Social Distancing.

It’s a nice concept if you can find it.

We’re supposed to be social distancing here in the epicenter of corona… supposed being the operative word. I’m going to let you in on what I see when I am doing my best at social distancing…

Construction has been removed from the essential list- yet some buildings continue on with construction…

Civil court has been postponed, but the wheels of justice grind on in criminal proceedings…

Smokers continue to pick up butts on the street to smoke. While this was just disgusting before, the behavior now adds a whole new level of WTF…. Do you think there’s any way to spread germs by picking up a used cigarette butt off the ground and putting it into your mouth? And, yeah, smokers and respiratory disease….

Last weekend, police broke up a party in NYC. 50 people in a 500 square foot apartment…with a DJ…I want you to think how anyone was more than six inches apart, much less six feet…

Stores had to put tape on the floor to separate people, because apparently no one went to pre school had had absolutely no idea what six feet looked like. Or maybe men really do think they are six feet tall when they are indeed somewhere around five foot seven…or they really think that….never mind. We need cues…

But even with the cues, I had to threaten people the other day. Our target has two socially spaced  lines, self check and regular. The line I was on was paying attention to the rules, the other was all helter skelter. I actually said “Do you all mind if I take a picture of you for my blog? People would love to see how well you’re social distancing…” (of course this was a lie because I don’t take my phone out when I am out lest I get corona cooties on it. It stays deeply inside my purse) They sheepishly separated…

Yesterday the USS Comfort pulled into NYC to be able to take care of all those who are ailing but not with corona or it’s related symptoms. People lined up the west side to take pictures of this momentous occasion…because nothing says good sense other than lining up really close to one another to see a boat come in that will help us through a health crisis…

What do you want me to say?

People aren’t listening to rules.

Freedom?

Arrogance?

Stupidity?

Apathy?

The non charitable part of me wants to see all of these people develop symptoms. But then I think about all the innocent people that they might infect…and then I wish for continued good health…

Who is to blame if people don’t follow simple rules?

I can’t help but think there’s a sort of bizarre symmetry in all of this…

People beg for safe spaces because they can’t cope. A generation or two rooted in trophies for all…

And now, people refuse to retreat to safe spaces…so I guess it will have to be corona for all…

110 thoughts on “Tres- Behavior”

  1. I just want you to know I am thinking about you every day. I’m so glad you are still writing so that I can make sure you and your family are okay. These are mind boggling times. But I know we are gonna get to hang out someday…it just might be a little longer than I’d planned. Hang in there and stay healthy my friend. 🙂

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  2. I wonder how much of a dimwit you have to be to not understand what social distancing is and how to do it? Are people being malicious or are they just plain stupid? Rhetorical question. Stay safe, snarl if you have to make yourself safe.

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    2. Crikey! Actually I wanted to say something stronger 🤬

      Over here people get aggressive or rude if you point out their social distancing failings, so most of us end up going massively out of our way to avoid them instead. I barely go out. Twice monthly visits to the pharmacy aside (our doctors won’t change our prescriptions to line up as “it’ll mess with the supply chain”), it’s just a daily walk. Himself tackles the groceries – as he’s still going out to work (key industry) & is the cook. I’m an extrovert, so it’s social contact I’m missing (my daughter & granddaughter especially). But we do what needs doing, that’s the responsible way.

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      2. I haven’t witnessed aggression and I am not one to confront, but I suspect it would rear up. Wide berth is my strategy…which sometimes means the road!

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  5. It’s all about “me me me”.

    They think that gov’ts, especially in North America and the West in general, have no rights to impose restrictions on personal freedoms of choice.

    We have it here, too. Rules keep getting stricter. Our population is smaller than yours but the graph chart is climbing the same way. Because some people still don’t get it. Playgrounds and outdoor basketball courts are full. Beaches and parks too. I get why, but I also don’t. It’ll just take longer to flatten the curve this way…

    Re the butts and smoking: addiction is incredibly hard to navigate under the best circumstances. Main reason they left the liquor stores open in Ontario (but reduced hours and strict crowd control).

