Eh, I wouldn't go anywhere inside in public without a mask, but I don't post about it on social media.

People know not wearing a mask in a public place is a risk at this point, or they just don't want to hear it, so either way I no longer care what they do.

I can understand medical professionals posting info on social media, because they are drowning in hospitalized patients right now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think many are hypochondriacs who don’t understand basic math or statistics or what actually supports good health (such as exercising, diet, being outside, social connections, etc)

Many are fat and out of shape. They might drink alcohol regularly or be on prescription medication. This is all much more dangerous to the health of a non-elderly person than Covid. I find it strange.

Actually a lot of previously healthy people now have long Covid, and many people are also disabled from it. I'm not on social media posting about precautions, but it's frustrating when people act like Covid is nothing.

It's interesting- I personally know dozens of people who have had Covid, but I don't know a single person who has long Covid. When I hear people say that long Covid is common, I just don't see it.

There’s entirely too broad of a definition of “long COVID.” It includes any symptoms at least a month after initial infection. Well, if you’ve ever been actually sick with anything, you know it’s possible and not even uncommon to have coughing and congestion for a good long while after an illness. I coughed for about 6 weeks with Covid and that was my only symptom after the initial infection, but by some definitions I had “long Covid.” And then it also includes really vague, non-specific symptoms that could be anything, could be unrelated, or could be psychosomatic like “fatigue,” “headaches,” and “brain fog,” whatever that is …

It does seem like real, post-viral symptoms were more common with early infections in 2020 especially spring/summer 2020 with the more serious strains as opposed to now where we have vaccines (even though imperfect) and more treatments.

Right, and plenty of the symptoms can be explained by other health issues brought on by living in a stressful time. We're not talking about people bleeding from their eyeballs. Depression, weight gain, drinking too much, not exercising, were issues for a lot of people during the pandemic. So, you have Covid and feel "fatigue" some weeks later. Is it long Covid, or lack of exercise and too much bourbon every night? Who knows?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you call virtue signalling having to see people literally die and/or have a stroke in their 50s w/o any other underlying conditions other than a recent COVID infection, by all means, I'll own the virtue signalling.

The question is, why does it offend you?

I am about to be slammed in the hospital yet again because people like you get so offended by COVID.

Here is what I recommend:

1. Wear a well-fitting, high quality mask (KN95 or N95) during surges in all indoor settings when mixing with non household members.

2. Test before gathering with non-household members

3. Do 1 and 2 to keep schools and daycares open

4. Do 1 and 2 so I can do my job in hospitals.

Again, sorry if this offends you

OP here. Thank you for sharing. Speaking specially to your post, I appreciate you being specific about what you want. I'm sorry that things in healthcare settings are difficult right now. What "offends" me about your specific post is basically the implication that COVID (and the flu, and RSV) is the fault of anyone who is engaging in indoor dining in restaurants/indoor activities with people they don't know and can't be sure are testing. And I'm curious - aside from the fact that we're going on three years, which is a long time for people to avoid these types of activities (my child was 12 months old when the pandemic hit, which means these have been three very key years in her social development and yes it has impacted her very much), it also means that many businesses and their employees lose their livelihoods. I know I know, how can I possibly put MONEY above PEOPLE'S LIVES. I think that's a pretty dumb and selfish argument because you're not the one who can't put food on the table.

So I think we can agree that you think I am a terrible person, and I think that's quite unfair at this point.

NP. Pandemics, by their nature, are not "fair". They suck and they are tough to live through. There is a lot of collateral damage going on right now between sicker than normal school children, people in their 20s-40s having higher rates of cardiac arrest, and a high mortality rate for seniors. As someone who doesn't post about it but does still think it's a threat to the general population, it appears that you are annoyed by being reminded of that. I haven't eaten inside in three years, nor have my kids, but I'm not pointing fingers at my friends who have. But I do think that now during this triple-demic winter is a good time for many people to take measures to decrease viral spread - RSV, flu, and Covid are all surging. There is a lot of suffering going on, and it's obvious from just reading this topic daily. We all live in a society. I'm not here to demonize anyone, but at the same time you have to appreciate the burden on healthcare workers and do what you can from time to time to help them out. As viruses ebb and flow, we have to pivot. There is no steady state that "covid is over".

