COVID derangement

[canadagoose]

Has anyone else got acquaintances (usually online) like this? They were normal before, and then they started posting about COVID stuff quite a lot during the main bit of the pandemic... but then when things started opening up again, the posting didn't abate and just kept getting worse and worse? I have about two people on Twitter who I used to speak to semi-regularly who just post about COVID about ten times every day, if not more. RTing stuff that says "if you don't wear a mask everywhere, you're literally responsible for killing people" and "WHY ISN'T GOVERNMENT LOCKING DOWN NOW AND MAKING EVERYONE WEAR A MASK???? THIS IS SERIOUS!!!!!" Every. Flipping. Day. Over and over and over and over.

I've had to have them muted for about six months now, but I still occasionally see the posts through other people interacting with them. But it's so bloody annoying, like, do they think badgering random people on Twitter is going to change public health policy? I still wear a mask in medical settings because it's reasonable, but I'm not wearing one on the bus again until it's advised by people who actually know what they're on about. I get a rash on my face from sweating underneath them and I sometimes struggle to breathe with them on (although I still wore them previously in most settings). It's hard enough to get myself out of the house these days without having to dread the face-stinging from a mask, when 99.9% of people never wear one now. I'm not trying to make you feel sorry for me, I'm just trying to explain myself.

I could try and reason with them but they'd just call me a murderer and a COVID-denier. I could just block these people but it seems a shame because I had a good rapport with them before... it's like COVID has just broken their brains or something. Have you had any similar experiences?

[BJBMK2]

I could try and reason with them but they'd just call me a murderer and a COVID-denier. I could just block these people but it seems a shame because I had a good rapport with them before... it's like COVID has just broken their brains or something. Have you had any similar experiences?

This.

Seems it's quite common now for social media to just completely destroy peoples sense of perspective. It's either transphobia, or COVID paranoia du jour. Part of me suspects that some people just enjoyed lockdown a bit too much, and are almost pining for that again in a weird way. (Not to say I didn't quite like lockdown too in some respects. I like whiskey too, but if I drank it every day, I would be die. Same thing with constant, consistent social isolation).

[canadagoose]

This.

Seems it's quite common now for social media to just completely destroy peoples sense of perspective. It's either transphobia, or COVID paranoia du jour. Part of me suspects that some people just enjoyed lockdown a bit too much, and are almost pining for that again in a weird way. (Not to say I didn't quite like lockdown too in some respects. I like whiskey too, but if I drank it every day, I would be die. Same thing with constant, consistent social isolation).

I think you're right. Social media seems to ruin people's brains in a way it never used to; I blame the algorithms constantly targeting people's emotions and sucking them in. It's a bit like an addiction.

[Ferris]

It's social media in general.

I have a close family member and we had to basically have an intervention because every conversation was about brexit. Every single one. Then it was covid. Every single one, tooting on about scarred lungs and the new variant in Biarritz. Any attempts to push back that maybe the entire planet isn't completely doomed was met with a dark look and non specific muttering.

It took deleting twitter and taking up a physical in person hobby to reset their brain and they're a much happier person now, and far easier to be around. They also retroactively recognize they went a bit loopy and are slightly embarrassed about it, and understand they just can't use social media (much in the same way I recognize I cannot gamble normally, because I know my personality type).

Twitter in particular breaks certain peoples brains, and lockdown when everyone was forced to be inside and interact solely by screen was enough to push some people over the edge and engage virtually in a way they never would have found time to otherwise. I'm sure a great many people would form opiate addictions if given the opportunity - for internet addiction, lockdowns were the equivalent of mailing everyone in the world a big bag of drugs.

[canadagoose]

It's social media in general.

I have a close family member and we had to basically have an intervention because every conversation was about brexit. Every single one. Then it was covid. Every single one, tooting on about scarred lungs and the new variant in Biarritz. Any attempts to push back that maybe the entire planet isn't completely doomed was met with a dark look and non specific muttering.

