Do you social distance for concern for self, others, or both?

[Scott C.]

I never worry that I'll catch Covid-19. If I do catch it, I don't worry that I will die. But I social distance and wear a mask where necessary, out of respect for others. I don't want to give Covid-19 to someone else. If the only reason for distancing and masks was to protect me, I would never distance and I would not wear a mask. I am perfectly willing to live with this minimal risk to self. And no, I do not have a death wish. Also, if I were elderly and in a care center, and considered high risk, I am positive I would feel the same way. I would break out of the care center if they would not let family visit me. I'd prefer to be with my loved ones and enjoy a normal life, rather than live that way.

The "science" informs me of the risk to self. I would consider the odds, based on science, and then choose that which which I find to be of greatest value. Keep in mind that science informs, but it does not decide. We can't "follow" the science because science doesn't tell us what to do. Once informed by good science, we have to follow our values and make our own decisions. How much risk are we willing to take to save the economy? How many saved lives are worth 100,000 jobs? One life? Two lives? 10,000 lives? Science cannot answer that question. People must answer that question based on values and personal philosophy of life. I realize many young and healthy people fear getting Covid. Many vulnerable people fear it too. Not all would choose as I would choose. My question is, do you worry about catching and dying from Covid personally? Is it a major daily concern? Do you feel personally threatened or worried if you get too close to someone with no mask? Or do you follow the guidelines out of a sense of obligation and for the benefit of others?

 

[SigurdReginson]

Others, for sure. I work at a hospital and come into contact with people who come into contact with covid positive patients. Same reason why I wear a mask. Doesn't do much to keep me from getting sick, but they are effective in helping to prevent the spread if I was covid positive.

 

[Nakosis]

Others. Mostly for their level of comfort.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Others.
Both within my direct contacts (my mother-in-law is immuno-suppressed, my wife is pregnant) and a general hope that it helps the community generally.
Ultimately the cost to me is nothing, so I struggle to understand people who are unwilling to do it, when it's been recommended (here at least) based on health advice.

BTW, interesting points you make around the economic cost, morality, and the fact that science isn't the decision-maker on such things. Science can give us information, but we need to work out our actions based on that information. Made sense to me.

 

[fantome profane]

I wear a mask to protect others, I understand that a regular non-medical mask only does a little to protect the wearer, but it is very effective at stopping the wearer from spreading this virus (or any virus).

Social distancing is more of a 50/50 proposition. It protects me from others and others from me equally. And I do have some pre-existing conditions that could make me vulnerable, and I just assume others might as well.

And of course the most effective way to ensure that you will not spread the virus is not to get it. Protecting yourself is protecting others.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Beautiful

I never worry that I'll catch Covid-19. If I do catch it, I don't worry that I will die. But I social distance and wear a mask where necessary, out of respect for others.

I don't either. I rationalize it that I am not around people close enough and in crowds that would make me in fear of catching it. I also ration that because I'm relatively healthy, like many people, I'd have symptoms but not a death sentence. So, out of respect for others, I do wear masks for others sake. They don't know if I have symptoms or not, so why butter my ego when I don't need to. I feel social distancing is the best way to avoid catching COVID. Now it's nearly normal wherever I go that I don't really think about it. Many people stay more than six feet if they can.

My question is, do you worry about catching and dying from Covid personally?

Is it a major daily concern?

Do you feel personally threatened or worried if you get too close to someone with no mask?

Or do you follow the guidelines out of a sense of obligation and for the benefit of others?

No. I don't worry about catching COVID. But I know people like my mother for instance does. So, when I hear people talk about it I listen more or find some ways I can agree with them rather than telling devaluing their feelings and fear-which is justified.

So far out of COVID and the election in the states, I'm more fearful of the election and what will happen next week. I haven't voted yet, but was told and maybe I should look up a lot of the issues and violence going on around it. I'll probably go out tomorrow if it's safer than the actual day of election. People sit for hours wrapped around the poll buildings just to vote.

I'm not worried being around people who have masks or don't have masks. I do find a balance in my emotions though. If I wore masks every single place I went, it will make me more paranoid than just being informed of what the virus is, how it spreads, and how to avoid catching it as well as to others. Once I have all that information, I'm pretty much good to go. Why make myself more scared than my having some apprehension of what's going on in an uncertain time.

I follow the guidelines. For the benefit of others, I just think it's common sense. If I had a contagious disease (one that guarantees a death sentence), I'd stay home. If I had a cold, I'd cover my mouth and if I had the flu, I'd probably call off work. I think it's mostly the politics. Without the politics, people probably have better understanding of the situation-and even better-not look down at people and even fussing at people for believing one thing over another.

Also, what we believe and our opinions are different than actually social distancing and wearing masks. So, I'm not sure why there is so much issue over opinions if these people are still doing what they're supposed to do regardless how they feel about it themselves.

 

[Vinayaka]

Others. I also wear it for myself, but not because of the disease, but for the shaming. Here, where I do go out, the compliance is 99% or more, I can't remember the last time I saw someone unmasked inside. Outside, sure, but not in stores. So if a person does go unmasked, they risk getting scolded. and I find that fair, although I wouldn't scold personally.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

Self and others. Even healthy people have gotten very sick or died. But I also work at a clinic where we have elderly patients a lot. I don't want to pass it on to them. My husband also has considerable lung scarring from two very bad bouts of pneumonia, as well as asthma. So I don't want to get him sick either.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I tend to stay away from other people as it is so my routine hasn't really changed. I'm not worried about Covid.

