I think Covid greatly accelerated a process that had been in the works for a while and is what the PP is getting at -- the extreme political polarization of society to a point of paralysis (say that three times fast!). Obviously Covid didn't cause this to happen. It was well underway by the time Trump was elected. But Covid was the global crisis that took that from a troubling trend to a permanent shift. I don't think it's a coincidence that we saw events like the George Floyd protests (and riots) and the J6 insurrection during Covid. Like those weren't just unfortunate but coincidental timing. Covid broke some fundamental aspects of society that might have otherwise tempered the more extreme behavior we saw. Like do really feel like society is the *same* as it was in 2019? Do you have the same relationship with extended family (including extended family with different political beliefs)? Do you have the same relationship with your kids school? Your employer? The same relationship politics generally? Do you think of government entities the same way? All of these things are different for me and that's not an uncommon perspective. Many, many people feel this way. I'm not saying Covid itself caused that change, but the "Covid era" is something with a before that looked one way, and an after that looks a different way. So yes. A big shift. |
They’re required in every doctor’s office I go to. In my family, that’s a pediatrician, a GP, two oncologists, a rheumatalogist, two dermatologists, an asthma and allergy specialist. Even the dental practice we go to requires them if someone isn’t actively in your mouth. |
If you are in the DC area, could you please share the doctors name? I’m looking for doctors that still mask. Most of my specialist still do but the PCP doesn’t because she is at MedSTAR |
You are all so incredibly soft and entitled . . . |
Are you in DC? Our kids' pediatrician (MedStar), adults' PCPs and specialists (GW), and my oncologist (unaffiliated) have all ditched masks. |
And you are so gritty and tough I’m sure. ![]() |
Who is your dentist? I want a Covid cautious dentist |
Yes pretty much all relationships are the same. I think it's way too soon to say there's been a huge societal permanent shift. I grew up in the 80s, nothing is like it was then now, but from 2019-2023? Not much as changed, for me. Are the people who think this about 30 years old and haven't lived very long to think this way? |
Is it okay to add that during the early pandemic (2020), John Lewis died, Ruth Bader Ginsberg died, and then the Jan 6 insurrection happened in early 2021?
Being trapped at home, glued to zoom (both kids and adults) while the world as I knew it was falling apart was a contributing factor to my mental shift post-COVID. |
Agree. I found it shocking how some people reacted. The paranoia towards both the vaccine and about getting the virus—I had some bizarre conversations and concluded that they were extremely afraid to the point of being unable to function. Lots of anger and rage toward not just society but taken out on others they knew as well as complete strangers. No trust in anyone or anything and no understanding or admiration or even respect for others trying to manage difficult situations and contingency and emergency planning. |
Mine too - even the chemo infusion room is mask-optional. |
Masks don’t work for a virus spread via aerosols. |
Sine the pandemic, I can’t get over how our society is so self-centered. It’s all me, me, me. |
That is the opposite of true. N95 masks are incredibly effective against aerosols. |
This is exactly what DH did when I had Covid. our DS brought it home, and he was mildly sick for about 8 hours. A few days later, I started to feel lousy and then got hit HARD for about 7 days. DH basically said "I probably already caught it from DS, and am maybe a day or two behind you. I'm not going to sleep on the basement sofa when I'm certain I'll catch it anyway" And we shared our bed the whole time I was sick. And he never caught it. So hard to understand |