If you want everyone to take the virus of the week seriously, maybe don’t name it after a charming little critter known for appearing in circus acts and the like. Also, make sure you haven’t named it after something that could be perceived as racist. That must be why monkeypox doesn’t seem to be spreading panic like wildfire through the fear-porn outlets.
Have no fear, the WHO is here for the rebrand!
BREAKING: WHO will rename monkeypox virus to combat racism and stigma
Not satire 🤣🤣🤣
— Art TakingBack 🇺🇸 (@ArtValley818_) June 15, 2022
Whoever named the virus and brought it to the public clearly wasn’t thinking like a racist.
The only ones who are racist are the people who think “monkeypox” had anything to do with race. https://t.co/xCqKshLsoe
— Amy Curtis (@RantyAmyCurtis) June 15, 2022
Monkeypox has been nonoffensive for years though, proving that science – and the list of acceptable terminologies – is never settled.
WHO working on a new name for Monkeypox virus because current one is racist. Do you think the current name, which it has had for 64 years, is inappropriate?
— GreatAmericanMail (@mail_american) June 14, 2022
It only takes a few to express concern, or actually be offended, to up and cancel anything.
Sorry monkeypox, but we were tired of hearing about you already, to be honest.
ladies & gentlemen, i regret to inform you monkeypox is CANCELED https://t.co/AFHDB4RydW
— Siraj Hashmi (@SirajAHashmi) June 15, 2022
An official cancellation does present a great opportunity to suggest new names for the virus.
The World Health Organization has decided that they will be renaming Monkeypox to minimize racism surrounding the virus.
Any ideas for the new name?
— Dr. David Samadi (@drdavidsamadi) June 14, 2022
Try to keep it ominous, yet non-offensive.
WHO says monkeypox will soon be getting a new name per @BNODesk
Choose one and/or add your own!
— Dogs4Object Permanence🐶 (@BernieDogs4) June 14, 2022
Graphic descriptions actually can be offensive, or gag-inducing anyway.
WHO is coming up with a new name for Monkeypox and it better be Robot Herpes.
— NoelCaslerComedy (@caslernoel) June 14, 2022
Can AI take the stigma though? How about political nominations? Those are always welcome.
I vote for Midtermpox.
— Anna James Zeigler (@ajzeigler) June 14, 2022
Don’t actually waste too much time trying to come up with the perfect new moniker. The WHO already has a placeholder that wouldn’t offend a soul, at least none that have been identified at the time of publishing this piece.
It seems the WHO are being pushed to focus their limited energy on *renaming* Monkeypox to the utterly unintelligible "hMPXV" because… maybe racism?!
I swear the pathogens are running the asylum at this point.https://t.co/XnPZPdYmJW
— Liv Boeree (@Liv_Boeree) June 14, 2022
It would be pretty lame if the world ended over something with a dull name like hMPXV. We simply can’t go around offending Monkeys with the stigma of a virus though.
I'm certain monkeys are offended and triggered. pic.twitter.com/kHY3JgPadG
— Seaside Trader (@csidetrader) June 13, 2022
Just do what you can to steer clear of the virus until it has a name that you aren’t ashamed to be associated with and that society would be comfortable listing on your death certificate.
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