Lorraine<p><span class="h-card"><a href="https://mastodon.social/@BigBadDog" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@<span>BigBadDog</span></a></span> <span class="h-card"><a href="https://stranger.social/@Kathmandu" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@<span>Kathmandu</span></a></span> <br>Living in <a href="https://zeroes.ca/tags/NYC" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>NYC</span></a> w/ its density make it impossible to be free of interactions of people. Taking out the trash, checking mail, going to the grocery store, taking <a href="https://zeroes.ca/tags/subway" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>subway</span></a> etc takes a nightmare amount of caution & thought</p><p>Being a mostly recluse, this situation has not come at a great personal cost to me compared to most, but it has for my spouse so I am acutely aware of the personal sacrifices he makes</p><p>However if he in this instance represents society, what I “force” him to do is actually in HIS best long term interest</p><p>If we collectively took the danger of a <a href="https://zeroes.ca/tags/BSL3" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>BSL3</span></a> pathogen more seriously, then the amount of absurd caution we each are being individually forced to take would be FAR less burdensome</p><p>Would love to be working retail right now & earning a 6 figure salary, but there is zero chance of getting hired despite the fact I’ve been referred to as a “rainmaker” or similar everywhere I’ve been. Despite being very good at what I do, will never be hired b/c I refuse to take my mask off. If I could, would be working in a mask the entire while. Have made masks for the essential workers in my neighborhood & they do not get worn.</p><p>Quite frankly after 2 years of trying in earnest to keep people irl onboard, I’ve given up on thinking society will change course. I’m sure the <a href="https://zeroes.ca/tags/viralPersistence" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>viralPersistence</span></a> studies spreading disease will be forthcoming but have no interest in saying “I told you so” & surely they will be ignored</p><p>There is no solution to be implemented it seems, so in my “tower of London” trying to spin straw into gold</p>