It took deleting twitter and taking up a physical in person hobby to reset their brain and they're a much happier person now, and far easier to be around. They also retroactively recognize they went a bit loopy and are slightly embarrassed about it, and understand they just can't use social media (much in the same way I recognize I cannot gamble normally, because I know my personality type).

Twitter in particular breaks certain peoples brains, and lockdown when everyone was forced to be inside and interact solely by screen was enough to push some people over the edge and engage virtually in a way they never would have found time to otherwise. I'm sure a great many people would form opiate addictions if given the opportunity - for internet addiction, lockdowns were the equivalent of mailing everyone in the world a big bag of drugs.

Yeah, I would tend to agree with you.

[dontpaintyourteeth]

Man, I really missed out on going stir crazy during lockdown. I had to carry on commuting to work and working with the public the entire time.

The only difference for me was it was easier to get a seat on the train.


Anyway, yes, I know people who are posting like this on twitter a lot. It's a shame but what can you do? Can't really engage

[PlanktonSideburns]

Just a bad website

You hear of people dying of splinter in horse times

Cunts irradiating themselves before a night out during black and white era

That, but for now

Future comedies set now will have a stock character like this

Silicone poisoning

[jamiefairlie]

Just a bad website

You hear of people dying of splinter in horse times

Cunts irradiating themselves before a night out during black and white era

That, but for now

Future comedies set now will have a stock a stock character like this

Silicone poisoning

...and then you know you must leave the capital uh!

[Dex Sawash]

Trump has broke my brain as surely as he broke any of his supporters brians.
I don't even post about it anywhere or read very much but pretty much always thinking about it. Some cunt walking his dog looks like probably a Trumper with his Trumper cunt dog, etc.

[scarecrow]

I still wear a mask in medical settings because it's reasonable, but I'm not wearing one on the bus again until it's advised by people who actually know what they're on about.

Who are these people you think know what they're on about? Given that the pandemic was demonstrably mishandled at pretty much every point by government, their advisors and the media, with lots of people repeatedly given platforms to make the wrong calls, I'm curious to know who you think are trusted voices. Personally, I find that Independent SAGE has been consistent and credible, and note that it continues to advocate for people to wear masks in indoor settings.

I have quite a bit of sympathy for the hectoring die-hards you're describing as they're fundamentally right to be concerned about the virus. Constant mass infection - with no mitigation measures in place - is a gamble, and the stakes are quite high. When things reopened, there was never an honest conversation about the risks, and so lots of concerns haven't yet been addressed. Things seem normal now, but they may not in several years' time, if studies such as the recent Australian one suggesting that COVID-19 is causing brain cells to fuse together are right. Even the useless WHO has said that currently approx. 1 in 10 infections are causing some form of long term symptoms.

When you ostracise and shout down people who have reasonable concerns, they are unfortunately going to develop extreme, possibly conspiracist perspectives.

[jamiefairlie]

Who are these people you think know what they're on about? Given that the pandemic was demonstrably mishandled at pretty much every point by government, their advisors and the media, with lots of people repeatedly given platforms to make the wrong calls, I'm curious to know who you think are trusted voices. Personally, I find that Independent SAGE has been consistent and credible, and note that it continues to advocate for people to wear masks in indoor settings.

I have quite a bit of sympathy for the hectoring die-hards you're describing as they're fundamentally right to be concerned about the virus. Constant mass infection - with no mitigation measures in place - is a gamble, and the stakes are quite high. When things reopened, there was never an honest conversation about the risks, and so lots of concerns haven't yet been addressed. Things seem normal now, but they may not in several years' time, if studies such as the recent Australian one suggesting that COVID-19 is causing brain cells to fuse together are right. Even the useless WHO has said that currently approx. 1 in 10 infections are causing some form of long term symptoms.

