The not so normal new normal

[@Off_the_clock_astrophysicist]

Thank you all for commenting. I am really trying to figure out the human psychology of it all. Keep them coming. Remember to be kind and civil.

[@lordjim3109]

Do you think telling you the truth is being unkind? I hope not.

[@Off_the_clock_astrophysicist]

@@lordjim3109 No, truth can be told kindly.

[@lloydshaw6534]

I am sorry to say but it all boils down to entitlement. We all grew up in a relatively disease free environment and have nothing else to compare it to. I am lucky and from working with ESR teams in crisis situations in developing countries, plus doing so many cases on my mortuary table of people who have carried multiple diseases for decades, I KNOW how lucky we are. But it is NOT luck, it was the Risks and Sacrifices made by the Greatest Generation and Silent Generation that gave us that reality. It is just unfortunate that so many people were "too good" and obviously thought themselves above such actions as" paying it forward and paying it back. " Eg... Our troops, both Men and Woman took 6 brand new vaccines rushed into production for WW2, because we lost more people to disease in WW1 than bombs and bullets. They got 6 untested shots, to go actually get shot at, so we can have the freedom people love to go on about. Just ponder on that for a moment. The excuses the anti-vaxxer / anti-effort brigade gave were weak and endless. Calling people names for doing the very type of thing our past generation did ( so their fake respect every Memorial Day needs to be remembered and called out. Skin deep Patriotism ) They found putting on a mask too much effort, it is that simple. It says it all. . Past Generations would have been disgusted at what happened, and the people who acted so badly. I am disgusted at them now, as all community spirited people should be in my opinion. And they WILL act worse next time around, because they got away with it. So this fight is not over.

[@Off_the_clock_astrophysicist]

@@lloydshaw6534 Interesting perspective. I have felt the lack of effort, the giving up and the making excuses. To a puzzling level.

[@khaoscero]

nobody outside the US still wears masks or even hears about boosters existing.

[@evieblessed]

UK is still pushing boosters.

[@Off_the_clock_astrophysicist]

@khaoscero I just saw a story out of South-Korea. They are rolling out the 2024-2025 boosters, but only for those over 65, which makes sense.

[@batcactus6046]

Nothing is more toxic than constant fear.

[@ildiko1vt]

Interesting that you have removed my comment along with the link I sent you for your education. How can an educator be so close minded is beyond me? Education is meant to make one think and look outside the box. Sorry to hear your perspective.

[@Off_the_clock_astrophysicist]

I did not remove anything, must have been KZbin.

[@stephenkolostyak4087]

@@Off_the_clock_astrophysicist KZbin deletes pretty much everytrhing that isn't part of their "approved message"

[@ildiko1vt]

@@Off_the_clock_astrophysicist very strange. I tried to post a few links to other avenues of information for you. Please do some research about the mNRA shots that Dr. Robert Malone actually developed and later spoke against. Unfortunately, the media flags any content that is against the narrative of what they are told to push. Best to do your own research, and listen to your body and gut.

[@ildiko1vt]

@@stephenkolostyak4087 it appears to be so these days. :(

[@Off_the_clock_astrophysicist]

@@ildiko1vt I saw things about the mNRA vaccines and out of an abundance of caution, I never took one. There are alternatives.

[@freesmoke8088]

The only thing masks do to prevent transmission is reinforce fear in a manner akin to tying a piece of string around one’s finger. It also perhaps provides an optic element to your contagiousness. However, people don’t necessarily assume you’re sick when they see you wearing a mask, because if you’re sick, you should stay home.

[@Off_the_clock_astrophysicist]

I mainly wear my mask to protect myself, though I am sure it also helps prevent transmission. There is nothing that protects 100% against a virus (aside from complete isolation), it's a matter of layers. Layer 1, limit exposure. Layer 2, as much fresh air as possible. Layer 3, filter with a mask. Safety measures do add up. It's a shame that in the US, masks have been vilified so much.

[@hime273]

​@@Off_the_clock_astrophysicist Here's an experiment you can do, to prove how little masks work... Grab some cans of spray paint or a paint sprayer, and paint whatever you feel like painting. Remove the mask, and the paint on your face will show how little masks work. Even Respirators don't completely seal, unless you use an expensive Respirator, with an oxygen tank.

[@privateprivate8366]

I work for a global pharmaceutical company and I don’t think anyone cares anymore. My very limited opinion is that, sure, people can die from it still, wear a mask, come to work, it’s about the money, never expect WFH ever again, even if the numbers tick up again. I know I have a vested interest in WFH, as an introvert and I may be the only one I know, who’s never had it, I know they wouldn’t care, if people started falling over dead again and what’s worse, is that this seeps into the mindsets of most average people.

[@Off_the_clock_astrophysicist]

In my trade, many meetings never came back to face to face. As much as people complain about Zoom meetings, they like the convenience. Zoom meetings are better attended than face to face meetings. I find that I am working in a hybrid mode. I also hold my office hours in a hybrid mode. I get a lot of students in my "Zoom office".

[@privateprivate8366]

@@Off_the_clock_astrophysicist we have 1 WFH day/week. I sometimes see coworkers wearing masks. Don’t know if they have COVID or live with someone who does. But, as much as I also don’t know if someone is sick, when I run to the store, I don’t like that my attendance is required, based upon a type of lying by omission scenario. We had a coworker die from it. But, as we’ve come to know, most businesses probably feel that, if someone comes to work sick, it’s none of your business, even if it kills you or your transmit it to someone in your family. The cost of being dependent upon a paycheck. For that, maybe I should say I finally got it, if it would get me any extra sick days at all.

