To say things are weird has become one big huge understatement. The people of Wisconsin are not having this covid-19 social distancing for one more day. Protests are happening all over the state. Protests with thousands of people standing shoulder to shoulder with no masks.
It all started with the extended stay at home order. It went way beyond any other state surrounding it with no data given as to why. But people have gotten mad. They’re just done with it. They’re done with the destruction of the economy and small businesses and they want them open immediately. No restrictions.
How Much Damage Was Done?
I put a post on FB thanking people for protesting and getting more people sick so that I would get even more time to work from home. Don’t do that. A lot of my friends read way too much into it and weren’t very nice about it. It’s not about the sick people they said, it’s about the politics and I’m a complete idiot because I don’t see that. That’s the reply I got from numerous people – people who say they’re my friends.
I do get it, but right now I have another reason for not participating that I haven’t shared with them and don’t intend to. I thought that most of my friends knew my stance on anything even remotely socialistic (absolutely against) but they chose to ignore that because they’re caught up in the moment. Maybe it wasn’t intended for me but for anyone else who might be reading my post but that still doesn’t make it all okay.
Are There Any Right Answers?
Just like there’s no answers about this virus, there’s also no answers about how to deal with society and this virus. It doesn’t make any sense at all. It’s airborne, but it’s not. Kids don’t get it, except when they do. It stays on surfaces for 2 hours, or 6, or 8, or 3 days or 17 days. It’s in the lungs, or the brain, or intestines. It produces antibodies, but you can get it again, but you’re immune or maybe not. Hand sanitizer works, but wash your hands after you use it, because it doesn’t really. This is what we’re being told.
Can you imagine being a leader during this pandemic using that information to base your decisions on? It’s ridiculous that anyone can say anyone is doing a bad job when this is what they’re given. Hindsight will be 20/20 for sure but right now, it’s like trying to catch a bird in a forest made of paper trees with one hand tied behind your back.
Someone once said “I do not have enemies, I just have friends that don’t like me” Here in Australia we are not in lockdown. We are, however, on restricted movement and social distancing. The states have closed their borders and it requires a valid reason and the necessary paperwork to ravel between states. The Constitutional Validity of this has been tested and it is acceptable under certain conditions. Weddings are no more that five people and funerals no more than ten (including the undertakers) Most people have kept to the restrictions except some teenagers in New South Wales – but then they are teenagers and we all know that they are invincible. Here the virus – thanks to government restrictions – is starting to come under control and the state and federal governments are now talking about relaxing the restrictions. In South Australia we have not had a single new case for eight days, so we are quite pleased about that. As far we we are concerned , it showed that the restrictions are working..
I’m so happy to hear that the restrictions are working there! I think it’s very sad about the weddings and funerals though. I think the restrictions were working here, too, but so good that people decided they didn’t need to continue following the guidelines and it was against their rights to continue being told they had to do so when hardly anything was happening. I’m concerned but we’ll find out soon if the protests have stirred things up. And yes, teenagers are invincible.
I’m so sorry “friends” responded so negatively to your post. I get it – you actually like working from home!
Even before this all happened, I was weaning myself off facebook. Some friends are so mean-spirited in their posts and comments. I don’t live in a news vacuum but I am willing to critically think about what I am hearing/reading. There are so many who think if a particular person says it, it must be “fake news”.
Is there a happy medium? I don’t know! The feds have put out recommendations on criteria to remove restrictions. That seems to have set people off knowing that some states have few cases while others have many. BUT we don’t restrict travel between states or even counties. It makes sense to coordinate with surrounding counties/states.
Another issue is the distrust of science. Way too many are in the “Fire Fauci” crowd and not realizing that the more we learn about the virus influences the recommendations.
I can’t even bear to look at FB today. The worst thing is that the ones who were so mean are the ones who are real life friends that I’ve known for a long time. All of them have gone off the deep end… not just on my post but constantly all day long posting story after story and video after video. I might try no FB tomorrow.
We don’t know what the right answer is. No one does. No one is an expert on this virus yet. It’s not just like the flu and it has far surpassed the average yearly flu deaths and is still going strong.
Hopefully people and life in general will go back to somewhat normal in the somewhat near future!!
They have nothing better to do than spew meanness I guess. That’s too bad. Would it be mean to suggest they get a hobby other than facebook?
We assume we are isolating until June even if the state lifts some of the restrictions. We can’t go anywhere for “vacation” since we are distant virtual teaching until the end of May.
Lol! I have actually thought about it!!
It’s still all up in the air here. Who knows how long we’ll be isolating.
I totally get it. Besides, you will be interacting with them once isolation orders lift.
Oh I agree with both you and Gilly!! It has gone on too long, and we all have a right to own opinions! Civility still matters!! It has not been cancelled!
I empathiZe with Pres. Trump. Being conflicting info, and having to fight your way out of the maZe, and having to lead the nation- he has a horribly huge job on top of his already horribly huge job. I pray for him, and the rest of the government every day, that God will give him wisdom to make the right choices!
I do too because this would be impossible for any president!!! Especially hard for one whom the media is intent on destroying.
I’m trying so hard to be patient with my friends. I know this isn’t easy on them either but you’re right, they didn’t have to attack the way they did. I’ll be proceeding with caution in those friendships for awhile lol.
Hi Jen, I know I don’t comment very often but I do read your posts. I usually read blogs early morning on my iPad before I get up and for some reason, I can’t like or comment from my iPad – just won’t connect to my WordPress account. I just had to get on my computer and respond to this. I feel sad that you’ve had hassle from Facebook friends for having an opinion. That is not right, I think we are still entitled to our own opinion! This world is getting crazier by the second. I grew up knowing that people have different opinions but we can all still get along. Things have changed now. There is a growing army of stupid people who want to shut down anyone who doesn’t think like them and that is SO dangerous. Since this horrible world situation occurred, I have stopped going on my FB personal page. There are so many ignorant people trying to shout everyone else down I can’t bear it. Critical thinking is almost a thing of the past now. The majority just believe what we are told without question, especialy here in the UK. We have supermarket trolley jacks ordering shoppers into fenced off areas to snake backwards and forwards around barriers to get into the store.Even when it is quiet and there are no queues, they are still making people do the snaking up and down the fencing and worse still, PEOPLE ARE DOING T WITHOUT QUESTION! We have become like sheep so I am heartened to hear about people protesting in your state. But I also totally understand your view. I feel the same. I am an introvert who masquerades as an extrovert to ‘fit in’. So I am LOVING being able to stay away from the world without feeling guilty or pressured to socialise. I will be sad when it’s over for personal reasons. But I will be relieved when vulnerable children are back at school and stressed parents are free to get out of their high rise apartments. I do fear for them. Also those who are alone with mental health issues. If it were not for all those people suffering, I would be happy if this new way of life went on forever. Sending you a hug across the pond and don’t worry about what people say on FB, you opinion and thoughts are as valid as theirs.🌹
Hi Gilly! Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. I have problems with WP too.. I can’t post from my phone but I can’t comment from my computer. It’s the weirdest thing that I have to use both and I think I miss a lot from doing that. For the first time ever, I’ve actually thought about disabling my FB account temporarily. It’s really getting stressful. And that’s exactly how I feel, you put it so eloquently! I’m loving it but I know so many others are struggling and I fear for them also. I think we can all agree on one thing though… it will be great when this finally goes away or we finally get some real answers!! Hugs!! Have a great week! 🌸😊
“There is a growing army of stupid people who want to shut down anyone who doesn’t think like them and that is SO dangerous.” SO TRUE!! Just because I don’t agree with you doesn’t mean you can be mean!