We asked our regular contributors through e-mail How do you cope with being treated like you are crazy for following COVID safety guidelines when others around you aren’t doing the same? We got many interesting responses. Here are some of them. We have just copied and pasted their responses, not editing them in any way.
1. It’s like driving a car, and the other drivers aren’t being safe. You keep your distance, try to stay positive, and try to understand that everyone has different levels of risk tolerance, understanding of the rules, etc. and that the best you can do is keep yourself safe and not contribute to the problem. Getting upset, or wanting to personally intervene to police other people’s behavior is perfectly understandable, but it probably won’t help, it might even make things worse.
– ElectricChess
2. Mostly quesadillas.
– Lovebot_AI
3. I embraced a long time ago that everyone else thinks I make no sense.
– mxmnull
4. Just keep doing your thing and keep yourself safe. The others will have to find out the hard way if they get it. This should have never been politicized in the first place.
– COVID-69420bbq
5. I walked out of work. As the HR manager, I had no choice. I was just so frustrated that my boss wasn’t taking it seriously. This happened in April when we (South Africa) went into lockdown. He wouldn’t provide masks, gloves, barriers, etc for the factory. Then insisted all the office workers stay. So I walked out. I carried on working from home & completed all my tasks. Got disciplinary action but he couldn’t fire me.
Months later things have finally changed. But I’ve found another job. If that’s how he treats staff’s lives, he’ll do it again. Tomorrow is my last day.
So, protect yourself & your family first. And ignore the idiots. This pandemic is real.
– robfromza
6. I’m a COVID ICU nurse. I find it funny when people say something like this. Then when I inform them of where I work, I suddenly have at least six feet all around me and people are staring at me in shock or horror. But, you do what you can to keep yourself and your family safe. Don’t worry about others. If they don’t pay your bills or snuggle up to you at night, why does their opinion matter anyway?
– OGBigcountry
7. I wear a hat in winter to keep my head warm. I treat a mask the same way. I don’t care what other people think, and I have become so used to having a mask with me I feel uncomfortable without one.
– chasepna
8. Keep on doing it. If anyone asks, just respond with “Listen, I don’t tell you how to protect you and your family, don’t start telling me how to protect mine”. Most of the COVID idots I run into are against it because they don’t like being told how to live their lives, so use that mindset against them.
– IceBear14
9. I’ve done Thanksgiving for years. This year, it’s my husband, me, and my elderly mother minus the 8-10 more we usually have. Somehow, I’m overreacting for keeping my mother safe. Hoping it will make them appreciate it once we can go back to me cooking like a crazy person, but I’m not holding my breath.
– Virgowitch
10. I get upset, but you only get to pick so many battles in life. I work in a pharmacy and I’m pretty fascinated by COVID, so I’m constantly reading about the virus, treatment protocols, vaccines, etc.
When I smell people trying to be shitty about the whole thing, I usually rattle off some of the more interesting things I’ve read lately and they usually reply with some stupid conspiracy theory and I just tell them I can’t go down that rabbit hole with them.
Also, while I have the platform, hey, you idiots, the government is pouring billions into facial recognition, a mask is your best defense against COVID and restoring your privacy! Idiots…
– Theoren1