[@Off_the_clock_astrophysicist]

@@privateprivate8366 You can protect yourself by masking. In the education sector, we were sent back into classrooms while the rest of the world was still on shut downs. It was very stressful. I survived it all by masking so no-one can convince me that masks don't work. I am very disappointed in the CDC dropping all guidelines. The reason given for doing that was that "people don't listen anyway". I am not joking. I do my due diligence. When I caught it, I taught remotely when I was well enough to do that, then I masked for a week after I got back. It wasn't required, but something I felt I had to do for my students. I get to make decisions (within parameters) as to whether class is remote or in person. I heard of private companies forcing people to come to work even though they were active carriers. Apalling.

[@sdrc92126]

My college roommate's healthy girlfriend died from the flu.

[@privateprivate8366]

@@Off_the_clock_astrophysicist and I don’t want to mask every workday, because I’m forced to return to the office. But, I know this is all about money, control, power, and grooming people to feel nothing’s wrong and, if you cannot be groomed, suffer through, even psychologically. Although I gather most who go off grid never wanted the shot, they at least wanted to escape this absolute control. Difficult for me as, I don’t think most of my coworkers see this. It’s what happens, when something is normalized. I think COVID is probably treated like a few things nowadays. That includes the number of people who go hungry, the number of unsupported elderly, and the increasing number of homeless. They just become invisible.

[@blaisemorris1301]

Delusional!

[@minivakviv4937]

My friends 27 y.o. son died after second vxx. Myocarditis. My 24 y.o. used to be very healthy, sporty girl is constantly sick after 3d vxx ( she was working as a nurse at the hospital and it was mandatory for personal) . Always fatigue, her immune system got damaged too and many other weird stuff. I had no vxx and didn’t catch COVID even though my own immune system is compromised… ( I had a severe accident many years ago)

[@Off_the_clock_astrophysicist]

@minivakviv4937 Sorry to hear. I am ambivalent about vaccines. For younger people, there are no benefits.

[@tchrisou812]

I live in Ohio, and according to the CDC, the positivity rate for the entire state is 8.2%. I had no idea until this video. You are seeing a peak in your area? Where do you live?

[@Off_the_clock_astrophysicist]

Pennsylvania, and we have come down from the peak. We are down to orange level on my scale.

[@andrewyeager9786]

Pine Needle Tinture or NAC could be the antidote *

[@tchrisou812]

@@andrewyeager9786 Any evidence supporting this?

[@farmersmith7057]

You were vaccinated and yet your immune system couldn’t handle a much weaker Covid strain (you were out of commission for 2 weeks).

[@Off_the_clock_astrophysicist]

Yes, I am not a spring chicken. Hence all the monitoring and measures. I might be more relaxed about the whole thing if I were in my 20's even though I see students and younger colleagues who also get quite sick. I think it's just a nasty virus.

[@lordjim3109]

@@Off_the_clock_astrophysicist Stay in your home and never go out. Don`t see anybody in person, just communicate online. Easy. You`ll be safe.

[@juliesharp5077]

​@@Off_the_clock_astrophysicistwell I presume your students are vaxed right? Did you know average age of death from COVID was 82? I am sure you know the vax doesn't stop transmission so why did they get vaxed anyway?

[@Off_the_clock_astrophysicist]

@@lordjim3109 The point I am trying to make is that there is room between what you describe and pure carelessness.

[@Off_the_clock_astrophysicist]

@@juliesharp5077 I actually don't know, it's illegal to ask. And at this stage of the pandemic boosters only make sense for the elderly anyway. Focusing on deaths is another messaging mistake of this pandemic. Living in good health is what it should be about.

[@SmokeyGurl]

I think there's more to life than hyper-focusing on the things that will kill you. We all die eventually.

[@Off_the_clock_astrophysicist]

True, and I get that. But for me, I want to die later rather than sooner, and more importantly, I want long years of health. Without obsessing over it or rendering my life so spartan that it is no longer worth living, I pay attention to things that could cause me to spend my days in ill health.

[@Neilpaige]

Yogurt every day ! Worked for me , so far ☺

[@Off_the_clock_astrophysicist]

When we went on lockdowns, the first thing I did was make a fresh, big batch of kimchi. I was out of kimchi, I had time to make some, but also because of the vitamin C and other immune system boosters kimchi contains. I like the holistic approach to health, where one keeps a good baseline via a healthy diet and lifestyle. With covid, though, I like to take additional measures.

[@Ziegfeld-z2x]

Dear, you are totally brainwashed…

[@Off_the_clock_astrophysicist]

In what way? I am truly curious. I am trying to figure out what people are thinking.

[@keggz01]

​@@Off_the_clock_astrophysicist the whole cvid thing is so obviously BS, you'd have to be brainwashed to be saying what you're saying 😂

[@swale6985]

​@@Off_the_clock_astrophysicist what we're thinking is, you're wasting energy on government propaganda. Go live your life.

[@andrewyeager9786]

NAC or Pine Needle Tinture could be the antidote ♤

[@minivakviv4937]

Don’t brag about good health. It’s so easy to loose it when you least expected… I was not even 18 ( almost ) when motorcycle drove over me. My neck got stuck inside the wheel and made a full circle. Later I had a print left from the wheel on my neck. Many other injuries. The worst was a head injury… Later in life I had many other incidents where I was almost dead… And now when I see someone who seem think that they always will be healthy… When we’re talking about such a fragile matter…

[@minivakviv4937]

Is it only me find her a bit strange…???

[@exloopy]

Thank you for sharing your story. So many comments here illustrate your point about cognitive dissonance. There is a real fracture in public ability to think critically, and a worrying rise in misinformation. I look forward to more of your content.

[@keggz01]

Yes there is, if you think critically, you wouldn't get the jab and you wouldn't wear a nask

[@jwilson2500]

​@@keggz01 what people always mean when they say, "reasonable," is what they themselves think. Even if their thoughts originate in a public relations office. 😢