Band competition at Chinese New Year celebration - would you send your teen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would absolutely cancel.

+1
OP, the people making light of this and saying, “FFS, just go!” are probably the same people who called the McLean parents “racist” when they spoke up and insisted the Chinese student visits be canceled (in light of the virus). And it turns out, the McLean parents were absolutely right to cancel. Trust your gut, not anonymous posters trying to shame you.

That case was different. Completely different. Shame on you.

Shame on YOU for try to shame people in the midst of a health crisis. Do you live under a rock??

Do you... not think that people use legitimate health crises to indulge in their (perhaps latent) xenophobia and racism? Two things can be true at the same time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would absolutely cancel.

+1
OP, the people making light of this and saying, “FFS, just go!” are probably the same people who called the McLean parents “racist” when they spoke up and insisted the Chinese student visits be canceled (in light of the virus). And it turns out, the McLean parents were absolutely right to cancel. Trust your gut, not anonymous posters trying to shame you.

That case was different. Completely different. Shame on you.

Shame on YOU for try to shame people in the midst of a health crisis. Do you live under a rock??

Do you... not think that people use legitimate health crises to indulge in their (perhaps latent) xenophobia and racism? Two things can be true at the same time.

Let me guess: you’re white?? I think there are always people like you, who will try and turn legitimate concerns into accusations of “racism.” Interesting that *actual Chinese people* are quite upfront about avoiding other Chinese who may have been in China recently. Are they racist too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:wow.

LA Times recently published a story about coronavirus... and xenophobia.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-02-03/coronavirus-outbreak-narrative-xenophobia?fbclid=IwAR2Kf4xrWTZeMTFoFuCFcDJu4GbwFd5qnkryfzh8u-virrKzQUZUo2kkNUU

OP here.

I can't read the link, as I don't subscribe to the LAT - but I am cognizant enough to know that my intentions are not based in xenophobia. I am not interested in avoiding this event, Chinatown or Chinese people because they are Chinese. I am interested in avoiding the situation because there is a likelihood (albeit small) that there is a connection in this location and I am conscious of putting my child, and over a hundred other children, in the path of something they otherwise might not be exposed to. I would think that our, and other, schools would be rethinking their participation. It's one year.

I consider that smart and preventative, not xenophobic. In my mind, it would be the same if there was an outbreak of something in, say, Seattle, and I was vetting the idea of sending my kid on a trip there.

Exactly. But you know - it’s a great opportunity to throw the racism card around!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In light of the coronavirus, would you allow your teen to go to a band competition at a Chinese New Year celebration in a major city's Chinatown?

No. Just no. Why take such a risk?

+1

And I am not a germaphobe at all. I despise hand sanitizer and am not squeamish about snotty kids.

But the coronovirus is different. There has been some chatter that it was developed as germ warfare, etc. Who really knows? The Chinese government is not known to be honest.

I would absolutely skip it OP. Not sure how you convince your exH though.

[Anonymous]

I’m not usually afraid of these types of things and do not usually shelter my kids but no to this one. There will be other trips. You don’t know who has recently returned from China or have been around others who have recently returned. They may not be showing symptoms yet. I would eat a Chinese restaurant but would avoid this because it will be a large crowd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FFS, yes.

OP here.

So people on the GP board about a kid with the flu are all: "Cancel your Super Bowl party! I would not go! Don't let DH go - you all stay home!"

But this is a FFS, yes?

Because...?

I think it's irresponsible to bring busloads of kids from a different community to a place where there are likely connections and where there are confirmed cases in the area. Better safe, than sorry, IMO. Why am I so off base?

You answered your own question. Don't send him then. Why did you even ask the question?

Because I am genuinely curious. DC will, understandably be upset, and ExH and I aren't necessarily on same page. Am looking for a barometer about whether I AM off base.

Yes, you sound too fearful of the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If your child goes, make sure he understands that he must wash his hands frequently, particularly before eating, and NOT TOUCH HIS FACE.