Of course pandemics are not "fair", nobody said they were. PEOPLE can be fair in how they judge people and what they put out into the world. You say you don't post about this, but you just did. You say you're not here to demonize anyone, but clearly you feel people shouldn't be going to any indoor public places unmasked right now, even if they are feeling well.

Sorry, but I have good reasons not to keep my child socially isolated on the weekends (she cannot wear a mask effectively and hates the cold). She has already paid a high enough price (a price which people like you NEVER acknowledge). That is not going to change. What I do think is reasonable is for people to stay home if they are sick and to be conservative about that. But when I see posts like yours, a part of me is like, f*ck it, clearly that's not enough so why try anyway?

But if everyone who could easily mask would when out and about, your child would be able to more safely socialize on the weekends. Way too many people are saying f*ck it and giving up, which is putting your and your child at a disadvantage. I know people who have lost kids to covid---I think they have paid a far "higher price" than anyone, including you, who still has a healthy kid alive. I also know plenty of kids and adults with long covid and many lingering health issues. They have paid the price and will continue to do so for rest of their (hopefully long, but never know with covid) lives.

My approach is, if I'm going to get covid, it will be from someone I know, not some random stranger in the grocery store. (Yes, I have not had covid yet)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you call virtue signalling having to see people literally die and/or have a stroke in their 50s w/o any other underlying conditions other than a recent COVID infection, by all means, I'll own the virtue signalling.

The question is, why does it offend you?

I am about to be slammed in the hospital yet again because people like you get so offended by COVID.

Here is what I recommend:

1. Wear a well-fitting, high quality mask (KN95 or N95) during surges in all indoor settings when mixing with non household members.

2. Test before gathering with non-household members

3. Do 1 and 2 to keep schools and daycares open

4. Do 1 and 2 so I can do my job in hospitals.

Again, sorry if this offends you

OP here. Thank you for sharing. Speaking specially to your post, I appreciate you being specific about what you want. I'm sorry that things in healthcare settings are difficult right now. What "offends" me about your specific post is basically the implication that COVID (and the flu, and RSV) is the fault of anyone who is engaging in indoor dining in restaurants/indoor activities with people they don't know and can't be sure are testing. And I'm curious - aside from the fact that we're going on three years, which is a long time for people to avoid these types of activities (my child was 12 months old when the pandemic hit, which means these have been three very key years in her social development and yes it has impacted her very much), it also means that many businesses and their employees lose their livelihoods. I know I know, how can I possibly put MONEY above PEOPLE'S LIVES. I think that's a pretty dumb and selfish argument because you're not the one who can't put food on the table.

So I think we can agree that you think I am a terrible person, and I think that's quite unfair at this point.

You are offended at someone in the medical field detailing how to keep people safe, alive, schools open and our medical facilities able to function without being overwhelmed? Yes, it's been 3 years, but it has not gone away. Yes, many people are still concerned with people DYING, under 50 year olds dropping dead that were otherwise healthy until they got covid. I want to protect the employees at businesses as well and help keep them in business. So the least I can do is wear a mask when I'm grocery shopping to protect the workers and all others in the store. If everyone were to mask when out and about (except while at restaurants, ie places you can't really mask), then everyone would benefit. I don't get how masking when in Target, on a bus, on an airplane or at the doctor's office causes harm to you and your family? Your young kid would be safer to socialize if cases were lower. It would be a win win for everyone. Except those who for some reason find issues with masking up when out and about.

The PP is suggesting that nobody be in indoor spaces in public without a mask. Indoor dining is out. Activities for young kids that can't wear masks are out. As for masking when "out and about" I mean I often do mask when shopping but unlike you I have no illusions that masking in those settings makes a significant difference in COVID transmission.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you call virtue signalling having to see people literally die and/or have a stroke in their 50s w/o any other underlying conditions other than a recent COVID infection, by all means, I'll own the virtue signalling.

The question is, why does it offend you?

I am about to be slammed in the hospital yet again because people like you get so offended by COVID.

Here is what I recommend:

1. Wear a well-fitting, high quality mask (KN95 or N95) during surges in all indoor settings when mixing with non household members.

