Awfulizing is the process of blowing things out of proportion into something more than they actually are. With regard to Covid-19 things are are significantly bad and this can lead to awfulizing quite readily.
A couple of weeks ago my wife and I were driving over to her sister's house to deliver a product that they in turn were going to deliver to their mom. In the process we stopped at an intersection where someone was asking for money. This guy looked in pretty rough shape as if he had been on the street for quite some time. My wife was in the driver seat and I asked her about us giving this guy some money. Traffic was pretty sparse because many people were already staying at home for the most part. We agreed to give him $5 and motioned him over to the car.
The guy was quite thankful to get anything and was even wearing blue nitrile gloves (actually quite a good idea under the circumstances). After we gave him the money he asked us if we thought this was the end of the world. He said his mother thought so, and he was thinking it might be true. We told him we actually thought things were going to be pretty rough for a couple of months, but that we didn't think it was the end of mankind. He thanked us again and moved back to his spot on the corner as we drove on.
Just a few days ago I said to my wife something about the whole world falling apart. It's not, but that's the way I was feeling about it just like the man we had encountered on the road.
Many, if not all of us, tend to focus on the bad and blow it up to be even bigger, worse, and more catastrophic than it really is (awfulize). World Ends! Film at 11.
The deaths in this pandemic are definitely a tragedy, but is what is happening catastrophic. By comparison there were 50 to 60 million deaths due to the Spanish Flu a hundred years ago. Yet, just a couple of years ago how many people even knew that it had happened. The answer is few. It killed more people than WWI (flu 50-60 million versus WWI 40 million) but it was essentially never mentioned outside of medical papers.
Every year the regular flu kills 300,000 to 700,000 world wide. Right now Covid-19 is responsible for around 45,000 deaths. Unfortunately it has the potential for being quite bad and needs to be taken quite seriously. We are doing many of the right things to try to keep these numbers down, but will we be successful? We will see. However in the mean time there will be tragic situations and people lost who are dear to us.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Friday, March 27, 2020
Working at Staying Isolated During Covid-19
Yes we are working at staying away from people during this Covid-19 spread. We have a reasonable stock of food, and other expendables. So we are staying away from stores as much as possible. This came about largely because our youngest child is living with us at the moment after getting himself a Masters degree at college. Now he is preparing for spending a year or more overseas on a Fullbright Scholarship while teaching english. Yes, the logistics of that are a little sketchy at the moment for obvious reasons, but we are all still hopeful about him being able to do this.
No, none of us have any symptoms. Unfortunately before my son was relegated to working from home he attended a meeting at work. One of the attendees several days later came down with some kind of flu. He still has not received test results but is pretty sure he has Covid-19. The fact that he has received no test results is abominable over a week later, but what can you do. So, there is a chance our son was exposed which means there is a chance we have been exposed. Not wanting to expose anyone else, we have decided to do the best we can at self quarantine.
Fortunately we are all pretty good at getting along with each other, but living together under these conditions does put a strain on relationships. I never thought I would be looking forward to the heat in Phoenix, but I am. I am hopeful that the heat will also bring a downturn in the infection rate around here.
No, none of us have any symptoms. Unfortunately before my son was relegated to working from home he attended a meeting at work. One of the attendees several days later came down with some kind of flu. He still has not received test results but is pretty sure he has Covid-19. The fact that he has received no test results is abominable over a week later, but what can you do. So, there is a chance our son was exposed which means there is a chance we have been exposed. Not wanting to expose anyone else, we have decided to do the best we can at self quarantine.
Fortunately we are all pretty good at getting along with each other, but living together under these conditions does put a strain on relationships. I never thought I would be looking forward to the heat in Phoenix, but I am. I am hopeful that the heat will also bring a downturn in the infection rate around here.
Monday, March 23, 2020
Irrational and Immoral Behavior in Light of Covid-19
Yesterday I needed to make a quick trip across town both to deliver something and pick up something from my older son. We stood apart from each other as we did what we needed to do. No hugs. No handshake. He's trying to keep both his family and us safe and I was trying to do likewise. On the return I saw something that both shocked me and didn't surprise me at the same time.
On a Sunday afternoon on our way across town it would not be unusual to see a bunch of cars in a church parking lot, but right now this year it was shocking. Why? It was shocking because it was such a flagrant display of irrational immorality that I was stunned.
I realize these people probably think God will protect them. Well so did the people in a church in Italy that became a hotbed source of Covid-19. These people in their flagrant disregard of reality were not just putting their own lives at risk, they were risking the lives of everyone they would have contact with in the next week or two. They were risking the lives of every grocery store employee, every customer who is just trying to get food, every healthcare worker who may have to treat them and every innocent passerby on the street.
Why do I say their behavior was irrational and immoral? It was irrational because we know what is going on and that there is a real danger associated with gathering in groups right now. They are being irrational in denying the reality of that. It was immoral because they are knowingly putting peoples lives at risk other than their own. Last I checked immoral behavior was considered sin. You would think someone who believes in that would see the hypocrisy of their actions.
On a Sunday afternoon on our way across town it would not be unusual to see a bunch of cars in a church parking lot, but right now this year it was shocking. Why? It was shocking because it was such a flagrant display of irrational immorality that I was stunned.
I realize these people probably think God will protect them. Well so did the people in a church in Italy that became a hotbed source of Covid-19. These people in their flagrant disregard of reality were not just putting their own lives at risk, they were risking the lives of everyone they would have contact with in the next week or two. They were risking the lives of every grocery store employee, every customer who is just trying to get food, every healthcare worker who may have to treat them and every innocent passerby on the street.
