“As soon as I saw the article, I called the reporter and pointed out how slanted and out of context it was…”
If I had a dollar for every time a subject said I misquoted ‘em, oowee, I’d be dining, nightly, on civet, otter and wolf puppies, sourced from the finest Chinese wet market.
But, knowing media, as I do, having seen the machinations and dirty dealings of major newspapers, I know how often journalists bend words to fit their own narrative.
Over the last few days, we’ve had a little sport with Scripps scientist Kim Prather who was quoted in The LA Times as saying, “I wouldn’t go in the water for a million dollars” and “It’s not going to kill you if you miss a few surfing sessions, but it could if you go out there and get in the wrong air.”
and here.
But, sounds like she got screwed.
Yesterday, Prather wrote a lengthy screed on her Facebook page lamenting the pitiful state of journalism,
My week was made even crazier by a reporter who re-taught me the meaning of “out of context”. For those who read it, the LA Times article was a major disappointment — and caused some people extra angst which is not needed right now.
It is sad to me that the article was written in a way that invoked more fear in people. The reason I talk about science with the public is to alleviate fear–not spread it. Words in the article like “dangerous” and “fear” were used to describe how I supposedly felt-but these were not my words. Our interview was not an interview of “fear”–it was an interview discussing things to help the public be more careful and a new research project. Now the story has evolved to headlines like “Scientist says coronavirus is at the beach”–this is not something I said nor is it in the article. We are in a new world of journalism — one that I will be careful about ever engaging in again.
And that quote about not going in the ocean for a million bucks? Prather was talking about sewage.
In another part of the conversation, we discussed all of the pollution run-off that gets into the ocean especially after the rains we have had. It is well documented that our oceans become polluted at times–many here in SD are quite polluted now. There is also sewage in the ocean. The point I was trying to make was I would not go in the ocean (here in SD) where it is polluted right now nor would I go to the crowded beaches. As I suspected would happen that quote about not going in the ocean has now been used for many headlines around the world–turns out it was excellent “clickbait”.
Read whole thing here.
For posterity – she gave the same interview to multiple sources. She definitively was not misquoted. Here’s what she told the San Diego Union Tribune. She’s completely unhinged and tried to cover it with her backpedal.
“Surfers are saying that they’re safe if they stay 6 feet away from other people, but that’s only true if the air isn’t moving,” said Prather, who works at UCSD’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. “Most of the time, there’s wind or a breeze at the coast. Tiny drops of virus can float in the air and get blown around.”
Cool story
I found Ms. Prather on Bumble. We have a Zoom meeting set up for later to explore our bodies. IDK if I’ll bring up the water-Covid19 fame grab yet.
We are still surfing in western Australia 😁 elect Muppets get a Muppet show.
Time to musk up.
What cologne are you gonna go with? London Gentleman or . . . wait. No, no, no. Hold on. Blackbeard’s Delight?
No. She gets a special cologne. It’s called Sex Prather by Odeon. It’s illegal in nine countries. Yep. It’s made with bits of real Prather, so you know it’s good.
Pretty sure Gwyneth Paltrow already did this
If you want to thank the mayor for closing the ocean: [email protected]
I have slipped down the rabbit hole of homebaked sourdough bread. Not sure if I will ever emerge from my kitchen. Looking to trade a quiver (5’10” asym, 6’0″ swallow, 6’2″ hi-fi, 6’4″ rounded pin and a 6’10” Indo step up. I also have a pink 7’0″ single fin egg that looks like dog’s penis.) All for a set of le crueset cast iron cookware and bag of flour.
My wife as midwife shopped this morning in the frontline workers timeframe – I could swap 2 bags of flour for the 6’0 and the penis board???
Between the Prather blather and Kelly’s bed sheets all on Beach Grit today, there was no better way to go than running the pics of McMurphy and Ratched in the last few hours. Great work DR.
She got the Trump treatment.
He was on a good one at his presser today!
Lots of lazy journalists cutting corners these days. C’mon y’all, if you chose to be a journalist live by a code of high standard to your craft.
“Little men tapping things out, points of view
Remember their views are not the gospel truth”
https://youtu.be/FO3_Udn3hYA
Two words to say to you Scotty – Chas Smith.