2. Test before gathering with non-household members

3. Do 1 and 2 to keep schools and daycares open

4. Do 1 and 2 so I can do my job in hospitals.

Again, sorry if this offends you

OP here. Thank you for sharing. Speaking specially to your post, I appreciate you being specific about what you want. I'm sorry that things in healthcare settings are difficult right now. What "offends" me about your specific post is basically the implication that COVID (and the flu, and RSV) is the fault of anyone who is engaging in indoor dining in restaurants/indoor activities with people they don't know and can't be sure are testing. And I'm curious - aside from the fact that we're going on three years, which is a long time for people to avoid these types of activities (my child was 12 months old when the pandemic hit, which means these have been three very key years in her social development and yes it has impacted her very much), it also means that many businesses and their employees lose their livelihoods. I know I know, how can I possibly put MONEY above PEOPLE'S LIVES. I think that's a pretty dumb and selfish argument because you're not the one who can't put food on the table.

So I think we can agree that you think I am a terrible person, and I think that's quite unfair at this point.

You are offended at someone in the medical field detailing how to keep people safe, alive, schools open and our medical facilities able to function without being overwhelmed? Yes, it's been 3 years, but it has not gone away. Yes, many people are still concerned with people DYING, under 50 year olds dropping dead that were otherwise healthy until they got covid. I want to protect the employees at businesses as well and help keep them in business. So the least I can do is wear a mask when I'm grocery shopping to protect the workers and all others in the store. If everyone were to mask when out and about (except while at restaurants, ie places you can't really mask), then everyone would benefit. I don't get how masking when in Target, on a bus, on an airplane or at the doctor's office causes harm to you and your family? Your young kid would be safer to socialize if cases were lower. It would be a win win for everyone. Except those who for some reason find issues with masking up when out and about.

Why do you think wearing a mask at Target is going to do much to reduce cold/flu/Covid rates when: people are dining in restaurants, going to parties, traveling, attending school and day care, going to church, watching big live events (sports, concerts, etc.)? The only reasonable conclusion is you want to shit these things down too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think many are hypochondriacs who don’t understand basic math or statistics or what actually supports good health (such as exercising, diet, being outside, social connections, etc)

Many are fat and out of shape. They might drink alcohol regularly or be on prescription medication. This is all much more dangerous to the health of a non-elderly person than Covid. I find it strange.

Actually a lot of previously healthy people now have long Covid, and many people are also disabled from it. I'm not on social media posting about precautions, but it's frustrating when people act like Covid is nothing.

It's interesting- I personally know dozens of people who have had Covid, but I don't know a single person who has long Covid. When I hear people say that long Covid is common, I just don't see it.

There’s entirely too broad of a definition of “long COVID.” It includes any symptoms at least a month after initial infection. Well, if you’ve ever been actually sick with anything, you know it’s possible and not even uncommon to have coughing and congestion for a good long while after an illness. I coughed for about 6 weeks with Covid and that was my only symptom after the initial infection, but by some definitions I had “long Covid.” And then it also includes really vague, non-specific symptoms that could be anything, could be unrelated, or could be psychosomatic like “fatigue,” “headaches,” and “brain fog,” whatever that is …

It does seem like real, post-viral symptoms were more common with early infections in 2020 especially spring/summer 2020 with the more serious strains as opposed to now where we have vaccines (even though imperfect) and more treatments.

Whose definition are you referring to? And the broadness is part of the problem. My friend has long COVID and it's made it difficult for her to run marathons. I get how frustrating that is as I can't run at all due to an injury, but I can handle that. Disabling long COVID is of course very scary, but does not appear to be very common.

Anonymous wrote:Op, what is your point beyond to start drama? Covid is over for you but some of us don’t have your privilege to declare it over and stop being careful.

It's not really over for them--they are just too selfish to care about others and thus have Deemed "covid over"

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do expect people to do?
- Is it just about getting people to get a booster?
- wear a mask indefinitely (in which settings? A full day at school/work? Just the grocery store?)
- avoid any "optional" indoor social activities?
- Pull children out from in-person school/daycare?

It's virtue signaling. They've made their personality about COVID and can't let it go. They just love to prove to everyone that they're such a great person by wearing a mask and avoiding crowds!

Thankfully, I don't see anyone on my FB feed going on and on about COVID. I haven't seen anything from my friends on COVID in months. It's just here on DCUM where I see the hand wringing. IRL, I don't know anyone who cares about this anymore.

At this point it seems to be mostly this. And the specific ppl I know who do this had some anxiety and attention-seekimg tendencies pre-Covid.

