Thanks for the warm welcome and good wishes everyone. I wish I could respond to each and every post because every single one offered something worth a response and I have read and thought about all of your points. I have nothing to quibble with. But I may do some clarifying.
Importantly, I'm not directing my comments to anyone here. Part of my reason for delving back here is that I always thought of you all here as a hearty bunch. Many of you have helped me with my own anxieties during the pandemic - I have reread much of the early days of this thread which was FUN and WEIRD all at the same time (I recommend it if you have the time.) So please don't take anything that I posted as directed toward a post or board member here. It wasn't. I came looking for straight talk and I think I got that. So thanks.
And perhaps not many of you have been seeing what I'm describing. This actually gives me hope. And point taken about not engaging on social media where all bets are off. I think EB is correct that the polarization of this country (I can't speak to other countries) is showing up in these topics as well. Honestly, I'm trying to come to terms with some of my own behavior earlier on in the pandemic. As much as I hated wearing the mask on a personal level, I was totally judging people who didn't. As much as I hated isolating from my family, I was totally judging those who made different decisions. I still grapple with the notion that some people cannot put the "greater good" aspect of the equation into their noggins. I watched my husband and his colleagues work their tails off for the past year and every single person who thumbed their noses at public health recommendations felt like a slap in the face. I felt healthcare workers - much like front line workers - were disrespected and discounted and ultimately ignored. That hurt like hell. It remains a work in progress but I took that very personally....the crap people said about the virus being a hoax and how doctors were inflating Covid death numbers for political reasons just did not jibe with my reality.
So now here I am, feeling hopeful with the full mantle of protection over my family, wanting to help others cross over to the hopeful part and being shot down for stating facts about life post vaccine. Some people just don't seem to want to hear that it's ok to relax after the vax. "You can still spread the virus!" "You can't be 100% sure!" Well, theoretically that is true. But the goal isn't Covid zero (I mean, yeah that'd be great and all but reality comes into play). The goal is not to die or wind up in the hospital or to become a long-hauler. And if we are looking at the risks vs. benefits, where do the benefits of hugging your parents come in? Where do the benefits of blowing off steam with friends come in? Where do the benefits of climbing out of the constant anxiety and stress come in? Because I'm personally seeing the benefits of those things FAR outweighing the extremely low likelihood of me spreading Covid to others. And TBH, that was (outside of my kids getting sick in the early days) always my biggest fear....getting someone else sick because of being in contact with me.
A couple of weeks ago, I went in for my annual physical. When my doctor came in along with the PA, all three of us in that room were 14 days past vax #2. My doctor looks at me and asks if I am comfortable doing the exam without masks on (probably not kosher from the clinic policy standpoint, I might add). And of course I was. It was like a gift. The PA shared a story with me about going for a hike out in a valley where she could see for miles in all directions and there was literally nobody else out there except a couple of other hikers coming up to pass her on the trail. They were wearing masks and she - being fully vaccinated - was not. As they passed her one of them said sarcastically, "Hey, thanks for wearing a mask!" I mean, this is what I'm talking about. This need to control what others are doing. This need to hang onto the fear and constantly push that fear on to others you don't know.
I'll leave you with this. Those 20 somethings in Florida flooding the beaches for spring break? Potentially concerning? Sure. But what would be much more concerning IMHO would be to drive them inside into hotel rooms and houses to congregate and celebrate. I haven't done the math - maybe someone here will - but undoubtedly the risk of death for those kids driving to and from those beaches is higher than partying with their pals outside without a mask. Personally I wouldn't make that choice. But I can certainly understand it. And I can stop being judgmental about it.
Topic: Coronavirus (Read 436255 times)
