The "Corona" Way of Life...

"The news media has also been guilty of spreading disinformation, which is even more dangerous. I also stand by my comment about how the common flu causes tens of thousands of deaths each year and nobody talks about this."

To point out, you are also spreading disinformation as well, in a way. You talk about the regular 'flu killing "per year." And this corona virus hasn't been going on all that long. You can't really compare the two right now. To do so, at this time, could seem disengenuous. Just thought I'd mention that. With people repeatedly saying that particular thing, it could cause others to not be fully aware of just how serious the problem actually is and therefore not prepare themselves properly. Which is worse - dying from some virus or starving to death because you didn't have enough food when you needed it? Is there a high risk for either one? I'd say it's a slim possibility, but if the possibility exists, it's something to always be prepared for.

You also talk about "hoarding." I bought toilet paper a year ago and am still using that supply, because most of it is still left. Nobody accused me of "hoarding" back then. I wasn't hoarding it at all - I was merely stocking up on it. What's the difference between stocking up and "hoarding?" I feel it's all about "perspective." Some people have fears right now, (not me), of running out of what they might need because they're never prepared for an emergency. I live in "tornado alley," and have learned to be prepared for emergencies. Because I'm always prepared, I don't consider it "hoarding." But, I suppose the fearful people who aren't prepared have to come up with some kind of "detracting" sort of name to label others with because those people might have bought the last supply of an item, leaving no more on the shelves for anybody else. With some people calling other people hurtful names like "hoarders," I think this can also lead to problems; such as keeping people divided. We're all human and we live in this world together. We should think about what we say and do because we're all stuck on this planet and have to live together. Hopefully, in peace and harmony. So, when you see people using terms like "hoarders," think hard before you repeat it.

I think the world is going to be changed after this. For the better or for the worse - nobody really knows. But a good thing to do is live by the old adage, "hope for the best, prepare for the worst." I hope everybody comes through this all right. Already, lots of people haven't made it through, but we need to stay vigilant. In that way, nothing can bring our positive attitude down.

The governor of Illinois did the same thing for us here in this state on Sunday. That effectively put me out of work because I can't book any more gigs in bars - they're all closed, and can't shoot any weddings because large groups of people can't congregate. But, I'll be all right. I just worry about the people that can't withstand things like this. It's a bad deal, but I hope everybody pulls together (in spirit and not publicly! Ha ha.) and we come out on the other side safely.

"To point out, you are also spreading disinformation as well, in a way. You talk about the regular 'flu killing "per year." And this corona virus hasn't been going on all that long. You can't really compare the two right now. To do so, at this time, could seem disengenuous. Just thought I'd mention that."

I created this article over 5 days ago; a lot has changed in 5 days. I admit that I should have waited until the full extent of this virus was known. As of today, we know that it not only hits the old, but also the young, even if not as harshly impacted as with the old and infirm. I am glad that schools were the first things to be closed, because that is where a lot of transmission has occurred with common colds and flu in the past. I don't have an issue with the guidelines issued by the government to keep people from congregating in large groups, nor with mandates to keep all venues closed that harbor large groups of people in close quarters, like dine-in restaurants. It is very hard on those particular people (like you) who work in these environments and have been temporarily laid off their jobs as a result. This is why the federal government is intensively working on a bill to relieve people in this position. I hope that it helps.

Regarding your comment on hoarding, you think it a "hurtful" name and ask me what is the difference between "stocking up and hoarding". Well, I'll tell you. Stocking up is preparing for the future, and you are not depleting resources from the store faster than the store can replenish them. Hoarding is a panic response from so many people at once that the supplies cannot be replenished as fast as hoarded. This results in some people gaining an overabundance of supplies that many other people cannot access because supply is gone. This creates panic on the part of those people who did not have a chance to get enough supplies for themselves; so the cycle continues until you have a situation as idiotic as the artificial toilet paper shortage we have now. "Stocking up" is good, "hoarding" is bad. It stands to reason that if everyone "stocked up" in preparation for any potential disaster, we wouldn't see this sort of behavior (at least not in the volume that we see now). No, it is not divisive to call people hoarders who are doing it. It may just shame them into doing the right thing and be more thoughtful of others.

And yes, I agree with you, this shared experience is going to change our society, hopefully for the better. If we succeed in beating back Coronavirus enough to not overwhelm our hospitals like it did in Italy, we may just have a plan for future pandemics that can work.

The hospitals in Italy are still completely overloaded and even more so,
the staff is reaching its limits and going far beyond them.
But this is now not only the case in Italy, but also in many other countries.
In Alsace, a part of France that borders on Germany,
the situation is also so "devastating" that serious cases have been transferred
to neighbouring Germany.

Of course, this will only continue until these capacities are needed
for the own population. And that may well be soon ...
but it does not have to be.
As far as the so-called (that's what we call it) hoarding and collecting
of food is concerned, you have to find a framework that sets a limit.
Not all citizens can go to the shop at eight o'clock in the morning to meet their needs.
This is fundamental and should be clear to every citizen:
you should always have some supplies at home. This has nothing to do
with a virus or the fear that nothing is left in the supermarket.
There are other scenarios that "threaten" us.
What would happen in case of a heavy blizzard or in general,
a storm and a related power failure lasting several days?!
That would be a case that can hit some people faster than you think.
Everyone should be able to take care of themselves at home for at least a few days.
This includes flashlights, candles and also a radio with battery operation.
All these things are things that we don't pay attention to in our "good times"
and now something happens that restricts and even reprimands us
in our comfortable zone. This overtaxes some people and completely switches
off rational thinking here and there. Something like a panic develops.
But that's nothing compared to the situation when a supermarket would
no longer be open... a scenario you'd rather not think about.

One "plan" would be to help now those who can no longer help themselves.
Who are locked up at home because they are afraid to go outside the door
and even shy away from the supermarket. I know that people are dying at home.
Often alone and lonely.
Only if we pay more attention to our neighbours, especially in such times...
what they do, how they behave and what they need or can give.
Let's do it together.
It is the press that tells us about how people resist against these simple rules like
the ban on assembly.
The press shows us pictures of people fighting over toilet paper and it is escalating.
In my opinion, the press does not radiate the calm to the population that one
would wish for. This has always been so and always will be so...
but each individual should be clear about how he behaves and what he does.