BTRTN: Missing the Point... You Are Not Staying Home For Yourself, But For Everyone Else

[reggieandlee]

Born To Run The Numbers follows up on their quantitative analysis on the spread of the coronavirus with some "anti-viral marketing," a qualitative piece about behaviors that are not changing fast enough and completely enough:

http://www.borntorunthenumbers.com/2020/03/btrtn-missing-point-you-are-not-staying.html

Excerpts: "...And then there is the less flagrant but equally dangerous South Beach right on your cul-de-sac. There’s that super-social couple who insisted on hosting a 'safe' dinner party, 'safe' because no one had any symptoms, 'safe' because it was out on the deck, and 'safe' because all of the couples would remain six feet apart...
"While many people have full religion on social distancing, there are too many people who are either not listening, or not getting the point. These are often people who fashion themselves as the rugged individualists who will face down the risk of exposure in order to maintain the semblance of a normal life. They are defiant in the face of a pandemic, and revel in the notion that they are gutsy enough to take the risk of being infected because it is so important to them to continue to live life fully. Some even strike a smug pose, implying that those who retreat to their homes are all too easily frightened...
"Yes, you are being reckless about your own exposure to this virus. But you are completely and totally missing the point of this lockdown.The purpose of staying home is not simply to help you avoid contracting the virus. It is to prevent people who are carrying the virus to move freely in society, spreading it unknowingly to the medical workers, Stop & Shop cashiers, and local government officials upon whom we so dearly depend.
"You know that old saying… 'Lead, follow, or get out of the way?' This is the unusual instance when the right answer – the brave answer -- is actually to get out of the way."

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. I've been feeling a little guilty about staying inside and getting stuff delivered,

because I'm not doing anything, and there are all these people delivering the stuff I need while I just sit here - not to mention all the other people who are keeping the wheels turning so I can continue to have electricity, internet, running water, trash collection, even a daily newspaper - and of course the medical professionals on the front lines. I feel useless. But I guess I'm doing something by not doing anything.

[ananda]

2. It's better than going out.

I have the same difficult choice.

It's the lesser of evils, I think.