Chat message

Slack / Private Message Drop, pp.993-994 · slack_pm:msg:10362

Date: 2021-08-24 01:31 (hour precision)
Type: chat message · slack
recipient: Kristian G. Andersen, Robert F. Garry, Edward C. Holmes
speaker: Andrew Rambaut
Topics: Lab-leak / accidental release hypothesis WHO and international investigation

Recipients on this medium are inferred from channel membership, not per-message addressing.

Jon's reply to us was good too: From: Jon Cohen a: Subject: Re: The authors who wrote the paper saying that SARS-CoV-2 is not human engineered first tried convincing Anthony Fauci of the opposite. Date: 29 July 2020 at 9:57:57 am AEST. To: Edward Holmes I.au> Cc: "Kristian G. ar: Jeremy Farrar i visor: Thanks Eddie and Kristian. I was not planning on writing about this, but your accounting is interesting and, for what it's worth, convincing.Whoever wrote this--and I have no idea who the person is--has some inside knowledge about something oranother.When I was covering the HIV origin debates, one question kept returning to people who pushed different theories that were possible but not probable: What, exactly, would it take to convince you?I think science is a generous process. It says, show me evidence that differs from what I think and I will change mymind. It's not religion. Some people take advantage of this generosity. They push beliefs, not theories, and when one set of questions they raise are answered, they come up with criticisms of the answers or they latch on to new questions. Truth will out. I'm glad to see the origin conversation advancing and that there's a push to gather more data. I've covered many, many outbreak origin stories now, and time again, data emerge that put speculations to rest. Bring it!All the best, Jon```

In context

A single line often inverts meaning once you see what it answers, so neighbouring messages are always shown.

2021-08-24 01:31 Andrew Rambaut open

But none of the banter, speculation about who it might be, I think? Will check but I am pretty sure it is all on this channel. Update: not much in email but there is this..
2021-08-24 01:31 Andrew Rambaut open

shared file(s): image.png
2021-08-24 01:31 Andrew Rambaut open

As you say, the 'Here are the facts:' reply is good should it ever get out
2021-08-24 01:31 Andrew Rambaut open

And there is a thread with Jeremy and a WT person (presumably WT not covered by FOI so it would just be an FOI to us and currently we are not releasing).
2021-08-24 01:31 Andrew Rambaut

Jon's reply to us was good too: From: Jon Cohen a: Subject: Re: The authors who wrote the paper saying that SARS-CoV-2 is not human engineered first tried convincing Anthony Fauci of the opposite. Date: 29 July 2020 at 9:57:57 am AEST. To: Edward Holmes I.au> Cc: "Kristian G. ar: Jeremy Farrar i visor: Thanks Eddie and Kristian. I was not planning on writing about this, but your accounting is interesting and, for what it's worth, convincing.Whoever wrote this--and I have no idea who the person is--has some inside knowledge about something oranother.When I was covering the HIV origin debates, one question kept returning to people who pushed different theories that were possible but not probable: What, exactly, would it take to convince you?I think science is a generous process. It says, show me evidence that differs from what I think and I will change mymind. It's not religion. Some people take advantage of this generosity. They push beliefs, not theories, and when one set of questions they raise are answered, they come up with criticisms of the answers or they latch on to new questions. Truth will out. I'm glad to see the origin conversation advancing and that there's a push to gather more data. I've covered many, many outbreak origin stories now, and time again, data emerge that put speculations to rest. Bring it!All the best, Jon```

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