Now 10,000 followers, so here’s a FAQ thread about this account.
1. Why log Bad COVID-19 takes?
Misinformation about COVID-19 is dangerous. By exposing people who have been wrong in the past, we might avoid similar errors in the future. For this reason, I try to post more bad takes from politicians and influential commentators.
Misinformation about COVID-19 is dangerous. By exposing people who have been wrong in the past, we might avoid similar errors in the future. For this reason, I try to post more bad takes from politicians and influential commentators.
2. Why do you post images instead of links?
This account is inspired by @BadLegalTakes, which uses screenshots, and for good reasons. People delete tweets. I don’t want to give klout to big accounts that spread misinformation, and I don’t want folks to mob small accounts.
This account is inspired by @BadLegalTakes, which uses screenshots, and for good reasons. People delete tweets. I don’t want to give klout to big accounts that spread misinformation, and I don’t want folks to mob small accounts.
@BadLegalTakes (Seriously, don't ever mob random people; you don't know what they might be going through besides having a bad take.)
@BadLegalTakes 3. But why should we trust your screenshots?
I am very careful with sourcing takes, so I completely understand your skepticism! To help keep everything verifiable, I have posted a log of the featured bad takes. I will try to update the log each day. docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d…
I am very careful with sourcing takes, so I completely understand your skepticism! To help keep everything verifiable, I have posted a log of the featured bad takes. I will try to update the log each day. docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d…
@BadLegalTakes 4. Can I send you submissions?
YES! Either tag me in response to a bad take on Twitter, or send me a DM *with a link* to the take. I need to verify any screenshots anyway, so just send me the link.
YES! Either tag me in response to a bad take on Twitter, or send me a DM *with a link* to the take. I need to verify any screenshots anyway, so just send me the link.
@BadLegalTakes 5. What if they delete their bad take before you see it?
Use the site archive.today, which will save the bad take for posterity. If it's a twitter take more than a day old, the Internet Archive will probably get it, so just send a link.
Use the site archive.today, which will save the bad take for posterity. If it's a twitter take more than a day old, the Internet Archive will probably get it, so just send a link.
@BadLegalTakes 6. What is a bad take anyway?
When someone says or predicts something about COVID-19 that turns out to be clearly wrong. Pure policy opinions ("the economy should reopen") are outside the scope of this account, and so are trolling or unsourced takes (so no random flyers).
When someone says or predicts something about COVID-19 that turns out to be clearly wrong. Pure policy opinions ("the economy should reopen") are outside the scope of this account, and so are trolling or unsourced takes (so no random flyers).
@BadLegalTakes 7. Why didn’t you post the tweet I sent?
I save some takes until they pass milestones/anniversaries. I also wait until bad takes are clearly busted. Other times, in my own whimsical, tyrannical judgment, I just don’t post a take. Thank you for all submissions though!
I save some takes until they pass milestones/anniversaries. I also wait until bad takes are clearly busted. Other times, in my own whimsical, tyrannical judgment, I just don’t post a take. Thank you for all submissions though!
8. Why do you post so many takes from X?
I will not post more than one bad take from the same person within ten. Only one person continually provides that much material, and I’ve confined his takes to one thread, so you can mute them if you’ve had enough.
I will not post more than one bad take from the same person within ten. Only one person continually provides that much material, and I’ve confined his takes to one thread, so you can mute them if you’ve had enough.
9. Do you have a grudge against X?
No.
I set up this account because some commentators were repeatedly, dangerously wrong, and so you will see a lot of the same names come up again and again. I think it’s important to hold false prophets accountable.
No.
I set up this account because some commentators were repeatedly, dangerously wrong, and so you will see a lot of the same names come up again and again. I think it’s important to hold false prophets accountable.
10. How come you don't post bad takes by the MSM when they were making fun of coronavirus?
I do and I have. (Check the log!) There just aren’t that many to go around compared to the bad takes posted every day by those who continue to insist that the disease is NBD.
I do and I have. (Check the log!) There just aren’t that many to go around compared to the bad takes posted every day by those who continue to insist that the disease is NBD.
11. Why don't you post takes of people who over-estimated COVID-19 deaths?
Most over-estimates were based on scenarios that didn’t occur—where absolutely no mitigation happened at all. These are untestable. Even in Sweden, theater attendance dropped 99%. boxofficemojo.com/weekend/by-yea…
Most over-estimates were based on scenarios that didn’t occur—where absolutely no mitigation happened at all. These are untestable. Even in Sweden, theater attendance dropped 99%. boxofficemojo.com/weekend/by-yea…
Other predictions may yet come to pass. Most the periodic IMHE models projected 60-80k deaths, for example, and these figures now seem fairly optimistic. I am willing to post overly alarmist takes, but few have been as clearly, unconditionally wrong as the underestimates.
12. Why didn’t you reply to my response to your tweet?
I mute takes after I post them so that my mentions are still sort of useful. If you think I messed up on a post somehow, please DM me. We all make bad takes sometimes.
I mute takes after I post them so that my mentions are still sort of useful. If you think I messed up on a post somehow, please DM me. We all make bad takes sometimes.
13. Who are you?
An attorney with no specialized knowledge, who likes to make spreadsheets and scrape twitter, @frankbednarz. COVID-19 misinformation upset me enough to write an article about it, which addresses many of the errors you see on this feed. arcdigital.media/debunking-coro…
An attorney with no specialized knowledge, who likes to make spreadsheets and scrape twitter, @frankbednarz. COVID-19 misinformation upset me enough to write an article about it, which addresses many of the errors you see on this feed. arcdigital.media/debunking-coro…
I am a lucky professional who can work remotely, but my brother (who worked in a salt mine until furloughed) and mother (who works at Walmart) cannot. I understand the costs of our current policies. Good folks disagree about our response to COVID-19. I just oppose misinformation.
14. What about your political bias?
I’m a squishy libertarian-conservative & I try to keep partisan politics out of my feed. I post bad takes by people of all ideologies & political parties. I sincerely hope all political officials execute wise policy right now.
I’m a squishy libertarian-conservative & I try to keep partisan politics out of my feed. I post bad takes by people of all ideologies & political parties. I sincerely hope all political officials execute wise policy right now.
15. What program do you use to draw on your tweets?
MS Paint.
1666. Is Bill Gates paying you to do this?
I wish.
MS Paint.
1666. Is Bill Gates paying you to do this?
I wish.
