Blog #1660

Reply ID: 7pga

To Fergusona810

Heya AF, thanks for the thoughtful comment. What you said got me thinking about my views on the rights and responsibilities in this situation. I'm almost certain I believe in a right to make oneself sick (or rather, to risk getting sick)...but then again, it doesn't take much to throw even that into doubt. I mean, how about the suicidal bridge jumper...do I just move along and mind my own business? Do I try to persuade but never physically interfere (and isn't talking a sort of physical interference itself? To manipulate a mind is to affect a brain, right? And brains are physical parts of bodies?), or might I take an opportunity to jump in and forcefully prevent the action? Would that make me a hero or an interloper, or neither? Suicide isn't sickness, but I think the analogy still has value. And with an infectious disease, illness is never really just a personal issue, is it? So, to your point, ppl don't have the right to disregard and make others sick...but don't we have to dig at least a little deeper than that, if we're honest? Isn't there a legitimate fundamental question as to whether a non-mask-wearer actually poses any real risk to anyone? You may think that question is already reasonably resolved - I might too - but I'm sure others feel differently, and do either of us, or anyone else, have real information and facts to justify our disregard for those people's beliefs, and necessarily also, their rights or freedoms?

Like everything, I find it a little complicated. And in general, I've really started wondering whether we are acting wisely or rationally in response to fear of this virus. It seems unlikely that unless and until a lasting vaccine comes along, there's any real hope for arriving at any final destination other than what might occur with no significant social impositions by governments...a certain percentage of every population will be infected, a certain percentage will die, and the only big difference when you try to look out toward the horizon seems to be in how long the process will take to play out. That sounds (and feels) cold, and I've resisted adopting that view all along...I still resist it. But...what if it's right? Well, probably we will et out magic vaccine in time to justify all the extreme precautions and restrictions, at least death-wise, but...will the damage to our collective worldview and values be adequately factored in? THIS may not be our "new normal" (and it isn't), but something will be. Will it be tragic?

- Dymitri