Remember, this won't be the last global pandemic, but it is the last one where science has any credibility. The next pandemic hopefully is as mild as this one because you'll never see this level of cooperation with the government and medical establishment ever again. Everyone now knows "two weeks to flatten the curve" means endless abridgement of civil rights. When that happens, remember that it was the actions during this pandemic that lead to the end of societal trust and cooperation.
Strangely despite having access to google I keep seeing this “two weeks” phrasing repeated. Please google news stories from March 2020 and find that the “15 days to flatten the curve” was a Trump Administration policy and scientists immediately pointed out that 15 days would not be enough and could not make the virus disappear[0]. The number was simply a political decision as it was hard for the US President to change from the February 2020 stance of claiming Covid was just a cold and a hoax by their political opponents to hurt the economy…
[0] https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-white-house-15-d...
I have trouble believing that statement, and it seems a bit hyperbolic. If the next pandemic had a 20% to 40% fatality rate you genuinely believe everyone will ignore all science and run around concerned about their civil rights of similar restrictions were put in place at the start of the outbreak? At worst, there will be more dissidence to restrictions put in place for a similar pandemic in the future.
The pendulum does always swing in the other direction, but that's a bit extreme.
The measures and the rhetoric of covid-enthusiasts is bullying in appearance and in essence (night curfews - for six months - and mandatory muzzling - for the owner - on solitary dog walks, for example), although I agree that for a brief initial period some didn't look like so. It is now, and has been going for quite a while. The less sense all the measures make, the more harsh doubling down goes ahead. The concerns are not only dismissed, but actively invalidated and vilified. There is absolutely no appetite shown to even acknowledge that somebody may be in pain due to what being done, yet alone apologize for it. I don't know what is appropriate word for someone insisting to continue to inflict pain even after being told that their subject is in great pain. Gaslighting? Sadism? Righteousness? Bullying? Genuinely caring people have no problem with acknowledgement and apology, the ones who do are... you name it.
And before accusations of intent to kill grandma, I haven't stepped out of my house for two years now, such repulsive reaction I have to masks and some other "measures". Do not and did not care about covid a tiniest bit. There is no light in sight, so I'm preparing to take my life, if not consumed by ailments, old and new, that flared up. If, by some miracle, "we get over this" and I'm alive, then all the time second-guessing each fellow human on whether they were actual bully or accidental accomplice is not a great perspective either. But bullies do not deserve cooperation or compassion. So the only way forward I see is absolute sabotage of all government initiatives. All within the boundaries of law and regulations, of course.
From one person who was bullied and now manages to work quite successfully with government and private institutions, you don't deal with institutions and collectives the same was as you do an individual. It is a useless comparison.
> And before accusations of intent to kill grandma, I haven't stepped out of my house for two years now, such repulsive reaction I have to masks and some other "measures". Do not and did not care about covid a tiniest bit. There is no light in sight, so I'm preparing to take my life, if not consumed by ailments, old and new, that flared up. If, by some miracle, "we get over this" and I'm alive, then all the time second-guessing each fellow human on whether they were actual bully or accidental accomplice is not a great perspective either. But bullies do not deserve cooperation or compassion. So the only way forward I see is absolute sabotage of all government initiatives. All within the boundaries of law and regulations, of course.
Get some psychological help dude, this has nothing to do with science or medicine.
I agree, in general. Until they forget that they are dealing with live individuals, not abstract bits in a statistical model. Once they overreach, I have no other mental model for them. Also, there seems to be a sniff of "I was only following superior orders" here. It was invalidated as an excuse in the court of law some time ago, and never was valid in the court of public opinion anyway. The institutions are run by individuals and it would be beneficial for them to remember that the hangman deals with individuals too. As Russian saying goes "They punch your face, not your passport" ("Бьют по роже а не по паспорту").
> Get some psychological help dude, this has nothing to do with science or medicine.
Sure thing, it hasn't. Except I did not need any help before all this. And now, before I get anywhere, I need to beg for exemptions. Not going to happen.
This is all to say that for some unbeknownst reason covid enthusiasts insist on destroying any possibility of peaceful existence post-panic. Some people will quietly depart from the world, but some will put up a fight. Why doesn't it come to mind?