Are people stupid?

[rapmarks]

I live in a community of almost a thousand homes and over 80 percent are seniors.
two or more weeks ago, the master board shut down the club,bar, restaurant, the pools, tennis, bocce, wii bowling, cards, etc. they let the golf course stay open to members, one in a cart if you wish, no flag poles, no rakes.
All weekend i received alerts from Lee county Florida to stay inside,
constant messages to stay inside

the following has been reported on social media this morning
Groups of ladies doing water aerobics in the pools
men going by, two in a cart for golf
eight ladies playing doubles tennis
every evening on a walk, groups congregating outside the condos
These people are not following social distancing and if one gets it, it will spread like wildfire through this subdivision

here I am afraid to go pick up my prescription, and these people are endangering our community. There are a growing number of cases in our area.

in fact, next door neighbors family just came down for a vacation from Minnesota and they are staying on Marco island. They said there is only ten percent occupancy at their hotel. I thought Marco was closed to tourists and the state was also.

 

[bbodb1]

People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it.

 

[klpca]

Frustrating, isn't it.

 

[Passepartout]

All that will change when the first neighbor dies from CV.

 

[DaveNV]

People just don't think the rules apply to them. So to answer your question, Yes. They ARE stupid.

I had to make a run to a neighborhood convenience store yesterday. I was all gloved-and-masked up, not touching anything, and being hyper-aware of the whole contagion thing. So what happens? As I'm purchasing the ONE item I went in to buy, the guy behind the counter was all La-dee-dah in his attitude, business as usual, blathering on about nothing in particular, touching everything in the process of ringing up my item, and then he hands it to me. I carefully took it, and was about to make my way out the door, when his chatter took a serious turn. He said, "Stay safe out there. Some people don't think. This lady coughed all over me a few days ago, and never said a word. I might catch this now!"

I nearly freaked. HE could be just as easily spreading the virus with his nonstop talking, and careless attitude. I wiped down everything, including myself after I got home, to avoid bringing anything into the house. I know we can only do so much, but to be so careless just seemed completely unthinking. Needless to say, I won't be going back to that store anytime soon.

Dave, SMDH (Shaking My Damn Head)

 

[tschwa2]

I thought the same thing when I saw this article:
Florida church jammed for Sunday service despite pandemic
https://www.yahoo.com/news/florida-church-jammed-sunday-despite-101459281.html

 

[Old Hickory]

I don't know if these examples are stupid (only time will tell) but I do know that hoarding toilet paper is stupid.

 

[VacationForever]

People just don't think the rules apply to them. So to answer your question, Yes. They ARE stupid.

I had to make a run to a neighborhood convenience store yesterday. I was all gloved-and-masked up, not touching anything, and being hyper-aware of the whole contagion thing. So what happens? As I'm purchasing the ONE item I went in to buy, the guy behind the counter was all La-dee-dah in his attitude, business as usual, blathering on about nothing in particular, touching everything in the process of ringing up my item, and then he hands it to me. I carefully took it, and was about to make my way out the door, when his chatter took a serious turn. He said, "Stay safe out there. Some people don't think. This lady coughed all over me a few days ago, and never said a word. I might catch this now!"

I nearly freaked. HE could be just as easily spreading the virus with his nonstop talking, and careless attitude. I wiped down everything, including myself after I got home, to avoid bringing anything into the house. I know we can only do so much, but to be so careless just seemed completely unthinking. Needless to say, I won't be going back to that store anytime soon.

Dave, SMDH (Shaking My Damn Head)

I read a news article several days ago about grocery store clerks are catching COVID-19. We have not stepped into a store in more than 2 weeks and no plans to do so for the next 3 to 4 months. Thank goodness for my hoarder habits and recent discovery of online meat, veges and fruits delivery sites.

 

[rapmarks]

I thought the same thing when I saw this article:
Florida church jammed for Sunday service despite pandemic
https://www.yahoo.com/news/florida-church-jammed-sunday-despite-101459281.html

Unbelievable, all but ten churches totally shut down in my area

 

[DaveNV]

Thank goodness for my hoarder habits and recent discovery of online meat, veges and fruits delivery sites.