When you ostracise and shout down people who have reasonable concerns, they are unfortunately going to develop extreme, possibly conspiracist perspectives.

Agreed.

[canadagoose]

Who are these people you think know what they're on about? Given that the pandemic was demonstrably mishandled at pretty much every point by government, their advisors and the media, with lots of people repeatedly given platforms to make the wrong calls, I'm curious to know who you think are trusted voices. Personally, I find that Independent SAGE has been consistent and credible, and note that it continues to advocate for people to wear masks in indoor settings.

I have quite a bit of sympathy for the hectoring die-hards you're describing as they're fundamentally right to be concerned about the virus. Constant mass infection - with no mitigation measures in place - is a gamble, and the stakes are quite high. When things reopened, there was never an honest conversation about the risks, and so lots of concerns haven't yet been addressed. Things seem normal now, but they may not in several years' time, if studies such as the recent Australian one suggesting that COVID-19 is causing brain cells to fuse together are right. Even the useless WHO has said that currently approx. 1 in 10 infections are causing some form of long term symptoms.

When you ostracise and shout down people who have reasonable concerns, they are unfortunately going to develop extreme, possibly conspiracist perspectives.

Edit: edited out my old post because it was a bit mean, but basically, I disagree

[centristmelt]

Independent SAGE are certainly not credible

[buttgammon]

Definitely. Any issue of our age has the potential to turn into a sinkhole for some people: covid, Brexit, the fact that trans people exist, any populist leader, and it's not just the usual far-right/conspiracy nut that gets sucked in either (although with transphobia in particular, there seems to be a shortcut from centrism to full-on fascism). Once something hits a nerve emotionally, engaging with it becomes addictive.

The zealotry around Covid is actually rather counterproductive, as I'm sure it's encouraged people to switch off from what remains a big health problem.

[Theoretical Dentist]

I still wear a mask in medical settings because it's reasonable, but I'm not wearing one on the bus again until it's advised by people who actually know what they're on about.

Plenty of organisations that know what they're talking about (still) recommend wearing masks in situations like this. You don't have to go to covid activists like Independent SAGE, it's completely mainstream public health guidance. For example:

• The WHO is unambigous: 'Wear a properly fitted mask when physical distancing is not possible and in poorly ventilated settings.' (More detail).
• The UK government (which in this case is only responsible for England) recommends wearing a mask in various circumstances, including 'when COVID-19 rates are high and you will be in close contact with other people, such as in crowded and enclosed spaces' and 'when there are a lot of respiratory viruses circulating, such as in winter, and you will be in close contact with other people in crowded and enclosed spaces'. There's some wriggle room over what's meant by 'high' infection rates and 'a lot' of viruses, but I'd say they apply all the time in the UK at the moment, and if there's any uncertainty it's clearly safer to err on the side of caution.
• The NHS in England recommends: 'think about wearing a face covering that fits snugly against your face and has more than 1 layer if you're in close contact with other people, or in crowded places'.
• My local council recommends: 'wear a face mask in health and care settings to protect the most vulnerable and consider wearing a mask or face covering in other crowded or enclosed places'. I guess most councils in England will be similar, they're largely reiterating national advice.

All these recommendations apply to public transport, but specifically for transport, National Rail recommends: 'continue to wear a face covering, if you can, as a courtesy to others'. Admittedly. public transport operators in general don't seem to be pushing this – the main bus companies in my area no longer have any obvious covid safety information at all on their websites. But I think it's pretty obvious that there are considerations other than public health at play, and all the public health specialists I've checked are still recommending mask wearing in circumstances that include public transport (and all crowded indoor spaces).

That isn't to say you have to wear a mask, of course. And if you have bad reactions to them it's reasonable not to wear one, particularly when so many people are ignoring the advice. But it sounds like you're implying that people who continue to wear masks or recommend other people wear them aren't acting in line with sound public health advice, which I think is something that needs to be challenged.

