Does anyone on the left want to apologize for calling people conspiracy theorists when they speculated that covid-19 was leaked from a lab in Wuhan?

[OlderAndWiser]

Three years ago, anyone who suggested that the covid-19 pandemic began wth a leak from this lab got an automatic response from the left: name-calling and character assasination. Those who suggested the possibility were labeled as right-wing extremists, conspiracy theorists, and ignorant people who were unable to understand science.

In May, 2022, President Biden ordered US intelligence agencies to make a report on the origin of the pandemic and that report concluded that 1) a definitive answer is impossibe to obtain without cooperaton from China, and 2) the possibility of origin in the Wuhan lab is as plausible as any other explanation. Now, a Department of Energy report has concluded that origin in the Wuhan lab is the most likely explanation.

So far, no one on the left has offered any apology to anyone they smeared three years ago.

Most importanly, this is one more example of leftists rushing to conclusions wthout having any factual basis, assuming that their assumption MUST be right (because they are smarter than everyone else,) and attacking anyone who disagrees.

If you are one of those leftists, do you plan to apologize to anyone? If you did not call people names for making the suggestion three years ago, would you like to see the guilty parties apologize?

[Jersey2]

The most shocking thing about this revelation from some government entities such as the FBI, is that it wasn’t shocking. I wasn’t shocked that it was from the Wuhan lab as that simply made sense and logical using Occam’s razor.

And the big shock was that it wasn’t shocking that my government had lied to us all repeatedly and viciously went after anyone who didn’t agree with them. Our faith in our government is so destroyed that even a landslide size revelation is not a shock. The only surprising thing is that this came out so soon. I would have expected it to be ten years or more.

[OlderAndWiser]

Contender for MHO!

[Slingblade1126]

I don't expect an apology but I would like an explanation why they couldn't accept any other reasoning as to what happened. I also see a lot of people don't understand your question. They're pretty much doubling down with the "nothing is conclusive" and won't accept it leaked from a lab, until China admits it! Lol That wasn't your point. Your point is, a couple years ago you were called a "racist", a "conspiracy theory" nut job and told to shut up! We went from that to, "well, it's plausible but China hasn't admitted it"? It was all an attempt to put the blame on Trump.

[OlderAndWiser]

Thank you! At least ONE person gets it!

You will receive an MHO!

[Slingblade1126]

Thank you! I definitely need the points, I lost seven yesterday.

[Sixgunsound]

People keep complaining about my comments and I've lost. If you're catching a lot of anti-aircraft fire you're over the target area!

[Sixgunsound]

*I've stopped counting the points I've lost

[DeviousD]

Unfortunately, I understand your frustration, I really do as I am constantly being accused of being some mindless conspiracy theorist who believes in nonsense, but the fact of the matter is you're seeking apologies from the wrong sources. The way I see it is that these people whom harbor the mainstream beliefs are themselves victims. They're victims of the most intense & comprehensive means of indoctrination ever observed in history. This is science involving the human mind & how phycology can be used as an all encompassing tool to create docile, tax paying, 40 hour a week distracted employees whom don't possess the critical abilities to cause trouble for the very powerful elites who maintain all of the wealth. The reason these ideologies are so passionately held & to such a degree is due to a very dark & very unfortunate means of maintaining the current power structure, & you can't blame the victims by which have been effected by this psychological warfront, they've been born into this, & so have I, I've just been able to see the matrix for what it is, & that was only by chance & bouts of self isolation that I was able to shed that state of mind. If I could offer some advice, I mean you're obviously much wiser than I, being as I am in my early 30's, but if I could, if you're at all willing to hear me, I'd say fight the system & not the effects of the system because society has been experiencing an all out campaign of brainwashing since we were little baby sponges absorbing the thoughts & ideals from our parents whom were also themselves victims of this system. You can of course spread the word & try to open some eyes, but going about it seeking retribution & an apologetic consideration you may be barking up the wrong tree & only creating individuals more passionate with regards to the views they have, where as you may be reinstating their opinion of you being unhinged & a conspiracy theorist, even if you're absolutely correct with some of the concepts & understandings you hold dear.

