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Anti-vaxer takes on Linus Torvalds

by on14 June 2021


Strong language and biology lessons used


An anti-vaxer who thought that a Linux kernel topic thread was a good venue to spread a poorly researched conspiracy theory found himself on the receiving end of some words from IT's Mr Sweary, Linus Torvalds.

The anti-vaxer believed that Linux kernel designers would be ideal to spread the world of a vaccine conspiracy based around lizard’s changing people mRNA. After all don’t they want to stick it to the man by using open saucy solutions?

Linus Torvalds was "clearly unamused" by a "humanoid conspiracy theory, and also on its discussion in a Linux kernel topic thread", reports Neowin.

Torvalds told the bloke to “keep your insane and technically incorrect anti-vax comments” to himself.

“You don't know what you are talking about, you don't know what mRNA is, and you're spreading idiotic lies. Maybe you do so unwittingly, because of bad education. Maybe you do so because you've talked to "experts" or watched youtube videos by charlatans that don't know what they are talking about.”

Torvalds said that “regardless of where you have gotten your misinformation from, any Linux kernel discussion list isn't going to have your idiotic drivel pass uncontested from me”.

“Just for your edification in case you are actually willing to be educated: mRNA doesn't change your genetic sequence in any way. It is the exact same intermediate - and temporary - kind of material that your cells generate internally all the time as part of your normal cell processes, and all that the mRNA vaccines do is to add a dose their own specialized sequence that then makes your normal cell machinery generate that spike protein so that your body learns how to recognise it.”

He pointed out that the half-life of mRNA is a few hours. Any injected mRNA will be all gone from your body in a day or two. It doesn't change anything long-term, except for that natural "your body now knows how to recognise and fight off a new foreign protein" (which then tends to fade over time too, but lasts a lot longer than a few days).

“While your body learns to fight off that foreign material, you may feel like shit for a while. That's normal, and it's your natural response to your cells spending resources on learning how to deal with the new threat.”

Torvalds added that of the vaccines, the mRNA ones are the most modern, and the most targeted - exactly because they do *not* need to have any of the other genetic material that you traditionally have in a vaccine, that is no need for basically the whole - if weakened - bacterial or virus genetic material.

“So the mRNA vaccines actually have *less* of that foreign material in them than traditional vaccines do. And a *lot* less than the very real and actual COVID-19 virus that is spreading in your neighbourhood.”

Torvalds said anybody who has told the anti-vaxer differently or that it changes your genetic material, was simply uneducated.

“You need to stop believing the anti-vax lies, and you need to start protecting your family and the people around you. Get vaccinated”, Torvalds wrote.

He added: “And if you insist on believing in the crazy conspiracy theories, at least SHUT THE HELL UP about it on Linux kernel discussion lists.”

 

Last modified on 14 June 2021
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