My Trump flag waving, Covid denying neighbors have been housebound sick for the past 12-13 days.

[herding cats]

I can't give too many particulars here, but my neighbor is a real piece of work. He made up stories of fighting the local police (physically) to keep his storefront open last year "during the hoax lockdown" and very recently was telling me how the virus was a hoax and the vaccines were poison. He's a real gem. The nutty RW BS spews from his lips like chocolate from an old fashioned wedding fountain.

About 12- 13 days ago I noticed they were home on a work and school day. I didn't think a lot of it, but fast forward they were still home some 5 days later and I texted to see if they were all, ok? The reply was a cold was all and they'd be fine, but their thanks to me for checking in. This past weekend, I texted again checking in on them, 9- 10 days into this and they replied they assume they have the flu. Everyone is very sick and they appreciate the cookies and cold meds I dropped at their door for them. They said they don't need anything else from me. (They didn't ask for the cookies or cold meds, I was just trying to be kind). Three days later and they're still home with one of their parents dropping off food and hauling their trash to the curb for them.

Their store is shuddered and they're very sick. Literally everything they thought was fake is now impacting their lives in a real way. I hope they go the hospital if they need to and don't triple down on the anti stupidity and suffer worse. I'm far from happy they're sick, but considering the positivity rate here, I'm pretty sure they caught Covid. When I was outside yesterday I heard him taking the trash to the bin someone had moved to just outside their back door for ease of access, and his cough was painful sounding from that minor chore.

I'm feeling conflicted here. I can't actually help them and the little I did was probably unwelcome, but they have two little children I like and feel sad they're also sick.

[Cha]

1. It's a cautionary tale, Cats..

[herding cats]

6. It's our new sad reality, Cha.

I've seen more than a handful of people do stupid things up close and in person, but in this one case I have some heart space for the two littles. Which makes this one a bit more painful.

Nice to see you, dear friend.

[Cha]

17. It is so sad.. it's a whole differnt

world on the Mainland than over here.

It's good to see you too, Cat!

Love your sig line!

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. As a Good neighbor, you could check to see if they have enough ivermectin, Clorox , and assorted

other Republican approved medicines.

[herding cats]

9. You're as dark as my husband.

He encouraged me to bake the littles favorite cookies and add a tube of ivermectin for the adults to snack on.

We live in truly messed up times.

[OAITW r.2.0]

13. Just trying to facilitate being a good neighbor.

[lindysalsagal]

3. In 10-20 years, we'll need support groups for covid deniers kids

Whose parents died needlessly deserting them. They loved their hate more than their own children, and their children knew it all along.

[herding cats]

12. The parents probably won't die in this case.

What they will do is eventually corrupt the hearts of sweet littles I know now.

Still, you're not wrong. There will be many children left behind by the deniers to deal with their own trauma. I hadn't considered this before now, it's a sad thing to accept.

[OAITW r.2.0]

15. Wait 5 years then determine the real social cost.

It's going to blow our collective minds.

[BlueLucy]

20. Some people end up with pretty severe long-term COVID

This is a mess we'll be dealing with for a long time.

[secondwind]

4. Sounds like Covid to me. I feel bad for the little ones.

You can only do so much, you are a good neighbor.

[Mr.Bill]

5. It's a tough call, I can understand if

you don't get don't want to get more involved, but you could call Child Protective Services or their school or other social agency to check on the kids. Maybe their relatives are keeping an eye out for them, too. Not sure what I would do but then you know them better than I.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

7. Well, gosh.

What part of "vaccines work" have they missed?

At least they seem to be staying home and aren't going to a hospital. Honestly, if they're Covid denying then they need to stay home and not tie up valuable medical resources.

We all have access to science, and facts, and those who choose to deny it do not deserve any kind of special exemption for their stupidity.

[cadoman]

8. you took the high road

I would have asked them if they wanted me to put them in touch with a lawyer to get their final affairs in order.

In all seriousness, it's a good thing for anyone to do. I need to do it myself.

[Grasswire2]

10. Children live in the home??

I'd be inclined to call someone to do a wellness check.

The children shouldn't be living with two people when they are sick with Covid.

[blogslug]

11. It's terrible

You are a good person and because of that, it's hard to watch.

[BigmanPigman]

14. I've been told that I am "too nice"

by just about everyone for the past 30 years but even I wouldn't do that. You are incredibly kind and your neighbors don't deserve you.

[brer cat]

16. You are a good person, herding cats!

My concern is for the children. What a mess if both parents are very ill.

Take care of yourself, my friend.

[emmaverybo]

18. Standing by is tough when kids involved, but you have done what you could, very

generously. The parents may be able to influence them to get medical attention. Unless you see the children sick and not getting care, nothing you can do.

