Log in


Forgot your password?
New user?
Upcoming Events
Celebrate Mom May 10, 2024
Ivy City Makers Market & Hop various ,
May 11, 2024
Muffins in the morning at My Gym Potomac My Gym Potomac,
May 12, 2024
Momedy Kumite: Mother's Day comedy show The DC Improv Comedy Club,
May 12, 2024
2024: Neighborhood Segregation and Modern Day Redlining Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library,
May 14, 2024
Speak Truth: A Student-Led Conversation about Undesign the Redline Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library,
May 15, 2024
Insist/Resist: De-Gentrifying the Black Body - An Artist Exhibit and Talk with Paula Mans Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library,
May 16, 2024
Prince George’s County Bike Summit Creative Suitland,
May 18, 2024
Night Hike and Campfire – Nocturnal Wildlife Potomac Overlook Regional Park,
May 18, 2024
The Role of Faith Communities in Repairing the Breach Adas Israel Congregation 2850 Quebec St NW,
May 21, 2024
Spring Floral Bouquet Kentlands Mansion,
May 22, 2024
TikTok Says I Have ADHD…But Do I? - A Free ADHD Awareness Workshop Online - Zoom,
May 22, 2024
Forest Bathing: A Mindful Walk with Nature Potomac Overlook Regional Park,
May 25, 2024
Memorial Day Camp at My Gym Potomac My Gym Potomac,
May 27, 2024
Undesigning the Redline: Legal and Policy Issues Impacting Change Temple Micah, 2829 Wisconsin Ave., NW,
Jun 04, 2024
Course Correction: The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Ongoing Fair Housing Transformation from Opponent to Ardent Advocate Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library,
Jun 06, 2024
Black Broad Branch Story Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library,
Jun 13, 2024
Camp Overlook 2024 - Pirates of the Potomac Camp Potomac Overlook Regional Park,
Jun 24, 2024
WIN: Envisioning Thriving Communities Today, and Looking Ahead Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library,
Jun 25, 2024
Camp Overlook 2024 - Junior Gardeners Potomac Overlook Regional Park,
Jul 01, 2024
Upcoming events…
 
 

21

Wednesday's Most Active Threads

by Jeff Steele last modified Mar 21, 2024 12:19 PM

Yesterday's topics with the most engagement included a neighbor with long COVID, a kindergartener and racism, taking kids on vacation without a custody agreement, and a Supreme Court ruling about Texas's immigration law.

The most active thread yesterday was titled, "Neighbor is living her best life on Disability with ‘Long Covid’" and posted in the "Off-Topic" forum. The original poster writes that her neighbor, who is a federal employee, has not worked since the summer of 2020 because she has long COVID. Nevertheless, the neighbor plays tennis, hosts a book club, and frequently leaves on vacation, all the while collecting disability. The original poster concludes by saying that if this is what long COVID looks like, she would like to be signed up. I have no evidence that this is a troll post, but if it were a troll post, it is almost perfectly designed. It is full of hot button issues. It not only has COVID, the inspiration for multiple most active threads, but long COVID. The neighbor is said to be a federal employee, a group constantly attacked on DCUM as being lazy. Finally, the specter of welfare cheaters living lives of luxury is one that has long been used to manufacture outrage. So, of course, plenty of outrage was manufactured. "I hate people who take advantage of the system. She is taking advantage of the system" wrote one responder. Similarly, another replied, "I hate scammers." But, not all of those responding were ready to immediately grab their torches and pitchforks. To the contrary, one of the most frequent responses was to tell the original poster to mind her own business. As the original poster had predicted, many cautioned that the symptoms of long COVID are not always obvious and that the original poster has no way to know the neighbor's true health situation. Others explained that obtaining eligibility for disability is a complicated process that would require that doctors support the neighbor's diagnosis. Some pointed out that disability does not pay that much and questioned whether it would fund the type of lifestyle the original poster describes. A few posters claimed that long COVID is itself a scam. On the other hand, some posters were willing to accept the original poster's allegations at face value and offered advice as to how to respond. They suggested contacting the federal agency that employs the neighbor and provide an anonymous report. Others suggested that there might be a hotline that she could call. There were also suggestions to contact the Social Security Administration's fraud department. There are enough angles to this scenario to keep posters busy debating various combinations of them. For instance, there is considerable debate about how exactly disability works and whether or not the neighbor might be expected to do another job if she is unable to do her original job. As for her part, the original poster appears to have disappeared after a single follow-up report, perhaps leaving on vacation or catching a quick game of tennis.

read more...