I am actually pretty cautious myself but I don't post about it on FB etc. Mostly bc I know nobody cares about my opinion of how they should conduct their lives, ha.

I see there is a PP who is a HCW and I did have one HCW friend who feels similarly that ppl take these gratuitous risks and then HCWs bear the burden of overcrowded hospitals, extra shifts etc and it's exhausting and unfair and sucks. Which totally makes sense. But I haven't seen any HCWs I personally know posting about it on FB etc anymore. Seems more like ppl without much else going on.

OP here. Yes, this is the thing. Why do people feel they need to make pronouncements about what public health measures everyone else should be taking? That is what public health officials are for, and if you don't like what they are saying, take it up with them. Everyone knows about COVID. We've all made our choices, whether you like them or not. We have our reasons, some good, some bad. Random posts on social media are not going to change anyone's behavior.

Why don’t you consider why this actually bothers you? If you’re secure in your behavior, you shouldn’t care what someone else posts on SM about COVID precautions.

Hit the unfollow button and keep it moving.

Sorry you don't think I should have posted about it. Why did you click on the thread if you think this topic is so silly? Stop posting here and keep it moving.

Nope. See I’m commenting on an actual post. Which is what you should be doing to the ones that bother you. Instead you run to another site and start a complaint thread.

Looks like I hit the nail on the head though that people are commenting on things you’re actually not secure about.

Sounds to me like you are pushing made up rules about who can post what on DCUM because you are bothered by what I posted. Where do your insecurities come from?

This is rich. You made a post complaining about what someone else posts on SM. Then proceed to complain when others comment on your post here. This isn’t an echo chamber so you’re going to have to deal with other people posting here.

You can post all you want but making up rules to suggest I should not have posted in the first place is a dumb non-argument. Sorry you don't like getting called out.

I love your double standards. You’ve been trying to push others of the thread because you don’t like their feedback. It’s ok for you, right?

She's just pissed that a friend she actually likes has made it oh-so clear that she doesn't respect OP's behavior during the pandemic, and probably doesn't care about alienating her through her comments on social media. OP is too passive to bring it up, but doesn't want to walk away because she actually likes this person and can't figure out why they don't like her anymore. So OP lashes out at anyone who is Covid cautious instead of dealing with the person she is intimidated by. Sigh...

Across town, someone's 2nd grader is being forced outside for lunch each day and they lock the cafeteria doors behind him with a resounding "slam"... But seriously - I don't know of any public school doing anything like this, so it sounds like a bit of dramatic reportage.

OP here. At least half of my close friends are COVID cautious. We don't see each other a lot in the winter, which I understand and respect. They also don't tell me to "take COVID seriously". Mutual respect is a great thing.

What if they asked to see you in the winter for a couple hours at their house, masked inside? To me, a friendship is give and take. I don't expect my friends to do all the precautions that I am, but the notion that if asked to mask inside you would rather stay home doesn't ring of mutual respect. I will go anywhere inside with a mask, and I'd love it someone came to my house and was okay wearing a mask for an hour or so. I also love hanging out outdoors no matter the season, but not everyone likes being outside in the cold either.

My COVID cautious friends do not want to socialize masked indoors any more than I do. I think you are assuming a lot of people want to socialize with masks, and it seems quite apparent to me that most people do not (as in they too would rather stay home). One of our friends is extremely high risk and I initially always put on a mask even to see them outdoors. But they did not and even if I went in their house they insisted not to worry about it.

NP. I think there's a lot of self-selection going on. The highly cautious have kind of dropped out of social activities, because few people are willing to socialize in masks. I always turned down invitations to social events where masks were required. I'd much rather hang out with people who aren't that cautious, or even just stay home instead.

Beyond bizarre.

Why? Masks were, at best, a necessary evil. Wearing them is at least mildly unpleasant. Why would I want to spend time socializing in them when I don't have to? Especially when plenty of my friends and I never required masks when we socialized.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you call virtue signalling having to see people literally die and/or have a stroke in their 50s w/o any other underlying conditions other than a recent COVID infection, by all means, I'll own the virtue signalling.

The question is, why does it offend you?

I am about to be slammed in the hospital yet again because people like you get so offended by COVID.

Here is what I recommend:

1. Wear a well-fitting, high quality mask (KN95 or N95) during surges in all indoor settings when mixing with non household members.

