there are various problems inherent in authority, and various problems inherent specifically in medical authority, that are very likely to make the ebola situation here in the states worse, and also to result in a major public freakout, already underway. so, a major part of the placebo effect of modern medicine is projecting an air of sort of casual omniscience and a firm reassuring demeanor. i bet they teach young doctors how to project this sort of authority. the first wave of cdc and cdc-mirror statements went like this. "there's no danger of an outbreak. we understand how ebola is transmitted and we understand how to control it. our super-effective selves and ourr super-effective health institutions are on the case."
first, i think it is very likely that the total improvisational mess that was the dallas hospital's and the cdc's response to the duncan case rested in part on the fact that people actually appeared to think that infection was extremely difficult. reassuring us about that on evidently insufficient data might actually kill healthcare workers, you doinks. apparently on these grounds, the hospital administration was absurdly cavalier in handling duncan. and the very same people who said that we understand how it's transmitted etc said two weeks later that "we need to understand more about how ebola is transmitted". then they let very dire-sounding things escape their lips, and real fear in particular about the situation of healthcare workers. then they lurch right back to 'an outbreak is extremely unlikely', 'everything is under control' stuff, which they are repeating as a script, now incompatibly with the fear in their eyes. these are quotes from this bearded brit cdc mirror on cnn; i'm not pulling up his name, but it's the same with dr. anthony fauci, e.g. then invariably wolf blitzer of chris cuomo thanks him for making it all clear and reassuring us all.
so maybe the extremely authoritative presentation even of things about which you are not sure at all has the momentary effect of reassuring people. the problem is merely reality: when what you're saying turns out to be incredibly false, people stop believing you. they start generating alternative speculations on this or that. they start believing random websites, which indeed have more credibility. at some level they freak out in the awareness that they've got no idea at all what the truth is. nothing causes chaos like the breakdown of authority, and nothing causes the breakdown of authority like authority.
here's what i'd tell these people: ditch the self-esteem festival and the strategic communications. stop manipulating anyone and start speaking the truth as clearly as possible, including what you yourself do not know. we're going to need a new bunch of experts and spokesmen and authorities however.