Why do I say their behavior was irrational and immoral? It was irrational because we know what is going on and that there is a real danger associated with gathering in groups right now. They are being irrational in denying the reality of that. It was immoral because they are knowingly putting peoples lives at risk other than their own. Last I checked immoral behavior was considered sin. You would think someone who believes in that would see the hypocrisy of their actions.
Saturday, March 21, 2020
Unsung Heros of Covid-19
I think we all appreciate the healthcare workers and the paramedics during this time because they are on the front lines dealing with an infectious disease, but that is not what this post is about.
This post is about the unsung heroes. I am talking about the people who staff the grocery stores, the hardware stores, food delivery people and truck drivers who are still at their jobs and making sure essential needs are able to be met. Right now these also are first responders and absolutely essential to our well being during these times.
I salute you and want you to know you have our thanks and undying gratitude in these trying times.
This post is about the unsung heroes. I am talking about the people who staff the grocery stores, the hardware stores, food delivery people and truck drivers who are still at their jobs and making sure essential needs are able to be met. Right now these also are first responders and absolutely essential to our well being during these times.
I salute you and want you to know you have our thanks and undying gratitude in these trying times.
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
What I hate about Covid-19
It's been a long time since I was around here. I am even wondering why I came back. I am a little upset with the current state of affairs. Who isn't? However I am probably more upset over different things.
Yes, the Covid-19 virus, the Corona Virus or whatever you want to call it definitely sucks, but I think what sucks way more is people's behavior. We are in this situation largely because of really bad behavior of people involved in the government of China. I am talking about people who were intimidated into not revealing the problem before it got out of hand. Then those who did reveal it demonstrated the governmental manipulation problem. Some of them paid for that with their lives. Oh, they were chalked up to Corona Virus victims, but of course they would be. I also guarantee that North Korea is doing exactly the same thing.
Having said all of this I am still not addressing the thing that I think sucks even worse. In many ways humanity is acting like an "immune system" that has run amok. We are doing way more damage to the body than that virus that triggered this whole event. When all is said and done I predict the death toll due to collateral damage rather than the virus itself will be much higher than the toll directly due to the virus. We are also demonstrating that panic can lead to people doing incredibly stupid things. That is because panicked people don't think. They just react and usually react in ways that are ultimately counter productive.
That leads me to something that is just infuriating me and that is the roll that news media has had in generating panic. Cue dramatic music - announcer in dramatic baritone voice, "Corona Virus catastrophe brings an end to the world. News at 11," followed by flashy video graphics. Yes, this is hyperbole, but not by much. The news media is not just presenting facts as they should, they are presenting a lot of unsupported opinion as if it is fact and providing dramatic emphasis to sell it to all of us. Why? Ratings and market share. Catastrophe sells. It sucks in viewers. It gets people to watch the advertising. It keeps you glued to your screen.
Then of course you have the "talking heads" many of whom actually know little if anything but realize if they can say something outrageous they are brought back time and again. They enjoy the fame and their place of self appointed importance. They don't add anything constructive to the situation but only serve to raise the level of panic that helps to drive the herd wherever you want them to go.
You may realize that I hate being manipulated. I hate attempts to panic me that interfere with critical thinking. I hate being steered in ways that are not in my best interest or the best interest of those I care about. I hate seeing people being turned into drones that sprout "party lines" and unsupported accusations. I hate seeing people being divided when they should instead be unified and supporting one another. However, divide and conquer seems to be the theme of these times. It's sad and makes me angry.
Yes, the Covid-19 virus, the Corona Virus or whatever you want to call it definitely sucks, but I think what sucks way more is people's behavior. We are in this situation largely because of really bad behavior of people involved in the government of China. I am talking about people who were intimidated into not revealing the problem before it got out of hand. Then those who did reveal it demonstrated the governmental manipulation problem. Some of them paid for that with their lives. Oh, they were chalked up to Corona Virus victims, but of course they would be. I also guarantee that North Korea is doing exactly the same thing.
Having said all of this I am still not addressing the thing that I think sucks even worse. In many ways humanity is acting like an "immune system" that has run amok. We are doing way more damage to the body than that virus that triggered this whole event. When all is said and done I predict the death toll due to collateral damage rather than the virus itself will be much higher than the toll directly due to the virus. We are also demonstrating that panic can lead to people doing incredibly stupid things. That is because panicked people don't think. They just react and usually react in ways that are ultimately counter productive.
That leads me to something that is just infuriating me and that is the roll that news media has had in generating panic. Cue dramatic music - announcer in dramatic baritone voice, "Corona Virus catastrophe brings an end to the world. News at 11," followed by flashy video graphics. Yes, this is hyperbole, but not by much. The news media is not just presenting facts as they should, they are presenting a lot of unsupported opinion as if it is fact and providing dramatic emphasis to sell it to all of us. Why? Ratings and market share. Catastrophe sells. It sucks in viewers. It gets people to watch the advertising. It keeps you glued to your screen.
Then of course you have the "talking heads" many of whom actually know little if anything but realize if they can say something outrageous they are brought back time and again. They enjoy the fame and their place of self appointed importance. They don't add anything constructive to the situation but only serve to raise the level of panic that helps to drive the herd wherever you want them to go.
You may realize that I hate being manipulated. I hate attempts to panic me that interfere with critical thinking. I hate being steered in ways that are not in my best interest or the best interest of those I care about. I hate seeing people being turned into drones that sprout "party lines" and unsupported accusations. I hate seeing people being divided when they should instead be unified and supporting one another. However, divide and conquer seems to be the theme of these times. It's sad and makes me angry.
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