I just had the most mind-blowing conversation with a former colleague. Long story short, we're downsizing on our move and I'm trying not to send a whole bunch of perfectly good used furniture to the dump. I've contacted everywhere that I could theoretically donate it, and they're not taking any furniture. I've contacted every used furniture store, and they all say they're overstocked. One told us, "I'm going to sit here and take this exact phone call all day today." So I reached out to my contact list on my phone to see if anyone needed anything for free.
One person, whom I guess I haven't talked to much lately, ends up saying they could use something and I tell him we'll leave it in the driveway for him next week. The conversation ends up with me saying that we're avoiding as much indoor, face to face meetings as we can during this move.
He says, and I quote from the text, "You don't really believe in COVID, do you?"
I reply, "Yeah, the science is pretty straightforward."
He says, "Scientists are just conspiracy theorists."
I say, "You're a scientist. I know this because I hired you and you have a degree in biochemistry."
He says, "That was before I got my MBA and realized how the world really works. Science isn't real."
@BE the 21st century is all about the dissolution of shared reality that we all adopted in the 20th. Fucking WILD to watch people decide to disbelieve in things, but we’re not actually logical entities.
Congrats on rehoming the furniture, at least.
I've looked at my phone at least 5 times thinking "Did that really just happen?" I hired him and worked in science with him for 5 or 6 years. Just mind blowing.
@NilaJones @BE That’s an interesting essay. I consider my past selves (and there have been many) to be strangers but I assume that I will know and be my future selves. It had never really occurred to me that others felt differently. I guess I am still discovering my path through the neuroverse.
@BE
That is really baffling