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  6. Treize. LA, your blogs about your everyday experiences of living in this challenging time, at the epicentre of the outbreak now, are really useful to those of us who live in smaller places where it’s easier to find distance. There’s stressful and then there’s stressful. And then of course there are the frontline workers, from healthcare workers to grocery store workers to truck drivers. But you are doing an excellent job of putting us in your shoes to fill the kinds of stresses living in an apartment in NYC brings right now. I hope writing about it helps relieve your stress, at least a little bit.

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    1. It does! This is the only space that is completely mine, if that makes any sense! And you’ve given me an amazing idea for a blog, so thanks- you said the exact perfect thing that led my mind to make a leap……and correlate something that should have been obvious! You are my muse today!

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  7. My heart sank when I saw the crowd clustering to greet the hospital ship. Today’s prediction is that New York could lose 895 people per day as the disease ravages the city. Will people grasp the seriousness then?

    You’re braver than I to go to Target. And good on ya for forcing people to separate!

    Stay well, everyone.

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  8. People are actually giving me a wide berth on hiking trails, so I guess it depends on where you are. It makes me crazy to hear about people still hosting and planning parties when so many people are cooperating and others are sick and dying. Stupidity.

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  9. I hear you!! I can’t imagine what it is like there! Our governor has no plans “at this time” for a shelter in place because she says in regards to social distancing she “knows Iowans are just doing the right thing”. I’m like, honey drive around the state and take a look, it’s a nice thought but come visit reality!! My particular neighborhood is doing pretty good, but there are a couple house every few blocks that seem to congregate, I just avoid those blocks. I am getting increasing calls and emails from headhunters and travel nurse agencies to come work in New York. Offering crisis pay and big bucks per hour. So I know they are trying to send help there that they desperately need. But no matter how many healthcare people they send, it isn’t going to solve the problem if people don’t keep away from each other!!! Stay safe and healthy!!!

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  11. Just yesterday our governor issued stay at home orders after idiots were out en masse on the boardwalk in VA Beach.
    Because of this, my husband has been issued a letter that says he’s an essential employee and has the right to travel to and from work. (But only every other week, WTF?) So if he gets pulled over(?) he can prove he’s not out joyriding? Again she says WTF?
    Travel papers? Haven’t we seen this somewhere before?
    I’ve been in the grocery store where there are tape lines on the floor to help with the six feet situation, and it’s fascinating to see who does and does not heed these cues.
    Are people so cavalier because they feel invincible, or is it because they’re resigned to get sick sooner or later?
    I honestly don’t understand why people do what they do. Actually, I don’t understand why folks don’t choose to stay put and keep themselves and each other safe. But how very American is it to ‘look out for number one’ instead of each other?
    I find the way some people are handling this situation disheartening as hell.
    Stay safe, girl! ❤

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  12. People who attend a party deserve to be arrested. Sorry, I don’t care what the occasion is. 🤦🏼‍♀️ A girl I used to work with and I were messaging a few weeks ago and she said she was worried her bachelorette debauchery weekend was going to be canceled. Seriously? I hate to break it to you, but your June wedding is probably not going to happen as planned either.
    I have been trying to practice social distancing, but sometimes other people don’t get it. For example the woman driving her cart at Safeway like she’s part of NASCAR with her other hand holding the phone. She didn’t apologize for running into me, she simply narrated the event to the person on the other end of the call. 🤦🏼‍♀️ Or the family of 6 who got on the elevator with me 2 weeks ago at the airport after I had waited for one that was empty. It took all my strength not to cough on their children when the father saw I was less than thrilled at being packed into an elevator with them. 🤦🏼‍♀️ And in case you hadn’t noticed, I can’t stop touching my face. 🤦🏼‍♀️

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    1. Omg the face touching!! I know!! It does amaze me how people have blinders on to our new reality. No one wants this to end more than I do, but, we hAve to have just a little bit of common sense….

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  13. Living in a congested area right now must be scary as hell, multiply that and you get NYC. My cousin lives in Harlem and we are trying to check in frequently. People think it won’t happen to them and if they don’t get sick they will be ” See it was all a great big nothing”. They don’t realize they can be infecting everyone they meet. Frustration at stupidity has always been a problem for me, but it is now at epic proportions, it is probably good that I don’t come into contact with others.