2. Test before gathering with non-household members

3. Do 1 and 2 to keep schools and daycares open

4. Do 1 and 2 so I can do my job in hospitals.

Again, sorry if this offends you

OP here. Thank you for sharing. Speaking specially to your post, I appreciate you being specific about what you want. I'm sorry that things in healthcare settings are difficult right now. What "offends" me about your specific post is basically the implication that COVID (and the flu, and RSV) is the fault of anyone who is engaging in indoor dining in restaurants/indoor activities with people they don't know and can't be sure are testing. And I'm curious - aside from the fact that we're going on three years, which is a long time for people to avoid these types of activities (my child was 12 months old when the pandemic hit, which means these have been three very key years in her social development and yes it has impacted her very much), it also means that many businesses and their employees lose their livelihoods. I know I know, how can I possibly put MONEY above PEOPLE'S LIVES. I think that's a pretty dumb and selfish argument because you're not the one who can't put food on the table.

So I think we can agree that you think I am a terrible person, and I think that's quite unfair at this point.

You are offended at someone in the medical field detailing how to keep people safe, alive, schools open and our medical facilities able to function without being overwhelmed? Yes, it's been 3 years, but it has not gone away. Yes, many people are still concerned with people DYING, under 50 year olds dropping dead that were otherwise healthy until they got covid. I want to protect the employees at businesses as well and help keep them in business. So the least I can do is wear a mask when I'm grocery shopping to protect the workers and all others in the store. If everyone were to mask when out and about (except while at restaurants, ie places you can't really mask), then everyone would benefit. I don't get how masking when in Target, on a bus, on an airplane or at the doctor's office causes harm to you and your family? Your young kid would be safer to socialize if cases were lower. It would be a win win for everyone. Except those who for some reason find issues with masking up when out and about.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think many are hypochondriacs who don’t understand basic math or statistics or what actually supports good health (such as exercising, diet, being outside, social connections, etc)

Many are fat and out of shape. They might drink alcohol regularly or be on prescription medication. This is all much more dangerous to the health of a non-elderly person than Covid. I find it strange.

Actually a lot of previously healthy people now have long Covid, and many people are also disabled from it. I'm not on social media posting about precautions, but it's frustrating when people act like Covid is nothing.

It's interesting- I personally know dozens of people who have had Covid, but I don't know a single person who has long Covid. When I hear people say that long Covid is common, I just don't see it.

I know three people with long COVID but none where it has been disabling.

It's frustrating to me when people act like COVID precautions have no negative effects, especially on young children.

The problem, I think, is there are a lot of people posting on social media about their long Covid symptoms (some of whom clearly have other issues, but anyway). The vast majority of people have Covid, and fully recover. But, they don't have any reason to post that on social media because Covid was a non-event for them. This leads to people greatly overestimating the prevalence of long Covid.

Similarly, people greatly overestimated the chance of death from Covid, at least initially.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm at the live and let live phase of this. I don't understand people playing with their long term health, but I also realize people draw different conclusions and public health messaging has not exactly been stellar. I'm not posting any warnings to people, and only ever discuss it on this health board from time to time. I know people judge my family for masking, but oh well, it's not like I'm going to change because of them.

I do hope we get 2nd gen vaccines that are more sterilizing or that this liver drug touted by Univ of Cambridge and used off brand actually can help prevent the disease. I'd love to get back to some old ways of life, but fully acknowledge it's not all going to be like it was. Climate change means more dramatic life changes and sadly, pandemics, so I'm trying to teach my kids resiliency, kindness, and most of all to love life and being a kid as much as possible.

What does it mean to you for a person to be "playing with their long-term health"?

One could argue anyone who gets into a car is "playing with death". It's all a risk-benefit calculation. If it's masks you're concerned with, wearing a mask is a different experience for different people. I buy that some people truly aren't bothered by them. They are really uncomfortable for me, and I know for many people. I'm willing to and do wear one in limited situations, but not for a full day of work.

