I know I've said it before, but I never try to convince people in my life that COVID's serious anymore. It just always leaves me frustrated.
So, that said, my wife best friend just texted to say she's got COVID for the first time and she knows we "keep up with COVID" and wanted to ask some questions. Sure, no problem.
She was on a flight last weekend and asks if it's possible that she just tested positive now. We tell her that RAT's are supposedly around day 5-11 now, so that's totally possible.
She asks if we know what the workplace rules are for her, and sure we send her a link. She says that's not at all what her boss said, but OK.
She asks if it's even possible to not give her husband COVID. We go over ventilation, filtration, masks, etc and this is where it really starts to go off the rails. She's just like "Yeah, we're not doing any of that."
She asks if long COVID "is real" or if there's anything else she should know and we're like yeah, it is, there's a lot that's unknown. We're sending you some links about what is known with long COVID rates, the things to look out for, what you can try to do in the meantime, etc. and she reads it and goes "Ummm, yeah. That all looks super sketchy. If any of that were real I'm sure the news would be talking about it. I'm sorry but I think you guys have fallen for some hoax or something here. I have a fever, a runny nose and muscle aches. I'm going to take some Tylenol. We have a birthday party to attend tonight, a kid's party tomorrow and my boss wants me back at work on Monday. Thanks anyway."
I give up.
@BE Look, you made a valiant effort. I think that's the best any of us can do.
The sad thing is, it's hard not to let the dismissiveness affect relationships, isn't it?
I think it's frustrating to me at this point because I know that nearly everyone feels the same way they do, so I don't bother, but they reached out to *ask the questions* and then didn't want the answers. It's like falling into a trap that you fell into before. No one to blame but yourself.
And there, is the bottom line for so many things. Including, but not limited to, COVID and the climate crisis.
@BE The answers were inconvenient, I suppose. That's what it comes down to for most, isn't it? They're receptive to input from those they know to be more knowledgeable, assuming that the response doesn't require actual effort or sacrifice.