As long as the delivery drivers stay healthy.

Dave

 

[geekette]

I read a news article several days ago about grocery store clerks are catching COVID-19. We have not stepped into a store in more than 2 weeks and no plans to do so for the next 3 to 4 months. Thank goodness for my hoarder habits and recent discovery of online meat, veges and fruits delivery sites.

Yes. I am not keen on being in any kind of store, have felt that way for many weeks.

 

[geekette]

I saw a headline about someone in NJ, I think, hosting a Coronavirus Party for 50.

I am not sure why people aren't realizing This Can Get You Dead Fast.

Makes me all the more determined to not leave home. There is nobody that can be trusted. I worry about those that crammed grocery stores when they got the Stay Home order. I worry about those now housing their spring break kids.

As time goes by and death toll rises, there will be more panic. Some "what have I done?" But it will be far too late. So many people, in so many areas, far too late. It hurts my heart.

I'm trying to prepare myself for the horrors ahead. I'm already having trouble with these numbers, and we know that lack of testing has obscured cases. Both serious and recovered.

I've been expecting my home city of Indy to eventually hit someone's radar as our death/case ratio has been alarming, with very little testing (still under 10k for the state, total). Finally, yesterday, Surgeon General called us out. Indy locked down well before the rest of the state, which just got Stay Home last Thursday. It's just far too late.

I don't know how to prepare myself to lose people.

 

[VacationForever]

As long as the delivery drivers stay healthy.

Dave

They use Fedex and UPS. We have been getting other deliveries currently and we use lysol spray and Clorox wipe on the outside of the boxes and let it sit by the door for a day if they are not perishables. With perishables we will similarly spray/wipe and let it sit for 2 hours before opening the boxes. Thereafter, we will transfer items to the kitchen for sanitizing packaged products and washing fruits and vegetables. Even before COVID-19, I used soap and water to wash outside of the fruits like cantaloupe, papaya and water melon.

 

[elaine]

There is nobody that can be trusted.

sadly--this.
Many people just don't get it. We have a neighborhood with some saying, "we're only playing with kids we know," while one parent is likely going to work still. So, that "family unit" is all those kids, plus their parents and all those parents' co-workers. I assume that someone in that chain has contact with a medical worker or 1st responder. And a self isolate mandate etc. without enforcement leaves selfish, stupid, or oblivious people to determine on their own what's OK. Like going to the store every other day vs. 1x/week. People still say they "feel fine" and "it's just a bad flu."
We live on a golf course-they're still golfing, but 1 to a cart, unless they came together (in a car-so already exposed). no hand shaking, etc. Gatherings cancelled.

 

[Ralph Sir Edward]

In a word - YES.

To quote Robert A. Heinlein:

"Stupidity is the only universal capital crime; the sentence is death, there is no appeal, and execution is carried out automatically and without pity."

Larry Niven's corollary:

"Nature doesn't care how much fun you are having."

 

[HitchHiker71]

Old habits die hard I suppose. I think many people find it hard to adjust their lifestyle to fight an invisible enemy - especially given our predication and focus on individual rights and freedoms over the past 40 years. The idea of community rights - doing something for the greater good - is obviously somewhat foreign to a significant subset of people - both old and young - and these are the folks that are still out there "living out loud" so to speak. We will learn the hard way unfortunately - which historically has generally been the way most Americans learn unfortunately.

My wife is a nurse - and my 20 year old son works at a regional airport - both of which are deemed essential - so they are both still going to their respective facilities to work and will continue to do so. So our family is already at higher risk given this fact. For us, we have resigned ourselves to the fact that it's most likely a matter of when, and not if, COVID-19 comes to our home.

 

[Eric B]

I read a news article several days ago about grocery store clerks are catching COVID-19. We have not stepped into a store in more than 2 weeks and no plans to do so for the next 3 to 4 months. Thank goodness for my hoarder habits and recent discovery of online meat, veges and fruits delivery sites.