I'm talking about people who understand airborne transmission but are currently taking no precautions in terms of shared air. The more we learn about Covid, the more concerned I get for the population in general, even those who haven't been infected. From neurological problems, to blood clots, vulnerability to other infections post-Covid, reduced sperm counts, brain fog, the social and economic impact of Long Covid, MI in the young, etc. It's very concerning and is highly likely to have a long term impact on all of us. For instance from a reproductive perspective, if someone's DD doesn't get it, but 80% of males in her dating pool have dramatically reduced sperm from Covid infection on top of all the already dramatic drop in sperm pre-Covid, then we have a problem. I think many are betting on all these issues to self resolve, and perhaps they will, but hope is not a plan. I realize people are tired of it, and I think sociologically people just hit their threshold and move on at various points, often clustered fairly together in specific cohorts. I don't think individuals are to blame. I do think we have a society level problem though.

What specific precautions do you expect people to take?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think many are hypochondriacs who don’t understand basic math or statistics or what actually supports good health (such as exercising, diet, being outside, social connections, etc)

Many are fat and out of shape. They might drink alcohol regularly or be on prescription medication. This is all much more dangerous to the health of a non-elderly person than Covid. I find it strange.

Actually a lot of previously healthy people now have long Covid, and many people are also disabled from it. I'm not on social media posting about precautions, but it's frustrating when people act like Covid is nothing.

It's interesting- I personally know dozens of people who have had Covid, but I don't know a single person who has long Covid. When I hear people say that long Covid is common, I just don't see it.

There’s entirely too broad of a definition of “long COVID.” It includes any symptoms at least a month after initial infection. Well, if you’ve ever been actually sick with anything, you know it’s possible and not even uncommon to have coughing and congestion for a good long while after an illness. I coughed for about 6 weeks with Covid and that was my only symptom after the initial infection, but by some definitions I had “long Covid.” And then it also includes really vague, non-specific symptoms that could be anything, could be unrelated, or could be psychosomatic like “fatigue,” “headaches,” and “brain fog,” whatever that is …

It does seem like real, post-viral symptoms were more common with early infections in 2020 especially spring/summer 2020 with the more serious strains as opposed to now where we have vaccines (even though imperfect) and more treatments.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm at the live and let live phase of this. I don't understand people playing with their long term health, but I also realize people draw different conclusions and public health messaging has not exactly been stellar. I'm not posting any warnings to people, and only ever discuss it on this health board from time to time. I know people judge my family for masking, but oh well, it's not like I'm going to change because of them.

I do hope we get 2nd gen vaccines that are more sterilizing or that this liver drug touted by Univ of Cambridge and used off brand actually can help prevent the disease. I'd love to get back to some old ways of life, but fully acknowledge it's not all going to be like it was. Climate change means more dramatic life changes and sadly, pandemics, so I'm trying to teach my kids resiliency, kindness, and most of all to love life and being a kid as much as possible.

What does it mean to you for a person to be "playing with their long-term health"?

One could argue anyone who gets into a car is "playing with death". It's all a risk-benefit calculation. If it's masks you're concerned with, wearing a mask is a different experience for different people. I buy that some people truly aren't bothered by them. They are really uncomfortable for me, and I know for many people. I'm willing to and do wear one in limited situations, but not for a full day of work.

I'm talking about people who understand airborne transmission but are currently taking no precautions in terms of shared air. The more we learn about Covid, the more concerned I get for the population in general, even those who haven't been infected. From neurological problems, to blood clots, vulnerability to other infections post-Covid, reduced sperm counts, brain fog, the social and economic impact of Long Covid, MI in the young, etc. It's very concerning and is highly likely to have a long term impact on all of us. For instance from a reproductive perspective, if someone's DD doesn't get it, but 80% of males in her dating pool have dramatically reduced sperm from Covid infection on top of all the already dramatic drop in sperm pre-Covid, then we have a problem. I think many are betting on all these issues to self resolve, and perhaps they will, but hope is not a plan. I realize people are tired of it, and I think sociologically people just hit their threshold and move on at various points, often clustered fairly together in specific cohorts. I don't think individuals are to blame. I do think we have a society level problem though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do expect people to do?
- Is it just about getting people to get a booster?
- wear a mask indefinitely (in which settings? A full day at school/work? Just the grocery store?)
- avoid any "optional" indoor social activities?
- Pull children out from in-person school/daycare?

It's virtue signaling. They've made their personality about COVID and can't let it go. They just love to prove to everyone that they're such a great person by wearing a mask and avoiding crowds!