I’m painting with no brushes!
Love you man!
Edit: you too Derek
I’m organising a
LET US WORK
LET US LIVE
LET US DIE
Protest march.
Can you do the press coverage DR?
THIS SATURDAY
DEE WHY BEACH
Birth, school, work, DEATH
What the fuck? San Diego is fucked. Let’s torch this place – down the street in Mission Beach is the most empty awesome beach break – to say I can’t surf there alone bc I could catch CArona from nothing is BUNK!!!! Light these fuckers up until they let us surf again!!!!!!!!
Bowls!
https://m.youtube.com/watch…
Great tune!
I organised a similar protest yesterday. My wife and I marched angrily around our garden. The authorities are yet to lift the 21 day lockdown, but I think we’re making progress. We have another one planned for this afternoon.
I just realized I’m working on Saturday.
DOH!!!
Boris Johnson protested by shaking hands with infected cv patients.
Now he is on his deathbed.
He got tired of winning
“The point I was trying to make was I would not go in the ocean (here in SD) where it is polluted right now nor would I go to the crowded beaches.”
That’s the only change I see from the first articles. She didn’t walk back her airborne theory and only said she wouldn’t go surf after rain and/or at a crowded beach (I’m guessing shes talking about surfing a crowded break).
I dunno, still sounds dangerous to me. Best to stay out of the water another few months til this whole thing cools down.
Next year to be real safe.
Dee why is so hot spot right now!
Im thinking a year and calling on VALs to pledge to quit surfing for the better good of all
I’m thinking of selling my surf shit on Craigslist and getting a Mercedes Sprinter van then heading to Oklahoma to find tigers and orgies, and maybe some rocket fuel meth…
The good life awaits! Pink lemonade, peanut butter crank and glass binge!
Yessss!!! Live. life with so much more gusto than just surfing.
Attention lawmakers:
Cash for Wavestorms/VAL sticks program on the next stimulus bill is urgently needed! Let’s do this together and save lives
Feel free to model it on the gun return experience from Australia.
How much money did they give people? Are you guys allowed to have any firearms?
Yep, just not auto or semi-auto rifles unless you have a good reason. Like; I need one to shoot as many people as I can doesn’t cut the mustard. I think farmers can own if they demonstrate need. Otherwise, there are a few hoops to jump through but access is still there.
Not sure about the cash. This from wikipedia…
There has been 28 state and territory-based amnesties since the Port Arthur massacre in April 1996. The “National Firearms Buyback Program”, which ran from October 1996 through September 1997, was held for 12 months and retrieved 650,000 guns. The 2003 handgun buyback ran for 6 months and retrieved 68,727 guns. Both involved compensation paid to owners of firearms made illegal by gun law changes and surrendered to the government. Bought back firearms were destroyed.[1]
The Government increased the Medicare levy from 1.5% to 1.7% of income for one year to finance the 1996 buyback program. The program was budgeted to cost $500 million. The buyback cost $304 million in compensation and $63 million in administration. [2]
Yes! Wavestorm buyback program. They pay you $50 for every soft board you turn in. They say that these Soft top boards contribute to population density far more than traditional Polyester-polyurethane boards. For the good of the public’s safety, these weapons of mass infection must be taken off the streets!!!!!
Edit- see lemons comment below.
$50 and a coupon for indoor skydiving or rock climbing. Anything to get them out of the lineups
Good luck, it can “morph” and whose to say it can’t come at us over the internet? We just don’t know.
Good on you, Derek.
Beach grits so hot right now.
Noone reads Sydney confidential anymore
Real Noose
What am I supposed to do with this pitchfork now?
Use it to build some hay piles, got some Witch burning to do!
*hay stacks
Sorry for being a prick but hay – they’re hay stacks.
Point it in the direction it should have been pointed to begin with… toward “reporter” aka liar Roseanna Xia who reported Prather’s comments out of context to intentionally deceive the public during a major national emergency. Also, it might be times to simply skip the LA Times when it comes to reading your daily news cycle. May as well read those tabloid papers at the supermaket claiming Opra is a satanist for all LA Times reporting is worth.
Chase me down on my bicycle?