All the grocery stores I go to have self checkout lines. Those are the ones I'm using and they are being sterilized between patrons.

 

[GetawaysRus]

To paraphrase a well-known Beatles song (Eleanor Rigby), please sing along:

All the stupid people,
Where do they all come from.

 

[VacationForever]

All the grocery stores I go to have self checkout lines. Those are the ones I'm using and they are being sterilized between patrons.

The issue with shopping in the grocery stores is that other shoppers may inadvertently get close to you when passing through aisles. Even with self checkout lines, you will need to sanitize the key pad, screen, the areas where you place your items before and after scanning the products. People walking pass you, talking, coughing and sneezing. Alot of things can go wrong.

 

[Eric B]

The issue with shopping in the grocery stores is that other shoppers may inadvertently get close to you when passing through aisles. Even with self checkout lines, you will need to sanitize the key pad, screen, the areas where you place your items before and after scanning the products. People walking pass you, talking, coughing and sneezing. Alot of things can go wrong.

I understand that and am avoiding the stores where the vast majority of customers weren't being respectful of the need for social distancing. Where I am shopping, the stores have clerks standing there to enforce the social distancing (respectfully, of course) and sterilize and wipe down each self checkout aisle after someone uses it.

 

[elaine]

My wife is a nurse - and my 20 year old son works at a regional airport - both of which are deemed essential - so they are both still going to their respective facilities to work and will continue to do so. So our family is already at higher risk given this fact. For us, we have resigned ourselves to the fact that it's most likely a matter of when, and not if, COVID-19 comes to our home.

thanks to for your family for their service. I cannot imagine the stress and anxiety for medical and others on the front lines.

 

[easyrider]

We were up in the mountains checking on our cabin on Saturday. We received a call that some trees had fallen from high winds. Luckily, we only had trees on the main road and no trees took out the power. We didn't stay long but did take the scenic route back home. As we came closer to where the mountain road meets the highway we found many people camping in the closed forest. This entire area is under a State and Federal closure. The only people allowed up in these mountains overnight are property owners.

My guess was maybe 50+ groups of campers. I could tell most were the for the weekend.

One of the cabin owners cut a hole through a fallen over the road tree the width of their jeep. It is a big tree. My jeep lost the rear fender going through because it is newer and wider. I think the tree is like a gate protecting the properties right now as bored people and thieves head for the hills.

Bill

 

[DaveNV]

I understand that and am avoiding the stores where the vast majority of customers weren't being respectful of the need for social distancing. Where I am shopping, the stores have clerks standing there to enforce the social distancing (respectfully, of course) and sterilize and wipe down each self checkout aisle after someone uses it.

Smart that they're doing that. Consider, also, that the items you're picking up off the shelves may be contaminated by other shoppers. So even if it's "clean" to check out, you may still be taking the virus with you. Take no chances.

Dave

 

[VegasBella]

To be fair there are high risk activities and low risk activities. Staying home alone is nearly no-risk.

But I'm not going to fault people for engaging in low risk activities. For instance, assuming the pool is regularly cleaned and uses appropriate pool chemicals, doing water exercises at a distance from one another, particularly if the pool is outdoors, is likely low risk. The pool chemicals will destroy the virus and if it's outdoors then it won't last long in the air due to sun and wind. In my opinion, going grocery shopping is one of the highest risk activities someone can do. And a lot of people are doing that! The indoor air will keep the virus viable longer than outdoor air. Plus there are a lot more people at the stores adding germs all the time. Get delivery or do drive-up pick-up for groceries instead.

Please understand that this virus LINGERS IN THE AIR. It lingers longer in indoor air than outdoor air. And it spreads farther with a cough or sneeze but it appears to come from just regular breathing too. Cleaning surfaces and staying 6 feet apart is not enough, particularly indoors. Wear a mask if you go to indoor public places like a grocery store.

 

[chapjim]

The local post office has strips of red-striped tape on the floor -- six feet apart.