Have you tried to go though a day without touching your face? It’s extremely hard to do because we do it unconsciously all the time.

We have a Chinese woman in the office and she hasn’t been to China recently. She says she stopped hanging out with Chinese people.

Some people are just stupid, doesn't matter if they are chinese or not.

[Anonymous]

Please. My doctor's office asks everyone if they have recently traveled to China. It's not xenophobic. They ask you even if you're not Chinese.

It's fair to be concerned.

OP - come back and let us know what you decide.

[Anonymous]

To the OP.... You need to chill. My kid goes all over the place winning band and speech competitions, and I congratulate her after the fact. I never even know her schedule. She is 16 and she manages all of that herself because she has one more year of school and then she's going to be traveling around the world doing her thing. Why the hell would you handicap your child and hold them back because you're afraid of a virus? I have a compromised immune system and I would go to Chinatown without worrying at all. I'll die when I'm ready to die.
Some of you parents on here... I would HATE having you for parents. Glad my mom raised me to not be afraid to live my life. My kids have a hell of a lot more guts as a result. For real. I have six kids, 4 adults, two minors, all of them are badass, and none of them are terrified of a virus.

[Anonymous]

No, I would not go or send my kid.

But we also tend to catch colds, mostly from people who think they are bad asses and don't bother staying at home when they are sick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the OP.... You need to chill. My kid goes all over the place winning band and speech competitions, and I congratulate her after the fact. I never even know her schedule. She is 16 and she manages all of that herself because she has one more year of school and then she's going to be traveling around the world doing her thing. Why the hell would you handicap your child and hold them back because you're afraid of a virus? I have a compromised immune system and I would go to Chinatown without worrying at all. I'll die when I'm ready to die.
Some of you parents on here... I would HATE having you for parents. Glad my mom raised me to not be afraid to live my life. My kids have a hell of a lot more guts as a result. For real. I have six kids, 4 adults, two minors, all of them are badass, and none of them are terrified of a virus.

It's rather amazing to be so stupid and not even know it. In your mind it's best to be "badass" and take risks today rather than play the long game. That's fine, but don't whine when one of you wins the Darwin award.

[Anonymous]

"all of them are badass, and none of them are terrified of a virus." Not being aware of and cautious about the virus isn't being "badass," that's just stupid. five million people were allowed to travel before the Chinese government publicly raised any red flags. OP, until we have confirmed info about the virus and the potential cases, I wouldn't send my DC. I would plan another trip to make up for this one, but I wouldn't take the risk.

[Anonymous]

Of course not.

I’m avoiding Chinese restaurants and Asian nail salons.

Hell I won't even let my kids play Chinese Checkers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If your child goes, make sure he understands that he must wash his hands frequently, particularly before eating, and NOT TOUCH HIS FACE.

Have you tried to go though a day without touching your face? It’s extremely hard to do because we do it unconsciously all the time.

We have a Chinese woman in the office and she hasn’t been to China recently. She says she stopped hanging out with Chinese people.

Some people are just stupid, doesn't matter if they are chinese or not.

^^ Case in point. ^^

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the OP.... You need to chill. My kid goes all over the place winning band and speech competitions, and I congratulate her after the fact. I never even know her schedule. She is 16 and she manages all of that herself because she has one more year of school and then she's going to be traveling around the world doing her thing. Why the hell would you handicap your child and hold them back because you're afraid of a virus? I have a compromised immune system and I would go to Chinatown without worrying at all. I'll die when I'm ready to die.
Some of you parents on here... I would HATE having you for parents. Glad my mom raised me to not be afraid to live my life. My kids have a hell of a lot more guts as a result. For real. I have six kids, 4 adults, two minors, all of them are badass, and none of them are terrified of a virus.

It's rather amazing to be so stupid and not even know it. In your mind it's best to be "badass" and take risks today rather than play the long game. That's fine, but don't whine when one of you wins the Darwin award.

+1,000,000
And one of them surely will.