Thread by @PeteUK7

Conversation with relative I haven't spoken to in a while. I'm a bit of an outcast because of my strong views on Covid but with my mum being unwell, family are contacting me for updates.
It's such an enigma to me how people's brains work (or don't).
Here's how it went:
1/🧵

Me: I think things started to go downhill for mum when she got shingles.
Rel: Yes I agree. She declined quickly after that.
Me: And people thought it was safe to ignore chicken pox and decades later, it started her demise.
Rel: Yes it lies dormant and can be very serious.
2/

Me: This is why I take Covid seriously. There's a lot we don't know but what we do know from studies urges more caution.
Rel: Well you just have to carry on as normal. When it started, my son worked every day as a key worker. You can't just stop everything indefinitely.
3/

Me: But there's no need to stop everything; it's about taking the right mitigations and using them in schools, HC, workplaces, public transport etc to reduce transmissions.
Rel: Well who do you think would deliver the food you order online if we shutdown all the time?
4/

Me: Why do you keep saying about shutting everything down - I don't think it was even the right way and I disagree with many actions taken.
Rel: So why are you still avoiding everyone?
Me: I don't avoid everyone. I just use precautions & everyone has ignored me because of it.
5/

Rel: Well it's ridiculous to wear masks for visiting your family.
Me: It isn't is none of them care or take any precautions themselves.
Rel: Just forget all this and start living normally again.
Me: Let's change topics. Are you planning to go visit my mum?
6/

Rel: Well not with a norovirus outbreak on the ward. I'm not in the best of health and my immune system is very low. I catch everything that's going.
Me: I have been every day for the last 45 days.
Rel: I thought you'd be staying clear because of your anxiety about infections.
7/

Me: No, I don't have anxiety and I have been taking mitigations. Wearing my respirator at all times and using good sanitation measures for fomite risks. I have no choice but I can make it safer albeit not risk free.
Rel: Well I'll stay away until she's in a safer situation.
8/

Me: Can you not see how this doesn't add up?
Rel: Meaning?
Me: Well you think I am avoiding everyone and have anxiety about infections and yet I'm there every day and you are staying away because you're concerned about catching norovirus.
Rel: Norovirus is nasty though.
9/

Me: And you think Covid is a nothingburger?
Rel: We have to just carry on as normal. As I said, we can't just shut everything down all the time.
Me: Alright. I'll let you know how mum is tomorrow.

This whole thing is just a mind f*ck.
I gave up. People make no sense.
10/end