Here we are – over a year from the first documented Coronavirus case in the world and the pandemic is worse than ever in California. So why is there a major difference in the level of caring between March and now? Businesses are open for shopping and you can sit outside at a café for a quick sip. Some are flying home for the holidays. I even got to go to the climbing gym; to touch fake rocks right after someone else did. But is any of that wise?
My guess is that this inexplicable difference comes from the knowledge and examples we have each experienced since the Rones first arrived. Any open business has gone to great lengths to open up. Adding safety screens, building patios outside and prioritizing airflow. Checking peoples temperatures. Limiting capacity. No middle seat on planes. All this to make us feel comfortable spending our hard earned duckets. But the overwhelming consensus to help is simply, wear a mask. Wear a mask to protect YOUR germs from the others around you. That simple right?
Not so much.
The spectrum is quite vast ranging from people who outright do not care and others masking themselves and their infant children. We’ve all seen the videos of Karen’s & Terry’s freaking out about the devil masks covering their faces from the lord at Wallyworld. But we also haven’t seen the images of the germaphobe that hasn’t left their apartment since 2019, or the faces that didn’t make it. Why the disparity!? Is it as simple as not caring? Not being concerned? Maybe too concerned? Maybe it’s just wanting to maintain the mindset that we are in control of our own lives. Or that we know better? I’m not here to judge, I am just writing about this because I’m fascinated by the inconsistency. To me it seems society cares more about “looking like we care” to wear a mask rather than rising to meet the moment of a world wide pandemic and just wear a mask.
This thought has been on my head for months and reached a boiling point last week on an evening hike. Let me paint the picture. I’m outside on a wide open fire road and see two women up the way, who had stopped in their tracks because OMG this guy with a mask on is walking right at us. I’m sure we’ve all been in this pickle. But what is their thought here?
Them looking at me with a mask – this guy looks sus, maybe he’s sick.
OR
Oh snap, we went on a walk at peak afternoon walk time and didn’t bring masks cause we didn’t think we’d see anyone on this popular hiking trail. We can’t be seen like this.
Solution?
Let’s pull our sweaters up over our face and try to sneak by so we look like we care.
When they walk by I laugh and say “you didn’t have to do all that”. Not cause I know better, or because I think I’m by some means immune. Not even cause I’m the one wearing the mask. It is because I still want to trust you! I want to trust that if you are going outside, you probably aren’t sick. It is in my nature to give you the benefit of the doubt and up until Rona season, it is what most expect in return. And sure, they can do them 100%. But if you are going to go to great lengths to cover your face for the 10 seconds we cross paths why wouldn’t you just wear the mask in the first place? Either care, or don’t. Either meet the moment or don’t. But don’t start to care all of the sudden when it isn’t convenient for you anymore.
In talks with friends, it is common for us to be ok with the potentially high Rona situations when the conditions are too our liking. But then flipping the switch and caring so much when it isn’t something we deem worthy. I get it. I got on a plane for fun but don’t recommend it for others. But can we do more?
For me its simple, when I’m on a hike, leave no trace applies. I wear the mask. When I’m out, I wear the mask because I’m thankful of the essential workers who have to wear that mask ALL DAY. I think even more about the health workers that wear multiple masks, face shields and gloves ALL DAY and overtime trying to save people that til their last sip of air will deny Covid exists.
Again, I’m no saint, I get out without the masks at times. We’ve done the bubble and I trust the friends I’ve gotten to see and I don’t NOT want to give them daps, hugs and love. Can’t assume everyone has it. But I can’t assume that nobody does have it either. More-so, people are free to assume I’m sick as well. Gotta protect self but we toe a thin-line of courtesy these days in an already isolated, stressed out world. Everyones experience is different and all I want from people reading this is to consider the bigger picture. Enjoy what you can, don’t lose faith in people. But we wont finish this group project until everyone participates. That goes for a vaccine too. Check those privileges because a virus doesn’t give a shit.
An AlTRNTative Perspective 