Since I've taken up this platform I've only put out one post "of my own" and that was really just a test to see if anyone would engage on this strange, new place I was checking out. I prefer to respond to other people and discuss what's on their minds rather than to put my own topics out there. But this has really been bugging me lately, so I'm going to throw it out there and if no one cares then nothing changes and I'll keep kicking it around in my own mind.
If you don't want to hear or think about COVID feel free to tune out now and not follow along with the rest of my thoughts.
I am really interested in what people have to say here, and I welcome any real life thoughts on the subject whether you are having the same experiences or not. What I'm really not interested in is any "COVID isn't real" or "plandemic" nonsense and I'll block accordingly.
@BE I'm so grateful that you posted this thread. Our little family have been extremely careful and haven't been sick--with anything--for nearly three years. We're lucky to have friends who 'indulge' our cautiousness. But we know many people who suffer from lingering symptoms or who have developed serious conditions. Hardly anyone wants to admit they even had Covid. 1/
@BE In early 2020, we knew two families who caught Covid before anyone realized what it was. They still have health issues. Our (much older) friend group was ultra-cautious for two years, then some eased up--and got sick. One friend has been sick on and off for almost a quarter of last year. Acquaintances with younger families are telling me their kids just keep getting sick and missing school. Other friends have developed cancer, heart conditions, and I've wondered if it could be related.
It's hard to watch so many being injured, isn't it? The young people being *constantly* sick really gets to me sometimes and I have to step back and just be glad we made the decisions we did at this point.
Are the cancer and heart conditions related? It's so hard to tease out, and that's why minimizers have so much space to operate. The science is, and will be, slow to catch up. That's why the precautionary principle exists! You're supposed to err on the side of caution. But we have a saying in our house that we stick to. "It's the pandemic unless otherwise proven."
@BE Yes. It's also so hard to see that far too many people do not understand how viruses work--or how basic science and rational thinking work! A failure of our educational system. And our leaders do not understand that the virus (or 2 or 3 now) is the real enemy. Politicizing public health protections is our downfall.
You're speaking my language here. Married to a science teacher. Dad was a teacher on and off. Grandfather and Great aunt were teachers, etc.
Yes, it's 100% a failure of the educational system at the heart of so many of our issues!
@BE Spouse (math, physics, software data science). Me (biochem/chem, science/tech writing). Kid wanted and got tons of training in logic, data, scientific method, evidence-based decision-making, developing rational thinking and good judgement--and is using all of it in a combined degree in visual art / music. I have discovered that music theory analysis and composition (particularly post-tonal) is more difficult and rigorous than anything I did in physics, math or biochem!