 

[Nimos]

I would break out of the care center if they would not let family visit me. I'd prefer to be with my loved ones and enjoy a normal life, rather than live that way.

So lets say one in your family got it and accidently spread it to you, after you had decided not to care about it, because you wanted to live a normal life.... now it just happens to kill you.
Do you think that the family member that gave it to you, would then live happily ever after, knowing that they were the one that gave it to you? Despite you saying that you didn't care about it.
I don't really think you have thought this through very well.

 

[Brickjectivity]

I wear because I'm stubborn and don't like people making it into a political issue. The local wisdom, here, is that the masks are pointless, that social distancing is pointless, that its blown out of proportion and that the shutdowns are worse than the disease, that the masks are virtue signaling by politicians. Its like a whole state full of awakenwithjp people. I can't really say they are wrong, either; but I'm wearing my mask for the old people. They're scared. I grasp that. (awakenwithjp is a suddenly very political youtube channel that normally merely makes fun of quack medicine).

Personally? I believe that I have probably been infected several times and just don't know it. We have not had many people diagnosed with it in this town, but in nearest neighboring city the hospitals have had trouble keeping up. I don't expect to die from it, but I'd rather not experience it.

 

[DagonVarunaMitraApolloZan]

I social distance (if at all, people basically don't really do it here) for myself and to spare myself from disease.

 

[Scott C.]

So lets say one in your family got it and accidently spread it to you, after you had decided not to care about it, because you wanted to live a normal life.... now it just happens to kill you.
Do you think that the family member that gave it to you, would then live happily ever after, knowing that they were the one that gave it to you? Despite you saying that you didn't care about it.
I don't really think you have thought this through very well.

Yes, I've thought it through. The only person I know personally (that I can think of) who got Covid lives about 300 miles from me and I have not seen him in years. If my wife got Covid she would probably really worry about me and ask me to be careful around her. I would do so. My post is more about not worrying about myself when I come and go in small or large crowds with family or strangers. As I understand the risk, I will take the risk and live a normal life.

 

[Scott C.]

.. but I'm wearing my mask for the old people. They're scared. I grasp that.

Are old people scared? I really don't know how many. Both of my parents in their early 80's passed away right before Covid hit. I know for certain they would have told the world to shove their masks. I am actually glad they departed this life when they did as they would have been absolutely miserable in today's environment.

 

[Brickjectivity]

Are old people scared? I really don't know how many. Both of my parents in their early 80's passed away right before Covid hit. I know for certain they would told the world to shove their masks. I am actually glad they departed this life when they did as they would have been absolutely miserable in today's environment.

Some. I can't speak for all, but I know some. When you pass 80 your body is frail, and even a small bit of illness adds to the total effort. You may be on all kinds of medications such as arthritis medications, heart medications, diabetes and that can mean there are many other medicines you cannot take. Very often an older person is very focused on staying healthy yet has trouble getting sleep, getting any exercise at all and eating enough. They may have only a very limited number of things they can safely eat, and they may spend a lot of time resting. They may visit the doctor twice a month. An illness like covid 19 is no joke to them.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Are old people scared?

Judging from this board, yes.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I live with the elderly and a lot of them are nonchalant about it. They're more concerned with social distancing and touching. Some don't wear their mask but get antsy when you walk by. Visitors are supposed to wear their mask too but they are soft on us residents. When I'm behind the desk, I have to wear a mask but when the glass is close and door is locked, I don't need to. It depends. I think most of it is common sense.

Most people would stay indoors if it was as bad in our immediate environment more so than what we see on television. If anything, all the politics and numbers on television probably caused more fear manifested in person. So, it's hard to tell really. We're pretty mask strict in this county though. We had some COVID cases around the corner from me. My therapist went virtual (all doctors did eventually) because one of her clients had COVID symptoms.

 

[Orbit]

Judging from this board, yes.

LMAO

 

[Revoltingest]

I take precautions to protect myself.
But I"m OK with this protecting others too.

 

[JustGeorge]

Are old people scared? I really don't know how many. Both of my parents in their early 80's passed away right before Covid hit. I know for certain they would have told the world to shove their masks. I am actually glad they departed this life when they did as they would have been absolutely miserable in today's environment.

My grandmothers are very scared of it. One is 95, and the other is 87. They both wear masks. Well, the 87 year old has a mask and intends to wear it, but tends to forget to put it on. The memory thing is a problem for her in all areas of life, though.

I take precautions both for self and others. It goes deeper than just simple "I don't want to get it because being sick is stinky", but if I were to get it, my children would likely get it. And if we all have it, there is no one that will help care for us. No matter how ill I am, I will have to see to the care of others, and having a severe illness while caring for others with severe illness(young children, to boot) seems like something that would be harrowing. And there is the chance that pets can pick it up...so being very ill, while taking care of very ill kids, in a house full of coughing cats... no thank you.