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    1. That’s the problem itself. So many people are asymptomatic, so they don’t even realize they’re passing it on….stay in place unless there is no one around, and only go out for necessities!! Be well!

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  14. Omg omg why are they not following the rules? Here we seem to be following them. We don’t get out, the roads are empty only people in essential services. I got out last week to buy groceries. I went with a friend of mine but stayed far away from them. We used sanitizer for everything. It was a harrowing experience as though we had masks, it was still scary. Luckily the store allowed only 6 people at a time, and we maintained our distance. Tough days are more to come

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  15. We have a neighbor who absolutely freaked out when the stay at home order here was issued, just panicked about potentially losing his job. This is the same guy that probably has enough TP and food for a family of 10 to last 2 years and yet goes out every single day to at least one, if not 2 or 3 stores, to get more and spends much of his time roaming the neighborhood with his kid talking to neighbors (in the much less than 6 feet space). The other day, Hubby was working in the yard and the neighbor comes over to talk (thank goodness we have a fence to help enforce some of that distance!) and did the whole chewing tobacco spit every few seconds while talking. It was a frickin’ windy day! Hubby felt lucky the wind was blowing in the right direction. People just don’t think and are exceptionally stupid right now.

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    1. Ok, my first thought was of a home improve the clip the other day with Wilson being the precursor to social distancing….but yeah…there are people who are just…..one if my good friends lives in westchester, which is a hot bed right now. Her and her spouse are highly intelligent. They had a crew come over yesterday to install some sort of humidifier or dehumidifier and all I could think was really? Now? Working on a system that will distribute stuff?

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  17. When I saw the people gathered to see the ship I thought WTF! Stupid people. I would love to see that ship on a regular day. Yesterday wasn’t a regular day. People don’t think! These people are the ones who are causing this virus to spread. What dont they understand about 6 feet? They are probably bragging about it today. Sorry but I would like to smack them….

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    1. Don’t be sorry. You have a brain and know they’re idiots….and yes…I wanted to see the ship too, but I’ll wait till tithe crisis is over and it takes a victory lap around manhattan

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  18. That is no way to behave in the US epicenter of Covid. It should be criminal! Good for you for speaking up. Still, maybe best just to stay out of Target altogether? Lack of leadership and science denial is going to hurt a lot of ignorant, self-important, anti-authority Americans, and the innocent people who come in contact with them.

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    1. I would love to not shop, but since we didn’t hoard, we just run out of stuff. Target is the only place getting reliable stock of cleaning products and paper products.

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  19. I saw that NC passed a stay at home law..but with so many loopholes..it’s kinda silly–Meanwhile in Florida the gov passed a “safer at home” directive..

    No growl and no bite vs. all growl and no bite..
    not sure which is worse?

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  20. I feel silly commenting as I am in Rural Maine and I am in one of the 4 counties who still doesn’t have a confirmed case but I still get mad when people don’t follow the social distancing. I am grateful for our space and fear our beaches will close because of those people. It makes me feel like I am back in 5th grade and the class is at the risk of losing recess because a handful of kids are ruining it for everyone.

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  21. Some people are oblivious to others, some people figure it doesn’t matter what they do because everyone else isn’t following the “rules” (BTW they are the same ones who complain about election results but don’t vote).
    Some people are obstinately opposed to being told what to do, and there are even others who believe that it’s a conspiracy, the government is trying to control them.
    I feel a rant coming on, I better stop.

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  22. And that’s the scary part! Yesterday I was reading a news story about a guy in Ontario removing barrier tape the authorities has used in public parks and playgrounds as a reminder not to gather, not to socialize, to keep a distance. (And the park was CLOSED!). Another person saw this guy do it and followed him around – the guy kept repeating he was a “free” citizen and the state had no business interfering with that. I dunno. It’s crazy. Are we all in collective denial of that, though in our face on a daily basis, which terrifies us? Perhaps somebody with more knowledge of psychology than I do has an answer. Cold comfort for those of us playing by the rules though.

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    2. I have a friend who works with prisoners on work details. He told me it is common practice for them to try to smoke any butts they find as their picking up trash in the ditches. I can’t imagine enjoying smoking at all, much less smoking someone else’s trash.