[SaoirseS]

I'm not on "the left" (not exactly on "the right" either, politically), but strangely I don't recall this ever being promoted as a conspiracy theory. I had more on my plate in the first several months of the pandemic than I ever had in my left, so admittedly I didn't have the time or interest in much of the discussion concerning the virus' origins. I do recall the preponderance of reporting from both sides of the political spectrum strongly suggested the Wuhan lab was the point of origin, and if I recall correctly it was couched as theory - a highly educated guess, but still a guess and thus uncertain. I recall more reporting about increased anti-Asian incidents because of it, reportedly coming from the conservative crowd. One guy brought me an oversize sweatshirt with the words "I'm not Chinese" on the front as a gag, but he was seriously concerned about my safety. I never experienced any anti-Asian sentiment, and as far as I know they didn't happen in my area.

[OlderAndWiser]

My girlfrend is Chinese-American. I have some understanding for the bias.

My step-father was attending his grandson's wedding to a Filipino-American girl. At the reception, he asked his grandson, "What's wrong? Couldn't you get an American girl to marry you?"

[SaoirseS]

I've had a few ethnic comments thrown at me, usually good-natured and playful. With me, people usually focus first on my lack of height, being petite, looking like I'm not old enough to drive, having a voice like Kristen Chenoweth, and being an undertaker - ethnic appearance is usually at the bottom of the list. The very few ethnic slurs I've been called have been laughable, since nobody gets it right. A guy on here once called me a "chink" (swing and a miss). Lately, a small group of girl scouts referred to me as "that uppity little gook at the funeral home" (wrong, strike two).

[Sixgunsound]

Even the girl scouts, really? Wtf is wrong with their parents?

[SaoirseS]

These few (three) little girls, Lucy the Lip and her two muscle girls are pieces of work. I’ve had conflicts with them over calendars and cookies. In a way I admire their initiative and audacity, but they are little pains in the rear.

[Sixgunsound]

I'm envisioning 1920's gangsters with violin cases containing thompson submachine guns flanking a disfigured former femme fatale lazily blowing out smoke when she tilts her cigarette holder down. Close or no?

[SaoirseS]

Yes, vert close. You have the right idea, but no Tommy guns or cigarettes. Lippy Lucy stands in front and does the talking, with the other girls on each side of her and about a step back looking tough (head cocked, thumbs in waistband. They may look and act tough, but I can take those little shrews.

[Sixgunsound]

Haha you're awesome. Get'em!

[LiamJHayden]

Not likely to happen. Still have not seen them apologize for the useless masks that everyone was forced to wear, nor for the wonderful vaccine mandates even though the vaccines did not prevent people from getting or spreading COVID (not even getting into the increase in Myocarditis and Pericarditis among young males who were vaxxed), so expecting them to admit that maybe it did come from there (possible, not proven) seems to be wishful thinking.

For the doubters, the increase in the ailments aforementioned is not from some crackpot site. It comes straight from the CDC:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/myocarditis.html#:~:text=Myocarditis%20and%20pericarditis%20have%20rarely,Pfizer%2DBioNTech%20or%20Moderna).

[AviatorTom]

Saying it's "the most likely explanation" is not definitive. As I've said many times before, we will probably never know for sure where the COVID-19 coronavirus originated. Andit doesn't really matter... it's a disease we have to deal with, and that's what's most important.

[OlderAndWiser]

Of course it's not definitive. The feds didn't reveal info three years ago and they aren't revealing info now, so why should anyone trust the federal government?

[AviatorTom]

@OlderAndWiser Would you trust them anymore if the DoD told you that it originated from a secret supply of viral material at the CDC? That's been postulated as a possible source as well.

[OlderAndWiser]

I dont trust the government. Period.

[Friendlybro79]

The problem is everything isn't a conspiracy like the extreme right wingers make things. If you say everything is a conspiracy and live by that mantra sometimes you will be right lol. Sometimes there are conspiracies just not everything. You're still a conspiracy theorist if you're correct in believing in one that is proven.

