing 2306: Common Cold
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | This comic is | + | This comic is another comic in a [[:Category:COVID-19|series of comics]] related to the {{w|2019–20 coronavirus outbreak|2020 pandemic}} of the {{w|coronavirus}} {{w|SARS-CoV-2}}, which causes {{w|COVID-19}}. |
− | + | Many of the measures humans have undertaken to fight SARS CoV-2, such as careful hand-washing and sanitization of frequently-touched surfaces, are effective against other viruses. | |
− | + | In [[2287: Pathogen Resistance]], we saw several pathogens (a bacteriophage, a colony of cocci bacteria, and a protozoan) talking among themselves about their new vulnerability to these health measures, and in this comic strip, some viruses that cause the {{w|common cold}} have decided to attempt to negotiate with humanity so that they are not caught up as "collateral damage" in the fight against COVID-19. Consequently, large, sentient versions of these viruses appear in front of [[Cueball]]/[[Randall]] and plead for mercy. They try to make a deal, since they are not killing humans, then they ask Cueball if people will please stop with the good hygiene practices (i.e. washing hands) when the pandemic is over. The measures we take to avoid COVID-19 "make things really hard" for them to reproduce as well. And they ask for mercy. | |
− | + | Cueball takes a moment to think about it, but then adamantly says '''''NO!''''' | |
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− | + | The virus that is speaking first looks like the corona virus, but this is not so strange, since the type of viruses that cause cold is a type of corona virus. The one causing the pandemic is just a new version that affects humans more and spreads easily. | |
− | + | This comic strip might be seen as an anthropomorphization of the evolution of diseases. The most common infectious diseases (e.g. common colds, seasonal flu, venereal diseases) are not very deadly to otherwise-healthy humans because, in the thousands of years before regular global travel, any disease which was too deadly would quickly burn out its host population, and in the modern era, humans are happy enough to manage symptoms and carry on with their lives. However, when diseases jump from other species, the "bargain" is broken and all bets are off. The worst plagues are those which jumped from animals into humans (e.g. the bubonic plague, smallpox, HIV, bird flu, swine flu, and SARS-CoV-2), and it is these diseases which have motivated global public-health efforts to pursue their eradication (and the reduction in the spread and prevalence of many other illnesses besides). | |
− | While colds are unlikely to kill otherwise healthy humans, they still | + | While colds are unlikely to kill otherwise healthy humans, they are still unpleasant. Randall has previously had the unpleasant nature of colds as part of his comics. Seemed like he had a bad cold back in the December 2015, since he released both [[1612: Colds]] about what's the worst about colds and soon after [[1618: Cold Medicine]], where Cueball is suffering from a cold severe enough that he didn't care what sort of authority watch-list he ended up on, as long as he got effective medicine to weaken the symptoms. This explains why Cueball/Randall denies the request of the viruses with such vehemence. |
− | The ''[[ | + | The ''[[what_if?|what if?]]'' book previously dealt with the plausibility of eliminating the common cold through aggressive physical distancing alone. But found it impractically. But now we are all doing our best to accomplish it anyway. |
− | In the title text | + | In the title text Randall mentions a virus with the name {{w|Human metapneumovirus|metapneumovirus}}. He states that this is easily the common cold virus with the coolest name. But that does not mean it warrants our sympathy. And he finishes of by stating that "Colds suck. No mercy". So Randall would not be sorry to see the common cold eliminated by our corona precautions. It is thus very unlikely to happen, but this year much fewer people will be infected with cold and also the flu. |
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==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | :[Three large viruses | + | :[Three large viruses hangs in the air in front of Cueball. The one closest to Cueball looks a bit like the virus causing the corona pandemic, although it is made clear it is no this type of virus. The other two are put together by small circles. The one behind the corona-like virus has 7 small circles, four in a group, one above and two below. The other has three circles. They are not so closely knit together, and may instead represent three smaller viruses rather than one large. The corona type virus addresses Cueball with a starburst above it indicating it speaks the lines above.] |
− | : | + | :Coronoa-like virus: Hi there! We're the viruses that cause the common cold. |
− | : | + | :Coronoa-like virus: This handwashing ... |
− | : | + | :Coronoa-like virus: It stops when this is all over, right? |
:[Same setting in a slimmer panel.] | :[Same setting in a slimmer panel.] | ||
− | : | + | :Coronoa-like virus: It's just, it's making things really hard for us, too. |
− | : | + | :Coronoa-like virus: Maybe we could make a deal? |
− | :[Same setting in a frame-less panel. The large virus also speaks as indicated with a | + | :[Same setting in a frame-less panel. The large virus also speaks as indicated with a star burst above it.] |
:Large virus: We won't kill you! | :Large virus: We won't kill you! | ||
:Large virus: We just want to get back in your throat and make you feel gross now and then. | :Large virus: We just want to get back in your throat and make you feel gross now and then. | ||
− | : | + | :Coronoa-like virus: Show us some mercy? |
:[Zoom in on Cueball, beat panel.] | :[Zoom in on Cueball, beat panel.] | ||
− | :[In the close | + | :[In the close up off Cueball he lifts his hand up, which has been balled into a fist. He shouts his reply.] |
− | :Cueball: | + | :Cueball: '''''No.''''' |
{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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[[Category:COVID-19]] | [[Category:COVID-19]] | ||
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | ||
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