Thread by @participha

I've been thinking these days: I hope we learn. I hope we learn about solidarity and care.

I've also been hoping: that we can carry what we learn forward with us, into the future. And wondering: How?

Here's a nice allegory for the times.

#COVID19 #thread

In Vietnam, a couple of streets in Hanoi had to be locked down around the contagion of patient 17. Upon this, people started stockpiling food, the supermarkets were soon struggling, not only in this area, but also in other parts of the city and the country.

The government's reaction?

They distributed food—free—to the people in the locked down streets. Everybody calmed down.

To a Western mind, this action might seem surprising.

I think it shows a case of advanced human knowing.

What this kind of action does, is to recognise—precisely—what matters.

It shows an understanding of people's concerns, and an understanding that it is these concerns that require the response — that the concerns need to be responded to precisely as they are.

Assuaging this worry directly told people "here is food. There will be food, you will have food, you don't need to worry".

This was what people needed. To know that there will be provisions.

They could stop the multiply dangerous behaviour of overrunning supermarkets.

Why is this an example of advanced human knowing? Because it is a direct relational approach that starts from and responds to people's needs. It sees, and deals with, what matters.

This calmed people down, meaning they could continue to "go on with each other", to live together.

They could stop endangering themselves and each other.

Contrast it with policing stockpiling, or with driving up prices.

Which worry do such approaches assuage? None. Instead, they instill fear and further worry. This creates only new layers of very legitimate concerns! Dangerous concerns, divisive concerns.

Concerns that block people's knowing how to go on with each other.

This is what I hope we can learn, and carry forward with us into the future:

To see what matters. To see that concern and care show clearly what is needed.

The lines between care and concern are direct. We (often) don't need complicated responses, stark measures.

See the worry, respond to the concern, give what is needed (if and when you can).

Instill trust.

We depend on each other. Apart from needing sustenance and shelter, we need to know how to go on with each other.

#COVID-19

Language matters in this. I would strongly suggest calling it #PhysicalDistance, #SafeDistance, #ProtectiveDistance, not #SocialDistance.

#COVID-19

This story from Hanoi is reported here: (around min 7:20).

I got it from Ezequiel, for those of you who know who I'm talking about :).

For some philosophical readings on advanced human knowing:
Ontological intimacy:
researchgate.net/publication/32…
Enactive care and life:
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.11…

Habits of transformation:
elenaclarecuffari.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/cuffar…
Loving and knowing:
link.springer.com/article/10.100…

Linguistic Bodies:
mitpress.mit.edu/books/linguist…