Also, would you like to apologize for exaggerating the fact that it most likely leaked from Wuhan. The study concluded that the possibility of that is weak and concluded this with low confidence.

Here's the thing... When definitive info is set forth, if ever, we will know for sure. For now anything is technically possible. Maybe the conspiracy is right but don't mislead people regarding what the actual report eluded to.

[OlderAndWiser]

You TOTALLY missed the point of my post.

[Lionman95]

Probably not since the report considers the option to be likely but it can't exclude any other option. Therefore the thesis that the virus was leaked from a lab is still unproven and will probably never be proven. China would never admit that.
That's like finding a dead woman and saying her husband murdered her just because he has guns.
To be fair I think the virus was leaked from a lab sounds more appealing than it was set free by nature but what you wrote about the report is no proof that it couldn't have happened any other way.
(by the way I'm not politically left).

[Red_Arrow]

The report you mention concludes: 1) a definitive answer is impossible to obtain without cooperation from China, and 2) the possibility of origin in the Wuhan lab is as plausible as any other explanation. So nothing conclusive. And a Department of Energy report has concluded that origin in the Wuhan lab is the most likely explanation. "Most likely" is not definite. There was nothing to really suggest China back then so the left was correct that those blaming China with not proof were conspiracy theorists. No reason for them to apologize for a correct assessment. And their conclusion was that the right did not have proof of guilt of China, which was correct and needs no apology. And now you are rushing to guilt the left for looking for scientific proof rather than the right-wing "let's blame someone without proof".

[meetkitty123]

I don't know about this left or right thing I have always fallen in the middle when given personality test but anyhow regardless of left or right I believe it more than obvious the first round of Covid which caused the pandemic was not Nature made. I actually didn't care to argue such a thing because the truth usually comes as things always do in such cases even if they are 5, 20 or 50 years later.

[Guardian45]

Well-said

[Friendlybro79]

Agreed

[Aerissa_Jade]

The left never apologizes for anything, they simply ignore it until it goes away and then when someone brings it up will say. This is old stuff why you bringing it up?

Just like when they bashed Trump for doing the same thing Obama did and Biden did, but somehow Trump doing it was bad, but the others were not.

It would be nice for them to apologize but even if someone did, I know it would be fake and not sincere.

[msc545]

I would like to know the empirical basis for the conclusionary statement (s) from DOE in this matter, as there is, to my knowledge, no evidence that what they concluded was true.

Just because they said this does not make it true, and they are a US government agency and the US government has a long history of prevarication.

I have no plans to apologize for things I have not done.

[msc545]

Further, nobody on the right has ever apologized for the numerous things the right has done which include sedition and the dissemination of falsehoods in regard to treatments and prevention of potentially fatal diseases. I see no reason for anyone on the left to apologize in the absence of any remorse or contrition from the right.

[OlderAndWiser]

I don't expect apologies from parties who are not culpable.

The fact that this information can be dismissed because it is merely the conclusion of a federal agency bolsters my point. People who, three years ago, said this possibility was nonsense said so in the absence of any real information and they merely repeating the party line promulgated by people in the federal government.

[OlderAndWiser]

"I see no reason for anyone on the left to apologize in the absence of any remorse or contrition from the right." Okay, we'll just continue to fight until one side kills the other side.

[msc545]

I am not dismissing this - I am merely asking for the basis of this opinion, which seems reasonable. Nobody should conclude anything without evidence.

[msc545]

I understand your point, and if I thought that apologies would help I would be urging people to do that. However, I believe that people on the right would be more likely than not to view any apologies as a sign of weakness and/or an admission of guilt, which would probably make things worse.

[OlderAndWiser]

"Nobody should conclude anything without evidence." Right. Nobody should have made assumptions three years ago and no one should have called people names because they suspected the Wuhan lab.

[msc545]

Agreed - I have no argument with that.

[msc545]

Similarly, nobody should be minimizing the severity of the events at the Capitol on Jan 6.

