User:Nabbovirus

Hello! I am Nabbovirus, but you can call me Nab. I mainly lurk around articles related to infectious disease and public health, in particular those related to influenza, though I'm happy to step out of this sphere for the odd edit here and there as well.

I would like to use this space to clarify my intentions with my edits, particularly as they pertain to those articles on influenza and the like. I recognized a striking dearth of information on those articles, for example, that pertain to the influenza pandemics of the 20th century. It was my view that this lack was not because such information did not exist but rather because it had not been found and catalogued. This was my view because I had the materials. As such, it is my desire to catalog this abundantly existent material, in proper encyclopedic fashion, so that there is no longer this clear gap in the content of this encyclopedia.

I advocate for no viewpoint with respect to these subjects in my edits. The extent of my view is that the information exists and should be documented. If I am a "single-purpose account", then my single purpose is to build an encyclopedia. I recognize the importance of citing sources. When it comes to these subjects, my primary resources are official authorities such as the World Health Organization and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which are going to be the most reliable resources for data and descriptions. Secondly, when it comes to analysis of these data and descriptions, I utilize, beyond those authorities themselves, reputable and peer-reviewed journals. Finally, for real-time coverage of these historical events, I also rely on reporting by such established sources as The New York Times. Every datum or description offered is sourced specifically with a citation from one of these resources. I welcome and encourage the most scrutinous review of these citations on the respective Talk pages. I welcome any refutation but hope only that it comes with a citation of its own.

With respect to my Userbox, I will acknowledge the positions I declare within it. It is my position that pandemics are not good. This position has never been cited in any of my edits and will never be. It is the purpose of an encyclopedia, in this case, to describe the effects of specific pandemics, purely for the sake of cataloguing that knowledge, not to impart a political or ethical position. However, we have all now been touched, in one way or another, by a pandemic. I would prefer that one not occur rather than occur. Therefore, I support animal rights and the protection of the environment, two key issues in the origin of pandemics. I remain "up to date" with vaccination against COVID-19 (as well as influenza). My personal hope is that we can learn from this pandemic to better prepare for future ones. How is it possible to learn anything, let alone learn from history, if that information is not catalogued in encyclopedic fashion? I contribute perhaps to facilitate such learning, but what is done with the information is ultimately up to the reader. It is not for me or any editor to advocate what ought to be done, only to describe the situation.

I write all this with the intent to "provid[e] a foundation for effective collaboration", not share my views. Misunderstanding is simply a shoddy foundation for effective collaboration. Visit my Talk page so we can solidify that foundation!

Articles I have created include:


 * 1789–1790 influenza epidemic
 * 1647 North American influenza epidemic

Articles to which I have contributed significantly include:


 * 1957–1958 influenza pandemic
 * Hong Kong flu
 * Spanish flu
 * London flu
 * Viral interference

I intend to continue developing these articles, in particular the first two (not so much the third one, as that is already considered a "good article"). I hope to complete the section on the United States response on the first article. As for the second, I hope to describe in more detail the experiences of countries that are not the United States. All of this information exists; it's only waiting to be summarized. In the spirit of transparency, and to the end of effective collaboration, I would be happy to share my materials so that anyone interested can help with this. I would encourage it; this is no place for monopoly. However, I also recognize that, if no one else does it, it will never be done unless I'm the one that does it. At least then it'll be out there, and others can evaluate it when they happen to stumble across it. I'll be here waiting to participate in the discussion with utter enthusiasm and a deep desire to optimize this encyclopedia.