I don’t ever copy and paste other people’s statuses. However, I am making an exception with this because, you know, death.
Let's say you woke up with a terrible cough, a fever, and severe body aches.
Immediately, you rush to the testing station and unfortunately, you’re told you are positive for COVID-19. For the last two weeks, you’ve been unaware that you were infected and you’ve ignored "the rules." You've gotten together with some close friends for pizza, had a few people over, even visited a park and a beach. You figured, “I don’t feel sick. I have the right to keep living my normal life. No one can tell me what to do."
With your diagnosis, you spend the next few days at home on the couch, feeling pretty crappy; but then you’re well again because you’re young, healthy and strong. Lucky you. But your best friend caught it from you during a visit to your house, and because she didn't know she was contagious, she visited her 82-year-old grandfather, who uses oxygen tanks daily to help him breathe because he has COPD and heart failure. Now, he’s dead.
Your co-worker, who has asthma, caught it too, during your little pizza get-together. Now, he’s in the ICU, and he's spread it to a few others in his family, too--but they won't know that for another couple of weeks yet.
The cashier at the restaurant where you picked up the pizza carried the infection home to his wife, who has MS, which makes her immunosuppressed. She’s not as lucky as you, so she’s admitted to the hospital because she’s having trouble breathing. She may need to be placed in a medically-induced coma and intubated; she may not get to say goodbye to her loved ones. She may die surrounded by machines, with no family at her bedside.
All because you couldn't stand the inconvenience of a mask; of staying home; of changing your familiar routines for just a little while. Because you have the right, above all others rights, to continue living your normal life and no one, I mean no one, has the right to tell you what to do.
#SocialDistancing = It’s not about YOU!
#WearAMask = It's not about YOU!
#StayHome = It's not about YOU!
#GetTested = It's not about YOU!
Written by Anonymous. Copied from a friend.
Stay safe
22
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Serious question from the uninformed and ignorant.
Why, then, were we unconcerned and not mask wearing, when it was just the flu? Just the flu? Do you know how many grandpas and grandmas the flu kills? How many things can kill us? Why did it take so long to realize that we have to separate ourselves from each other? Theres just too much contagious, killing shit going around. How dare you subject me to (insert any of hundreds of infectious things here(...
Metahuman
Level 7
Sep 24, 2020
1
The difference is this. I'm 62 and have a heart condition. I had the flu twice last winter, even after getting a flu shot. It only lasted a few to several days each time. I did not have to go to a hospital. If I get Covid, not only would I get seriously ill, I might die. I have never had to worry about that with seasonal flu, which I've had several times since I reached middle age. I deserve the chance to live another 15-20 years so I can enjoy a retirement. That may not happen if I get Covid. I should not have to order my groceries online or pick them up in the parking lot because young people won't wear masks in grocery stores because they think only of themselves. For anybody over 50, this is way worse and more dangerous than the flu, so that's why it deserves more precautions for the good of older adults.
Don't be surprised if there is some payback for this against young adults by older adults who are in state legislatures. I know there will be in Iowa, as a former legislator once told me that her colleagues would often say things like how they would not hold down college tuition rates because " the students always seem to have money for beer". How forgiving do you think they will be towards the college kids and young adults having Covid parties, packing the bars and restaurants and not wearing masks in stores unless the store requires it?
Most of the Covid spread these days is because of the young adults who are usually asymptomatic and also know they are at low risk to die or get seriously ill from it. So they are now going on with their lives the same as they did before Covid. Totally self-centered. Meanwhile, almost everybody who is over 60 or even 50, or has a serious health problem, has figured out that they need to self quarantine as much as possible until there is a vaccine or an effective treatment available to them. So the latter group is living like second class citizens while the young can enjoy all the re-opened bars and restaurants and other entertainment options. I can accept and live with that status as an older adult, but what I really resent is these young adults continuing to go about their lives with no caution while also going to grocery stores and refusing to wear masks there, all because they are being selfish. Those are the only places I have to encounter young adults and it's not asking too damn much for them to mask up for those stores where they will encounter older people, including store staff.
Unfortunately the grocery stores are too chickenshit or uncaring about their staff to require masks, at least where I live. So I have to either take my chances being around unmasked young adults there or go during the geezer hour where masks are required. So much for enjoying the reward of retirement so I can sleep in every day. But even with the geezer hour, the stores are not protecting their workers by not requiring masks so they can be chickenshit and not deal with angry younger customers who won't wear masks. There is already plenty of resentment between Boomers and Millenials and this behavior by so many is not going to help. It's certainly something I will remember for the rest of this decade.
TomMcGiverin
Level 8
Sep 24, 2020
1
unfortunately we as a species will always suffer due to the arrogant ignorant and incompetent
redhog
Level 7
Sep 24, 2020
3
This ,if you will forgive me, is a bit harsh. Surely there is something that has made us survive and develop to the level we are at now.
@Mcflewster didn't say there wasn't. But thats our biggest handicap. Also it's not harsh, its reality.
Some people are socially conscious and some aren't. Too bad those who aren't don't all die if they get Covid. It would improve our society. Instead the younger ones just hurt other people.
TomMcGiverin
Level 8
Sep 24, 2020
3
I am right there with you, ...as far as perspective.
This is no different than the myriad different restrictions we all live with for the communal cause of safety, from seatbelts and no smoking areas to criminal liability for yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater. ....back when crowds were routinely allowed. The only reason the mask issue is a fight is ideology that is intentionally stoked by political and other community leaders for cynical aims. It's unconscionable.
MikeInBatonRouge
Level 8
Sep 24, 2020
1
What gets me is all the celebrities in Great Britain who are coming out against masks and social distancing.
Theresa_N
Level 8
Sep 24, 2020
3
Funny. I live in the UK and have not heard of any celebrities endorsing the ignoring of masks and social distancing.
I'm trying to recall names and find the articles in The Guardian. If I can find them I will post the links.
@Theresa_N that would be good, the media haven’t let us know. Then we’ll know who else not to support in the future.
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