[Tyrael]

Does this left and right stuff not get old after a while? Both sides make judgements and think they know better but that's because both sides are just people. It would surely be better if you didn't let yourselves get so divided.

[OlderAndWiser]

Ignore it and it will go away?

[Tyrael]

Maybe work on some compromises? Personally I think the two party system needs to go

[OlderAndWiser]

I don't like to hear people complaining about the status quo unless they offer some concrete suggestions for change. Otherwise, it's just more complaining.

What would you propose in lieu of our current two party system?

[msc545]

A Parliamentary system might work better.

[Chazmatazz269]

Not nobody is apologizing. I saw a documentary on this topic a short while ago and some people demonstrated contrition. Not politicians or media outlets, of course, but some celebrities and otherwise private citizens. It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing.

[Anonymous]

Who cares how it started? Whether it was naturally occurring or escaped from a lab doesn’t change the human cost. Besides, we’ll likely never have a definitive answer. Might as well argue about who killed Jimmy Hoffa

[OlderAndWiser]

"Who cares how it started?" That is not the point of this post.

[Jersey2]

First, it is important to know how it started so that it can be corrected in the future, not just in Wuhan’s lab but around the world. The second reason it is important is to expose a government that lied to us, which is the Chinese and US governments. We know they did but it would be nice for an acknowledgment. They lied. Third, the way the US government treated its citizens that challenged their ludicrous assertion that it wasn’t man man’s and came from a lab needs to be investigated and burned out of the government by firing the liars and changing the processes so fake news is not created by our government along with their outrageous treatment of those that disagreed with it. God you are stupid. And what 18-24 year old references Jimmy Hoffa? F you.

[Jersey2]

Man made*.

Ridiculous Anon poster… ridiculous.

[gorydetails]

It 100% matters how it started. Anthony Fauci funded gain of function research - in violation of the law - at that Wuhan lab, then lied about it in front of Congress. The US wrecked its economy, split its society, and set millions of children behind academically because of his bullshit, and the fucking weasel is now a multi-millionaire.

[exitseven]

Being liberal means never having to say you're sorry.

[OlderAndWiser]

I am old enough to know the inspiration for this statement. Thanks for the laugh!

[exitseven]

hahahhaha there is a local radio host that says this all the time. I know where it came from originally.

[standardguy]

It is always questionable when people suppress certain opinions, especially when they are powerful people. Ideology must not interfere with the acceptance of truth. Whether the virus came from Wuhan's lab or meat market, it came from China. But was the spread of the virus wanted by the Chinese or other powers? And it is strange that few Chinese got sick first and many people in Italy and Peru. Should rebellious peoples be punished in this way?

[purplepoppy]

The left at the time said there was no current evidence because there wasn't. .
The right simply blamed the lab because they all like to sing from the same hymn sheet.


Even now no one is agreeing where it came from. We have one report that's using wishy-washy language like "most likely" while other departments have dismissed it with "low confidence".

Perhaps we should just forget science and research and just go off whatever memes are the funniest.

[Anonymous]

the real, and much deeper problem is that they attempted to "cancel" people from life if they posted those opinions online. They tried to get people fired from their REAL LIFE jobs over this "conspiracy theory" which turned out to be true. And there will not be any amount of sorries that compensate for that.

[ShiftingMonke]

Short answer? "No."

Long answer? "No, and don't ask why, because Republican/Conservative __________ did __________ and no one apologized for that."

[Anonymous]

As a non Democrat leftist, not going to apologize, for the simple fact I never accused anyone of being conspiracy theorist. I myself felt the lab leak theory was more plausible then some Asian guy contracting COVID after eating a bat. Fauci funded the Wuhan lab COVID was released, so it was no surprised he lied and suppressed info pointing to COVID being released from a lab.

[Anonymous]

When has the left apologized for anything? I wouldn’t hold my breath but I also wouldn’t let this one go so quickly, which is what people should do. Too many people on the right will just give “amnesty” and “forgive and forget” and then repeat the cycle.