635 EPIDEMIOLOGISTS ENTER A BAR…

Mr. Fox’s Holiday Challenge.

635 epidemiologists enter a bar...sounds like a great “enter a bar “ joke, doesn’t it?

Only problem is, I have no idea how the joke ends. Let me know if you do, won’t you?

Gif courtesy giphy.

So, why did I bring up 635 epidemiologists?

It’s because the New York Times asked 635 epidemiologists how they’re planning to spend Thanksgiving this year.

So, what’s the deal with 635 epidemiologists? Why ask them about Thanksgiving?

Well, epidemiologists study health and disease, and research how to keep people safe from harm, from a healthcare point of view.

They’re the go-to guys for advice on how to deal with things like pandemics and so on.

I know.

Gif courtesy giphy.

Some of us are shocked that our bartender isn’t the go-to guy for advice...but there it is.

Anyway, getting back to our story, the New York Times asked 635 epidemiologists how they plan to spend Thanksgiving this year.

Because, as you may well know, this damned thing…

Gif courtesy giphy.

...didn’t go away on its own, and has left us feeling thankful just because we are still here.

In other words, epidemiologists are kind of living in their own habitat (living through a pandemic), which is presumably why the NYT asked 635 epidemiologists about their Thanksgiving 2020 plans.

Lightly fried fish fillets

Image courtesy reddit 'Lightly Fried Fish Fillets'.

By now, you probably feel the same about me and ‘635 epidemiologists’ as the guy here feels about his dad and ‘lightly fried fish fillets’.

So, I will be careful to respect your sentiments from hereon, and not use the phrase ‘635 epidemiologists’ unless it’s absolutely necessary...to, you know...refer to 635 epidemiologists.

So, what did Mr. Fox notice from the Thanksgiving survey of 635 epidemiologists?

Mr. Fox too can is well versed in the art of deduction.

Gif courtesy giphy.

Well, he noticed that certain people presented unique opinions...or insight...on how celebrating Thanksgiving during the COVID pandemic.

For example, Nina Masters, a doctoral student at the University of Michigan, said “Ph.D.s are lonely”.

Someone reported their mom to have said that she (the mom) would spend Thanksgiving without her daughters, as Dr. Fauci will be spending his without his.

Someone else responded...

I am terrified of the ramifications of decisions the population as a whole is making around Thanksgiving

This person happens to be a senior epidemiologist attached to an epidemiological thinktank.

And what did Mr. Fox conclude from all this?

Me {jumping to} Conclusions. Get it? Gif courtesy giphy.

Using his deep insight into human behavior, Mr. Fox concluded that the responses are related to the respondent’s principal role in life.

• The doctoral fellow’s first instinct was to talk about the lonely life of PhD research.

• The mom was expressing solidarity with another parent.

• And the epidemiological consultant was concerned about the epidemiological ramifications of people congregating for Thanksgiving this year.

What do you think of all this?

Is Mr. Fox on to something?

Does the response really vary according to the respondent’s role in life?

Let’s put that to the test, shall we?

The Fox in a Box Holiday 2020 challenge

Tag us, and tell us:

• What comes to your mind when you think about the holidays of 2020?

• What you consider your primary role in life to be.

On social media, with the hashtags #FIAB #Holiday #Challenge.

Let’s see what responses we get...and whether Mr. Fox’s conclusion was correct, or not!

Oh, and here’s the report that set off this whole thing: What 635 Epidemiologists Are Doing for Thanksgiving.