Editing 2535: Common Cold Viruses

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Megan expresses curiosity as well, and White Hat suggests he could get a {{w|DNA sequencer}} to help. By the third and final panel, several years have passed. All three characters appear to be ill, perhaps even as a result of now purposefully infecting themselves with chosen diseases. Whether deliberately or 'naturally', they do seem to have by now encountered a {{w|respiratory syncytial virus}} (RSV) and various types of {{w|rhinoviruses}}, and are now describing their experienced symptoms with terms similar to ones used in {{w|wine tasting}} (e.g. "bouquet" is a term used in wine tasting; "nosefeel" is a parody of the wine-tasting term "mouthfeel", etc.).
 
Megan expresses curiosity as well, and White Hat suggests he could get a {{w|DNA sequencer}} to help. By the third and final panel, several years have passed. All three characters appear to be ill, perhaps even as a result of now purposefully infecting themselves with chosen diseases. Whether deliberately or 'naturally', they do seem to have by now encountered a {{w|respiratory syncytial virus}} (RSV) and various types of {{w|rhinoviruses}}, and are now describing their experienced symptoms with terms similar to ones used in {{w|wine tasting}} (e.g. "bouquet" is a term used in wine tasting; "nosefeel" is a parody of the wine-tasting term "mouthfeel", etc.).
  
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This strip follows the theme of [[915: Connoisseur]], making fun of the fact that people can form strong opinions and preferences on pretty much anything if they spend enough time and attention on it.  In this case, despite the fact that the symptoms of these viruses are almost universally considered to be unpleasant, the characters appear to have developed an appreciation for the subtle variations. A similar phenomenon is referenced in [[1095: Crazy Straws]].
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This strip follows the theme of [[915: Connoisseur]], making fun of the fact that people can form strong opinions and preferences on pretty much anything if they spend enough time and attention on it.  In this case, the characters become sufficiently schooled in and experienced with the variations of various common viruses that they discuss their attributes in very similar terms to those connoisseurs would use when describing wines. A similar phenomenon is referenced in [[1095: Crazy Straws]].
  
 
The idea of intentionally infecting a person with a disease is a trope in multiple Speculative Fiction stories. For instance, Iain M. Banks' {{w|Culture series}}, set in a world where all diseases are eradicated or treatable, includes story lines where individuals deliberately infect themselves with viruses to experience the symptoms.
 
The idea of intentionally infecting a person with a disease is a trope in multiple Speculative Fiction stories. For instance, Iain M. Banks' {{w|Culture series}}, set in a world where all diseases are eradicated or treatable, includes story lines where individuals deliberately infect themselves with viruses to experience the symptoms.

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