On the main topic of the thread, I've never encountered anyone online or offline talking in the way you describe, but I don't use Twitter, Facebook etc which I guess are the main places it happens. It does sound unnecessarily abrasive and maybe counterproductive. But personally I'd prefer there to be more talk about the ongoing risks of covid, in person and particularly from the media.

Edit: just noticed 'Location: Edinburgh' in @canadagoose's sidebar thingy, so to partially atone for my Anglocentric links above, I'll just note that the Scottish government's advice includes: 'wear a face covering in indoor public places and on public transport'.

[canadagoose]

That isn't to say you have to wear a mask, of course. And if you have bad reactions to them it's reasonable not to wear one, particularly when so many people are ignoring the advice. But it sounds like you're implying that people who continue to wear masks or recommend other people wear them aren't acting in line with sound public health advice, which I think is something that needs to be challenged.

On the main topic of the thread, I've never encountered anyone online or offline talking in the way you describe, but I don't use Twitter, Facebook etc which I guess are the main places it happens. It does sound unnecessarily abrasive and maybe counterproductive. But personally I'd prefer there to be more talk about the ongoing risks of covid, in person and particularly from the media.

Edit: just noticed 'Location: Edinburgh' in @canadagoose's sidebar thingy, so to partially atone for my Anglocentric links above, I'll just note that the Scottish government's advice includes: 'wear a face covering in indoor public places and on public transport'.

Thanks for those links. You'd be surprised how many public websites about COVID seem to be broken or riddled with 404s these days. I do appreciate that it is still good advice to wear masks in indoor situations - I'm not criticising those who do. But when they say that people who aren't doing it all the time (some are even saying you should do it when you're at a pub or restaurant sitting down. How does that work?) are causing people to become disabled or die, it becomes really irritating. Here's the sort of thing I'm on about:



But yeah, I suspect a lot of it is really just restricted to online.

[scarecrow]

That tweet is hardly deranged - the quoted bit is someone being a bit prickly about a question they're often asked, while your mutual is pleased to have found someone on the same page as them at a time when they are otherwise roundly met with bafflement and ridicule.

Complaining about COVID cautious people being irritating is pretty vile. Ultimately, you're tone policing a marginalised group with no mainstream representation.

[canadagoose]

Complaining about COVID cautious people being irritating is pretty vile. Ultimately, you're tone policing a marginalised group with no mainstream representation.

No it isn't. They're being daft.

[centristmelt]

It's also a problem when "long Covid" continues to be a self-diagnosed phenomenon. No doubt that the vast majority of people are suffering to some degree, but also not doubt that some people are being more than a little psychosomatic.

[shoulders]

People are extremely resistant to being judged and tend to lash out as a defense mechanism, often when they've got a guilty conscience.

You can certainly read too much, fall down the rabbit hole of dodgy theories and misinformation. It's tricky to gauge sometimes how much people are invested in that.

I tend to draw the line at reset conspiracism on the one side and similarly tin hat Remain Indoors mentality on the other. Doesn't mean I'm right either, it's more sussing out how much obsession and paranoia has fucked with people's brains and trying to steer clear of the poison that did that.

However I am much less sympathetic with the reset cunts as it is so obviously an extension of their selfish desire to do whatever they like regardless of the impact to those around them. Those people can get fucked. So can the UK news media who callously jeopardised the lives of millions because Pret a Manger were possibly going to have to close some city centre sandwich shops.

[selectivememory]

Complaining about COVID cautious people being irritating is pretty vile. Ultimately, you're tone policing a marginalised group with no mainstream representation.

Yeah, sorry, but this thread feels nasty and beneath this place.

[shoulders]

The opening post isn't complaining about 'Covid cautious people' in general though is it, it's highlighting a real thing that's happened which is the subject making people lose their perspective, becoming deranged and unhealthily paranoid and obsessed, drowning in misinformation, untested theories and confirmation bias - whatever that may be.

