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I understand why reputable polls are using "covid was created in a lab" as a conspiracy theory/misinformation test, but at the same time it feels like a throwback to the infamous 2015 poll showing that over 80% of Americans support “mandatory labels on foods containing DNA"... https://twitter.com/benswasey/status/1344318908019470344
These polls can set unintentional traps for people who do not have strong scientific literacy (which does not equate to stupidity). 2015, I was 
hearing that 80% of Americans wanted labels on foods containing DNA, but was rightly chastised by a friend.. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/01/17/over-80-percent-of-americans-support-mandatory-labels-on-foods-containing-dna/
hearing that 80% of Americans wanted labels on foods containing DNA, but was rightly chastised by a friend.. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/01/17/over-80-percent-of-americans-support-mandatory-labels-on-foods-containing-dna/
These polls should keep average scientific literacy in mind and attach explanations or exclude options that are too challenging or nuanced to clearly explain to participants in a brief survey.
In this poll, why not rephrase as "covid is an intentionally released bioweapon"?
In this poll, why not rephrase as "covid is an intentionally released bioweapon"?
That option would literally be a theory of a conspiracy to release a bioweapon - unequivocally classifying it as a conspiracy theory.
Instead, the term "created in a lab" is imo quite ambiguous. Even scientists don't agree where "creation" begins...
Instead, the term "created in a lab" is imo quite ambiguous. Even scientists don't agree where "creation" begins...
Threw together a quick diagram of different SARS-CoV-2/covid origins and I'm going to use this to explain why the terms "created in a lab" or "manmade" are (1) loaded, (2) not specific, even for scientists - so I discourage further use of these terms in polls or public discourse.
When you ask someone whether they think covid was created in a lab or manmade, some people may envision a HIV-SARS hybrid or some other Frankenstein lab concoction, which places it far far D on the spectrum. This isn't even what most scientists are considering right now.
It's this impression of scientific madness that makes some scientists afraid of talking about potential lab origins. I am afraid that people will run off screaming that SARS2 was a bioweapon made of HIV and SARS if I even so much as say that lab-based scenarios are plausible.
The bracket that could be arguably considered as "created in a lab" or "manmade" extends as far as C - more virus is being produced and studied in the lab, in cells or animals.
But this could be debated by others as not "manmade" enough, like a banana is not "manmade".
But this could be debated by others as not "manmade" enough, like a banana is not "manmade".
Therefore, if polls want to discuss lab origins in general, I strongly advocate that you use "covid originated from a lab/research-based activities" instead of "covid was created in a lab".
On the other end, you could use "covid was an intentionally engineered human pathogen".
On the other end, you could use "covid was an intentionally engineered human pathogen".
If I had participated in this poll for example, I would have been right smack in "I don't know" land. And probably written an essay next to the question about how this terminology is too ambiguous and loaded.
I would like to hazard my first twitter poll - about the origins of SARS-Cov-2/covid, asking participants which scenarios they think are possible (A, B, C, and/or D) using this diagram:
Based on the diagram in the previous tweet, which covid/SARS-CoV-2 origins scenarios do you think are possible - let's say, more than 1% chance of the scenario being the true origins story of the virus?
The reason why I didn't do every combo of A, B, C, and D is because I perceive these to be escalating in lab/research-based interactions with viruses. If you think D is possible, I don't see why you'd think A doesn't even have 1% chance of being the true SARS2 origin scenario.
Just want to reassure participants of the poll - I cannot see who voted for what. I can see the total votes, the distribution of the votes, how many people RT'ed the poll, how many people interacted with the poll etc., but I cannot match user IDs to poll answers.