[Hekate]

19. I'm with those who think you should call for a wellness check, social services, child services?

Or if anyone in the neighborhood knows their family? If you saw them when they put out the trash cans, maybe you can catch them when they come by again?

It’s hard to do, but if the kids are also sick, their situation could be dire.

[ShazzieB]

27. Me, too.

Can't hurt, might help.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

21. It is now far too late for monoclonal antibodies

It sounds like they need treatment

[redwitch]

24. Yes, you ARE confused. nt

[Hekate]

25. You chose this for your first post, muskrat luv?

Welcome to DU. Enjoy your stay.

[ZonkerHarris]

23. Wait a second. Chocolate fountains at weddings are "old fashioned?"

I still think of them as a new 21st century thing.
Also this is all I took away from this story.
This and your neighbors are idiots.
And how old am I now anyway?

[DemocraticPatriot]

26. You did what you could.

Maybe they are dying... but their Trump flags are still waving ??


I am jealous of them. I don't even feel the freedom to fly my Biden flag on my house... for fear of retribution..

Nice that somebody in this country has 'freedom'--although they don't seem to realize it.

[CommonHumanity]

28. oximeter

I would drop off an oximeter and a note. Watching oxygen levels might save one of their lives through a timely hospital visit. I would leave a note that attempted to lessen the oximeter/Covid association. Something along the lines of:

"I know these are associated with Covid and that's not your belief system, but not everyone knows the flu can decrease your oxygen levels too and that can be dangerous. Thought I'd loan you this in case you want to try it. Generally, if your oxygen levels dip below 95% it is important to seek medical attention".

I don't know if the flu part is true. I'd just say it to decrease their reluctance and trick them into checking their oxygen levels. It may sound silly or tricky, but who knows, you might save a life. Maybe the life of one of their kids. And, hey, sometimes Covid deniers who get sick and recover become vocal advocates for vaccines.

[MissB]

29. To add to that note

Consider telling them that flu can turn into pneumonia (not sure if that’s true either) and it’s a good idea to sleep a bit more upright to avoid it turning into pneumonia.

Honestly, that’s the advice I had to stress to my mom a few weeks ago. The local hospital passed that little tidbit along when my mom was clearly infected with covid but refused to get any medical care. (She also refused to use an oximeter).

[Crunchy Frog]

39. That's absolutely true about the flu.

I believe it's what causes the majority of flu fatalities.

[Scrivener7]

30. This is a nice idea, and I'd probably try it just because there are kids in the house and maybe

they care enough about the kids to use it on them.

A byproduct of this story and others like it: the actual incidence in denier areas is much higher than what is reported.

[ecstatic]

34. The problem is, some people with covid can't be reasoned with

For some people, their cognitive functioning becomes impaired and they may even start exhibiting psychotic behaviors.

[JoanofArgh]

31. As someone who had COVID before the vaccine was available, the parents should be worried about

pneumonia and their oxygen saturation levels. I doubt they've got a pulse oximeter laying around their house to check oxygen levels and they're probably in denial about having COVID. For their kids' sake , I hope they pull through.

[Renew Deal]

32. They're probably not going to get tested so they can't acknowledge they had it.

[ecstatic]

33. Too sick to take the trash out sounds pretty bad

It can't be that long of a walk from the side of the house to the curb.

As far as the little kids, that is a valid concern because if they're too sick to take the trash out, then they're obviously too sick to take care of the kids. And God forbid they die and a few more days go by.

Waiting for the grandparent to return to the home may not be a good idea either since they could have caught it and are now disabled as well.

Maybe an anonymous call to child welfare might not be a bad idea. Make sure they understand that the entire household is infected and that full PPE will be needed.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

35. I'd text them "Thoughts and prayers!" every day.

That cures every ailment.

[tanyev]

36. Next batch of cookies you drop off, print out some info on the vaccine and where they can get it.

[Blue Owl]

37. Softly and tenderly, Herman is calling...

[traitorsgalore]

38. I was thinking of writing an article called "The Traitor Next Door"

Your experience sounds familiar to mine, feeling conflicted about helping someone who would make you dig your own grave before execution you---to put it bluntly. The other day, my "traitor next door" fell in his driveway and was laying there writhing around. My wife said we should help him but I declined. She went out and yelled over there "are you OK"? He was OK but then the conversation came up---should we help them in any way?

At this point, knowing full well that "The Traitor Next Door" hopes we die (he says on his facebook page that if you're a liberal you should seriously consider killing yourself) I have no mercy left for him. It's a very ugly place to be but a consequence of living in the age of covidiots and traitors.

[Texaswitchy]

40. I agree with you.

Enough is enough.

I feel nothing for Trump voters.

They have damaged this country so bad we will never be the same.

My neighbors are all Democrats and sane.