Thankfully, I don't see anyone on my FB feed going on and on about COVID. I haven't seen anything from my friends on COVID in months. It's just here on DCUM where I see the hand wringing. IRL, I don't know anyone who cares about this anymore.

At this point it seems to be mostly this. And the specific ppl I know who do this had some anxiety and attention-seekimg tendencies pre-Covid.

I am actually pretty cautious myself but I don't post about it on FB etc. Mostly bc I know nobody cares about my opinion of how they should conduct their lives, ha.

I see there is a PP who is a HCW and I did have one HCW friend who feels similarly that ppl take these gratuitous risks and then HCWs bear the burden of overcrowded hospitals, extra shifts etc and it's exhausting and unfair and sucks. Which totally makes sense. But I haven't seen any HCWs I personally know posting about it on FB etc anymore. Seems more like ppl without much else going on.

OP here. Yes, this is the thing. Why do people feel they need to make pronouncements about what public health measures everyone else should be taking? That is what public health officials are for, and if you don't like what they are saying, take it up with them. Everyone knows about COVID. We've all made our choices, whether you like them or not. We have our reasons, some good, some bad. Random posts on social media are not going to change anyone's behavior.

Why don’t you consider why this actually bothers you? If you’re secure in your behavior, you shouldn’t care what someone else posts on SM about COVID precautions.

Hit the unfollow button and keep it moving.

Sorry you don't think I should have posted about it. Why did you click on the thread if you think this topic is so silly? Stop posting here and keep it moving.

Nope. See I’m commenting on an actual post. Which is what you should be doing to the ones that bother you. Instead you run to another site and start a complaint thread.

Looks like I hit the nail on the head though that people are commenting on things you’re actually not secure about.

Sounds to me like you are pushing made up rules about who can post what on DCUM because you are bothered by what I posted. Where do your insecurities come from?

This is rich. You made a post complaining about what someone else posts on SM. Then proceed to complain when others comment on your post here. This isn’t an echo chamber so you’re going to have to deal with other people posting here.

You can post all you want but making up rules to suggest I should not have posted in the first place is a dumb non-argument. Sorry you don't like getting called out.

I love your double standards. You’ve been trying to push others of the thread because you don’t like their feedback. It’s ok for you, right?

She's just pissed that a friend she actually likes has made it oh-so clear that she doesn't respect OP's behavior during the pandemic, and probably doesn't care about alienating her through her comments on social media. OP is too passive to bring it up, but doesn't want to walk away because she actually likes this person and can't figure out why they don't like her anymore. So OP lashes out at anyone who is Covid cautious instead of dealing with the person she is intimidated by. Sigh...

Across town, someone's 2nd grader is being forced outside for lunch each day and they lock the cafeteria doors behind him with a resounding "slam"... But seriously - I don't know of any public school doing anything like this, so it sounds like a bit of dramatic reportage.

OP here. At least half of my close friends are COVID cautious. We don't see each other a lot in the winter, which I understand and respect. They also don't tell me to "take COVID seriously". Mutual respect is a great thing.

What if they asked to see you in the winter for a couple hours at their house, masked inside? To me, a friendship is give and take. I don't expect my friends to do all the precautions that I am, but the notion that if asked to mask inside you would rather stay home doesn't ring of mutual respect. I will go anywhere inside with a mask, and I'd love it someone came to my house and was okay wearing a mask for an hour or so. I also love hanging out outdoors no matter the season, but not everyone likes being outside in the cold either.

My COVID cautious friends do not want to socialize masked indoors any more than I do. I think you are assuming a lot of people want to socialize with masks, and it seems quite apparent to me that most people do not (as in they too would rather stay home). One of our friends is extremely high risk and I initially always put on a mask even to see them outdoors. But they did not and even if I went in their house they insisted not to worry about it.

NP. I think there's a lot of self-selection going on. The highly cautious have kind of dropped out of social activities, because few people are willing to socialize in masks. I always turned down invitations to social events where masks were required. I'd much rather hang out with people who aren't that cautious, or even just stay home instead.

Sure, but most events don't require masks and there is a reason for that. And it's not to be cruel to highly cautious people (many of whom do not enjoy wearing masks). It's because there are more people who will show up if masks aren't required, than if masks are required.

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Anonymous wrote:What do expect people to do?
- Is it just about getting people to get a booster?
- wear a mask indefinitely (in which settings? A full day at school/work? Just the grocery store?)
- avoid any "optional" indoor social activities?
- Pull children out from in-person school/daycare?

