How do you feel about posts policing others' behavior?

[Anonymous]

Hi Jeff, I'm increasingly struggling with the volume of posts that say don't get delivery or take out for a few weeks. Stop walking your dog. Too many people are outside. Those kids across the street stepped off their lawn onto the street and I'm going to report them. Stay home stay home stay home. You're an idiot for not stocking up in January. How do I call in a business I think is operating against the governor/mayor's orders? The stay at home means you can't exercise! Etc etc etc all day long.

Here's the one that finally sent me over: https://communityshare.mitre.org/sites/Contracts/Lists/COVIDDirections/DispForm.aspx?ID=112&Source=https%3A%2F%2Fcommunityshare%2Emitre%2Eorg%2Fsites%2FContracts%2FLists%2FCOVIDDirections%2FALL%2Easpx%23InplviewHash76dc895f%2De2c3%2D464f%2Da23f%2D2e9ee2368863%3DSortField%253DDate%2DSortDir%253DDesc&ContentTypeId=0x0100CCB7D62D3E076842A2AA6F8286AB5BB7

I know people are judgmental, and I know people need to seek some level of control in a situation that feels very much out of control. And I've read the data on people needing to find fault in someone who suffers a tragedy (thus feeling like they are immune from suffering a similar tragedy). But my god. The fear mongering and just total harpy-like behavior is starting ot get to me.

How are you feeling about the general tone of DCUM? In so many ways there's so much helpful info here. DCUM is a trusted resource for me (partially because I know I have a good discerning eye and mostly just ignore ignorance). Is there any point I reporting posts like above? Or do you think they are ok? I'm starting to think the general reasonable tone is slipping away into panic and low level hysteria.

[Anonymous]

Use your discerning eye to ignore posts that trigger you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Use your discerning eye to ignore posts that trigger you.

Aww crap. In an attempt not to look like a gullible fool (you view DCUM as a trusted source of info, you are an idiot!) I went too far the other way and now look like a pompous snob! (I have seriously never used discerning eye in my life before today).

The other post that just really got to me was the why are teachers earning a salary for 30 minutes a day. Maybe I just need a DCUM break for a bit.

[Anonymous]

OP,


People are posting because too many are not taking enough precautions and don’t understand the mechanisms of viral spread.

We are only as safe as the most reckless one among us. These are not free, MYOB times, it’s a period when thoughtless acts will prolong our isolation and wreck our economy.

If you can’t handle it, don’t read it.

[Anonymous]

I'm with you OP, I'm starting to just avoid those posts. I am ok with following actual public health advice as it changes and not the most terrified person on DCUM, so I just need to skip those posts that I think are full of paranoid, medically unjustified judgment for my own mental health.

[Anonymous]

Pathetic and useless. Trying to gain a sense of control. Via an anonymous website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
OP,


People are posting because too many are not taking enough precautions and don’t understand the mechanisms of viral spread.

We are only as safe as the most reckless one among us. These are not free, MYOB times, it’s a period when thoughtless acts will prolong our isolation and wreck our economy.

If you can’t handle it, don’t read it.

A thoughtless act, like walking a dog, mowing your lawn, or opening a window in your house? This crisis is bringing out a lot of anxiety in people and this type of hype, which is not based in evidence, is unhelpful.

[Anonymous]

Stop policing the thought police, that's double thought patrolling. I would ask Jeff to police your thought patrolling, but that would be triple patrolling and we can't go there yet.

[jsteele]

I really don't care if people post things like you describe as long as they don't start new threads every time. I don't want such threads dominating the site.