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  25. We have tape on the floor at our Safeway, where I went this morning during senior hour and was able to get toilet paper and eggs but still no disinfectant wipes or spray. Most people were wearing masks and tried to keep their distance going up and down the aisles. We have quite a few cases out here in CA too and thankfully our governor ordered the Shelter in Place right away (March 17) and has extended it to May now. Funny, since they tell me I can’t go to the ocean, I really wanna see it again and considered driving by just to look but haven’t yet.

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  26. My God that is such a good point about safe spaces!

    And good for you with that blog comment directed at those peeps. Whose inconsiderate ways are not just ignorant, they are downright dangerous.

    As for the X marking the spot in checkout lines, some stores now have official markers stating the safe distance plastered to their floors for customers. I think it’s equal parts consideration for public safety and a legal issue. You can imagine a customer suing a department store for “not keeping them safe”. Ugh.

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    1. Omg I know! There are so many things you have to consider from all standpoints! The fact that people don’t have an ounce of common sense as to how they need to handle themselves in the new world order. It really us adapt or die…

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  27. Human beings are at best thoughtless animals, at worst (very) stupid, corona virus is highly contagious and as you say innocent people may become infected (remembering 🙂 97% survive) this ain’t a joke. LA those final two paragraphs are profound observations, we crave safe personal space, but when we finally have it we refuse to use it? The Comfort’s an impressive sight…….. 🙂

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  28. It does boggle your mind doesn’t it! I love what you said to those people at Target!!
    Its becoming more and more of a ghost town here, but we really are a ghost town anyway compared to NYC!

    We just got the mandate today to stay home! Now yes businesses except grocery stores and carry out restaurants have been closed for awhile and we were told to stay at home, but apparently enough of us weren’t listening so now its mandated and there will be fines if the cop catches you on the road and you aren’t going to work, the grocery store or the Doctor’s . Though I am not sure how you are supposed to prove that you are going to the grocery store?? I have a letter to carry with me since I am a caregiver for an elderly lady. Will see how much more empty the roads become, if people listen or not, and will try to maintain our sanity by playing “Words!” LOL! You are catching up. 🙂

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    1. I heard Florida is getting bad! Just wipe everything down, and remember the word is the germs live a long time on cardboard, so if you get packages either discard box right away or wait 24 hours before opening. Other than that I have no advice except breathe. Be well

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  32. The non charitable part of me wants to see all of these people develop symptoms. But then I think about all the innocent people that they might infect…and then I wish for continued good health…

    That. That right there is exactly how I feel sometimes when I see the nonsense some ppl are doing. Thankfully for me, I’ve mostly had to see it via pictures. Lol. I’m not leaving home if I don’t have to!

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  33. I’m staying in and avoiding people – it’s 74 hours since I last left the house. It is the simplest thing to do. And the most effective.

    It would be nice to think that the behaviour of some people would serve as a sort of natural selection, but they will probably recover and just infect someone else.

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  34. It’s much the same here LA, There are always a few that think the rules don’t apply to them.
    Today the first person as been prosecuted here for refusing to say why she was hanging around a railway station platform. She was fined £660 plus £66 victim support and £85 costs

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  37. Dear gawd, what is wrong with people? I got crowded in the grocery line my last day at work; I dropped my basket to hold my place in line and I backed up 6 feet away into the floral department while giving the cashier a sympathetic smile because she has to deal with that nonsense all day.

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  38. Thanks for this report. Important but sad to read. As you said, you’re in the epicenter of this virus. It’s unbelievable that people in NYC still aren’t listening or adhering to the rules. We’re within the 2-week peak this month. I sure hope this changes!

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      1. Not sure. From some things I’ve been following, the weather may play a factor. Incidentally, we’re supposed to get snow here this afternoon. Ugh Anyway, I’m not sure. I guess the patterns from China and probably Italy show when the peak hit in those countries while in lockdown. Just a guess!

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  40. My personal beef with the social distancing is the photos of the healthcare worker appreciation parades around the hospital site where all the people are crammed into the street together clapping…..not too much social distancing going on there!

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