Although it probably doesn't apply to scarecrow, their overly defensive reaction has done the opposite of what it intended.

We must of course always apply a binary pivot to any conversation though, it is the 21st century.

[scarecrow]

The opening post isn't complaining about 'Covid cautious people' in general though is it, it's highlighting a real thing that's happened which is the subject making people lose their perspective, becoming deranged and unhealthily paranoid and obsessed, drowning in misinformation, untested theories and confirmation bias - whatever that may be.

Although it probably doesn't apply to scarecrow, their overly defensive reaction has done the opposite of what it intended.

We must of course always apply a binary pivot to any conversation though, it is the 21st century.

Most of the 'eating in a restaurant is a form of eugenics' comments that you see on Twitter or wherever are disabled people with very legitimate concerns about their immediate and long term health outcomes if exposed to COVID. Their statements are obviously quite extreme, but they feel they've been consigned to preventable death, extreme illness or indefinite isolation - so fair enough really. It's evident that, by and large, people don't give a shit about them.

You may see some wacky comments from people who don't fall into the above group, but they're right to question the media blackout around the ongoing pandemic and the normalisation of the damage it's causing. I don't think these people are necessarily drowning in misinformation, untested theories and confirmation bias any more than people who are back to business as usual and have convinced themselves that the virus isn't worth a second thought. It's just that they're still talking about it, which makes them an easy target for bullies.

[Kankurette]

Yes, I had one like that. His anxiety went through the roof.

[Blinder Data]

I was in the cinema today and two people were wearing serious-looking masks. fair enough obvs. however, each of them carried a unit the size of a small box. I think it may have been a mobile air purifier but I didn't stop to ask.

again fair enough, it doesn't bother me in a literal sense - but I suppose my question is: why do all that? surely that is not enough to stop one from catching COVID in a cinema auditorium.

I suppose it just made me a little sad that these people feel that they have to do that; that they can't be comfortable in a busy space anymore just by themselves (but think the film was worth risking it with some kit that is unlikely to prevent them 100% from catching something)

of course in their eyes me and everyone else are the crazy ones - and that makes me a little sad too :'(

[scarecrow]

I was in the cinema today and two people were wearing serious-looking masks. fair enough obvs. however, each of them carried a unit the size of a small box. I think it may have been a mobile air purifier but I didn't stop to ask.

again fair enough, it doesn't bother me in a literal sense - but I suppose my question is: why do all that? surely that is not enough to stop one from catching COVID in a cinema auditorium.

I suppose it just made me a little sad that these people feel that they have to do that; that they can't be comfortable in a busy space anymore just by themselves (but think the film was worth risking it with some kit that is unlikely to prevent them 100% from catching something)

of course in their eyes me and everyone else are the crazy ones - and that makes me a little sad too :'(

I'm confused by your post - wearing a decent, well fitting respirator will likely stop you contracting airborne viruses, while portable air purifiers add an extra layer of protection (I don't personally fuck with them and certainly wouldn't in a cinema). Why do you think these measures are unlikely to protect them? What makes you think it's a better idea to raw dog an ongoing pandemic?

[BlodwynPig]

Because he's an anti-vaxxer loop nut

[Pink Gregory]

you don't know they weren't immunocompromised; Covid is still around and you'd me more likely to catch airborne stuff this time of year.

I don't imagine sleeping with a CPAP is comfortable either but I'm sure the people who have to would rather have the positive effects than not.

[scarecrow]

A textbook case of sleep apnea derangement.

[canadagoose]

I think wearing a mask in winter is generally a good idea. I was in Tokyo recently and it seems to be really common there. I've had umpteen yucky coughs and colds this winter (no 'vid though) and I suspect it might have helped. I don't think people are helping with the catastrophising though. They were predicting carnage in winter 2022/23, and then 2023/24, and then none of it happened. If we could de-couple the idea of wearing a mask from OTT predictions of death and suffering, it might have more success.