It's virtue signaling. They've made their personality about COVID and can't let it go. They just love to prove to everyone that they're such a great person by wearing a mask and avoiding crowds!

Thankfully, I don't see anyone on my FB feed going on and on about COVID. I haven't seen anything from my friends on COVID in months. It's just here on DCUM where I see the hand wringing. IRL, I don't know anyone who cares about this anymore.

At this point it seems to be mostly this. And the specific ppl I know who do this had some anxiety and attention-seekimg tendencies pre-Covid.

I am actually pretty cautious myself but I don't post about it on FB etc. Mostly bc I know nobody cares about my opinion of how they should conduct their lives, ha.

I see there is a PP who is a HCW and I did have one HCW friend who feels similarly that ppl take these gratuitous risks and then HCWs bear the burden of overcrowded hospitals, extra shifts etc and it's exhausting and unfair and sucks. Which totally makes sense. But I haven't seen any HCWs I personally know posting about it on FB etc anymore. Seems more like ppl without much else going on.

OP here. Yes, this is the thing. Why do people feel they need to make pronouncements about what public health measures everyone else should be taking? That is what public health officials are for, and if you don't like what they are saying, take it up with them. Everyone knows about COVID. We've all made our choices, whether you like them or not. We have our reasons, some good, some bad. Random posts on social media are not going to change anyone's behavior.

Why don’t you consider why this actually bothers you? If you’re secure in your behavior, you shouldn’t care what someone else posts on SM about COVID precautions.

Hit the unfollow button and keep it moving.

Sorry you don't think I should have posted about it. Why did you click on the thread if you think this topic is so silly? Stop posting here and keep it moving.

Nope. See I’m commenting on an actual post. Which is what you should be doing to the ones that bother you. Instead you run to another site and start a complaint thread.

Looks like I hit the nail on the head though that people are commenting on things you’re actually not secure about.

Sounds to me like you are pushing made up rules about who can post what on DCUM because you are bothered by what I posted. Where do your insecurities come from?

This is rich. You made a post complaining about what someone else posts on SM. Then proceed to complain when others comment on your post here. This isn’t an echo chamber so you’re going to have to deal with other people posting here.

You can post all you want but making up rules to suggest I should not have posted in the first place is a dumb non-argument. Sorry you don't like getting called out.

I love your double standards. You’ve been trying to push others of the thread because you don’t like their feedback. It’s ok for you, right?

She's just pissed that a friend she actually likes has made it oh-so clear that she doesn't respect OP's behavior during the pandemic, and probably doesn't care about alienating her through her comments on social media. OP is too passive to bring it up, but doesn't want to walk away because she actually likes this person and can't figure out why they don't like her anymore. So OP lashes out at anyone who is Covid cautious instead of dealing with the person she is intimidated by. Sigh...

Across town, someone's 2nd grader is being forced outside for lunch each day and they lock the cafeteria doors behind him with a resounding "slam"... But seriously - I don't know of any public school doing anything like this, so it sounds like a bit of dramatic reportage.

OP here. At least half of my close friends are COVID cautious. We don't see each other a lot in the winter, which I understand and respect. They also don't tell me to "take COVID seriously". Mutual respect is a great thing.

What if they asked to see you in the winter for a couple hours at their house, masked inside? To me, a friendship is give and take. I don't expect my friends to do all the precautions that I am, but the notion that if asked to mask inside you would rather stay home doesn't ring of mutual respect. I will go anywhere inside with a mask, and I'd love it someone came to my house and was okay wearing a mask for an hour or so. I also love hanging out outdoors no matter the season, but not everyone likes being outside in the cold either.

My COVID cautious friends do not want to socialize masked indoors any more than I do. I think you are assuming a lot of people want to socialize with masks, and it seems quite apparent to me that most people do not (as in they too would rather stay home). One of our friends is extremely high risk and I initially always put on a mask even to see them outdoors. But they did not and even if I went in their house they insisted not to worry about it.

NP. I think there's a lot of self-selection going on. The highly cautious have kind of dropped out of social activities, because few people are willing to socialize in masks. I always turned down invitations to social events where masks were required. I'd much rather hang out with people who aren't that cautious, or even just stay home instead.

Beyond bizarre.