Thread by @petrosoniak

Thread
A byproduct of the confusing #ontario govt #covid19 response is “well my kids are in school, so I can't limit my contacts, its pointless”.

This is also known as “all or nothing” cognitive distortion. Specifically, it is evaluating ones life in extremes
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All or nothing in reference to #covid19 behavior is "if you can’t fully socially isolate then what’s the point at all".

It's very easy to fall into this way of thinking.

psychologytoday.com/us/blog/turnin…
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For example, my kids go to school, so they are exposed to ~20-30 people/day. An all or nothing approach says it doesn’t matter how I socialize because I can’t achieve perfection (isolate the way public health advises) since my kids are in school.

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We fail to realize however that [exposure to people over time] is a key measure of my risk of contracting the disease. Hence, even while I keep my kids in school, our family will have an overall lower risk if my wife and I limit our social interactions

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This is akin to a budget. Just because you overspent a little on a purchase, doesn’t mean your budget is shot for the year and you should just spend everything you have. Rather think of other ways to save.

blogs.lse.ac.uk/covid19/2020/0…

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Public health & govt officials need to acknowledge how ppl are doing even if they haven't achieved perfection e.g. for those with kids in school, we know your risk is a bit higher, but limiting it elsewhere will benefit you.

Lets keep encouraging ppl to do the right thing.