Is the coronavirus a huge deal? Yes.
Is it being overblown? Yes.
And now the reaction to those saying it's being overblown… is being overblown--at least on Twitter.
Our age is defined by overreaction.
When Kobe Bryant died, a Washington Post reporter was suspended for just tweeting about his past rape case.
In all other matters, members of the media routinely wish pain and express hate upon others, particularly regarding political matters. So, why was this reporter suspended for just bringing up a court case from Kobe’s past? Because the reaction to his death was being overblown. Kobe was being revered like a god—the natural result of this particular trajectory in today’s age of overreaction.
We, as a whole, haven't yet figured out how to moderate our dramatic energy within the realm of social media and the 24-hour barrage of this potentially addictive noise. And since fear makes the most—and the most piercing—noise, it makes sense things today would crescendo to the point of having Costco customers literally racing with their over-sized shopping carts to the toilet paper aisle.
Yes, the coronavirus fear is being overblown. And, no, that does not mean we should underestimate the problem. These are not mutually exclusive. The either/or nature of this debate is nonsensical.
The lesson is: We’re yet to learn how to regulate ourselves within this new, never-ending supply of news and information stimulation. Issues discussed online quickly devolve into polarized tribalism. Not good when we actually have a problem worth being concerned about. Those leaning toward the "not a big deal" side may act irresponsibly toward this serious health matter. And on the other side, we get people running in the aisles of Costco just to get those king-sized packages of TP.