Thread by @RexHuppke

1/ WARNING: Extended rant.

I live in a state (Illinois) that has taken coronavirus seriously and in a metropolitan area (Chicago) that has had serious and smart restrictions. But things have reopened a good amount, and what I'm seeing is confounding.

2/ This morning I drove past a baseball field and there was a little league game starting. None of the kids were wearing masks and they were huddled around each other making no effort to distance. None of the coaches were wearing masks or distancing. None of the parents either.

3/ I see high school kids all over the place congregating, and the vast majority are not wearing masks. Kids in our area are hanging out mask-less and not social distancing.

What the hell do people not understand about this? If you can't socially distance, you wear a damn mask.

4/ If my kid is being smart and wearing a mask and your kid isn't, you're putting my fucking kid at risk. You're putting my entire family at risk. And your family. And every single person your kid, you, me, my family and your family come into contact with after that.

5/ This is no different than the push for condom use during the AIDS epidemic, when there were PSAs saying that when you have sex with someone, you're having sex with every person that person has slept with.

THIS. IS. NO. DIFFERENT.

6/ If you're around someone, you're effectively around anyone that person has been near. You have to assume the worst, which isn't a big deal because, like putting on a damn condom, that steps you take to protect yourself are not very onerous. Wear a mask. Keep your distance.

7/ I hear endless griping and howling about schools reopening. Whatever the numbers in whatever state you happen to be in, if people can't handle THE MOST BASIC STEPS of slowing the spread of this virus, you're not going to see schools open anytime soon.

8/ Ignorance and arrogance are this virus's two best friends. And people who just want go about their lives are inviting the damn virus to stick around and keep messing up everyone else's lives.

That pisses me off.

9/ Because I want to get back to some form of normal just as bad as everyone else. But people who don't take these simple steps, people who can't follow the most basic rules meant to protect everyone, are going to prolong this mess for god knows how long.

10/ It's so dumb. It's so selfish. And it's utterly inexcusable.

Stay socially distanced. Wear a damn mask.

That's it. That's all anyone's asking.

Anything less than that is effectively a "Fuck you!" to everyone else.

END