Originally Posted by James Brown
Hi Darian:
I am afraid that you are buying into Richard's BS. Neither James, myself nor anyone else who posts regularly here seems obsessed about the virus.
I do find the graphs and charts fascinating, I am very interested in the epidemiology, upcoming treatments, the civic response to the virus and so on. I think that reasonable social measures like masks and distancing are very useful and effective, based upon the data. Even so, as I've posted many many many times, I do not think indefinite business closures, total school shut downs or other extreme "zero tolerance for infection" measures are reasonable at all. When Rich says that I support mask wearing forever or closed schools forever and other stuff like that, he is simply lying. It is his nature.
I am getting on with my life as you mentioned. I work from home, but I go to the office once a week. I really like that schedule. Saves me several hours of commuting time each week that I can waste with you all. I hike, bike and kayak every weekend, which is what I would do anyway in July and August. We are hosting visitors this weekend and I assure you no one will be wearing masks in our mountain house. We've considered that this is a risk, but it is a risk deemed worth taking. One visitor is a PhD. in microbiology and she has pretty good knowledge of infectious mechanisms. She's a 'bookkeeper' too but one who writes drug patents. We'll drink some wine, eat some good food, take some walks and generally enjoy life.
Of course if we go to a store we'll wear masks! We might get lunch at a cafe I like along the river on Saturday, but we'll sit outside. We'll wear masks as required when moving around the place but we'll take them off when we are seated. It is pretty simple to comply, and if you look at Colorado's infection graphs it is effective to take these simple measures.
I admit that I take some risks with Covid 19 that I would not take if I were older or compromised. Life must be lived. The accommodations we make (masks and so on) are not that difficult.
I post a lot here about the pandemic (and politics in general) so it may seem like I obsess. But you might have noticed that I am gone for days at a time and rarely post on the weekends. I sure don't obsess about these topics in real life. Far from it. So please don't worry about me. I have normal worries about the course of the pandemic, about the economy, about politics and so on - but none of it rises to an obsession. Life is pretty good. I'll probably get Covid 19 this weekend after making this post, but I'm optimistic that I'll be OK!
Jim
Jim, I suspect that most people, businesses, etc., if given the opportunity and not forced to do otherwise by governments, would dispense with masks, "social distancing", etc. and return to a fair degree of normality. I can't turn on local radio without constant babbling about the virus, phase II, phase III,.....
I suspect that the 250,000 motorcycle enthusiasts that were referred to are not going to be preoccupied with masks, "distancing", etc.. They'll very likely be exhibiting normal behavior.
I guess I sort of feel like I'm living in the Twilight Zone, seeing people around me "concerned" about a matter that is irrelevant to me.
Have you purchased your lifetime supply of masks yet?
