Rodin’s The Thinker
–This is a plague of biblical proportions. What is God’s point of view?
–When does personal safety become obsessive?
–Is this the Darwinian concept of “thinning the herd”?
–Should Trump be given a pass for his initial failure to address the pandemic appropriately?
–What if the choice is between quarantining and being with family?
–Thus far New York has been the hardest hit by far. Governor Cuomo seemed like the first leader to realize the gravity of the pandemic. Have New Yorkers somehow mishandled their response way more than the rest of us?
–If I was a public health worker, would I have the courage to go to work?
–How confrontational should I be with someone not observing social (I prefer the term physical) distancing with me? Or if I observe it with others?
–Is it okay for me to play golf?
–What is really going on in China?
–How worried should I be about our investments?
–Is it possible to avoid sharp words and angry feelings among quarantinites?
–I’ve gained 3–4 pounds. Am I blowing it?
–Will we have an election? Will it be fair?
–Should I watch Tiger King?
–Is Covid-19 really bringing families together or just accelerating whatever direction they were already headed?
–Aren’t I making a moral decision every time I go out the front door?
–How much sleep is too much sleep?
–Shouldn’t a true patriot want as many people to vote as possible? Isn’t that the foundation of democracy?
–Should parents feel guilty for placating their children with screen time?
–Is a jigsaw puzzle a pleasant diversion or a mindless escape?
–Do we want a cheerleader president?
–How much TV news is too much TV news?
–How long is this going to last?
–What is the best possible outcome of the pandemic?
–If Jesus is with me right here, right now…how can I be more aware of that?
–If I get it, will it kill me? Am I ready to die?
Those are the things I wonder about as I sit inside my house. If you would like to share, I would love to hear your opinions on any of them.
An ye ask, so shall ye receive.
–This is a plague of biblical proportions. What is God’s point of view?
My guess? “It builds character.”
–When does personal safety become obsessive?
When you’re test driving that fallout bunker and suddenly realize you forgot to install a toilet.
–Is this the Darwinian concept of “thinning the herd”?
It would fit in with the theory, yes.
–Should Trump be given a pass for his initial failure to address the pandemic appropriately?
*snorts* Allow me to quote a few Drill Sergeants I know.. “Excuses have a maximum range of exactly zero (bleeping) meters!” ‘Means “no”.
–What if the choice is between quarantining and being with family?
How much do you value your family? If I had to take the hit for mine, I’d go solitary. Then again, it’s easier for me to both say and do.
–Thus far New York has been the hardest hit by far. Governor Cuomo seemed like the first leader to realize the gravity of the pandemic. Have New Yorkers somehow mishandled their response way more than the rest of us?
No. You dumped a highly contagious virus into a large and concentrated population center is pretty much like tossing a match into a barrel of SRB fuel. That they Haven’t had a few million die is impressive.
–If I was a public health worker, would I have the courage to go to work?
I would like to think that highly of you. But that’s me.
–How confrontational should I be with someone not observing social (I prefer the term physical) distancing with me? Or if I observe it with others?
What are you doing out of the house?? O.o
–Is it okay for me to play golf?
I hear Nintendo Wii has an awesome version, so there’s that. If you really wanna do it, find a way that’s safe for others and yourself. I’m flying all over the place and exploring the Milky Way in Elite: Dangerous.
–What is really going on in China?
Dunno, and I’m really not sure I trust any source at this point without going over there myself.
–How worried should I be about our investments?
I’d be looking to buy more as the stock market hits rock bottom.
–Is it possible to avoid sharp words and angry feelings among quarantinites?
It’s actually imperative. The calmer you are, the calmer you’ll be. Panic and fear are both contagious and tend to rebound on themselves. Easiest way, go find a place of solitude. Get away from people, take a break, and get back to them.
–I’ve gained 3–4 pounds. Am I blowing it?
*snorts* No.
–Will we have an election? Will it be fair?
That, right there, is a question a LOT of people are worried about right now. How worried am I? I have a go bag. I’m not quite at the point of ordering MRE style foods, but it’s something I’m keeping an eye on.
–Should I watch Tiger King?
Not if you value your sanity and your lunch staying in your body. Let’s just go with “No” and leave it at that.
–Is Covid-19 really bringing families together or just accelerating whatever direction they were already headed?
Yes.
–Aren’t I making a moral decision every time I go out the front door?
Here’s my card for over-thinkers Anonymous. Depends. How many people are outside?
–How much sleep is too much sleep?
Clinical Depression answer: 14 hours solid is something you have to watch out for. 16 is Bad.
–Shouldn’t a true patriot want as many people to vote as possible? Isn’t that the foundation of democracy?
There are a lot of historians and military types that tend to remember that Hitler was elected too. As was Stalin. And they look at that oath to defend the constitution (not the president) and are quietly worrying.
–Should parents feel guilty for placating their children with screen time?
You show me a parent who knows how to keep their kids occupied without one and I’ll show you an Amish parent.
–Is a jigsaw puzzle a pleasant diversion or a mindless escape?
Yes.
–Do we want a cheerleader president?
No. I want a LEADER as president
–How much TV news is too much TV news?
Did you turn it on? Good. Turn it off. I agree with Pratchett here. “The media is there to tell you what to be afraid of. ”
–How long is this going to last?
Until a vaccine is found.
–What is the best possible outcome of the pandemic?
Humanity pulls its’ head out of it’s sixth point of contact and matures a little.
–If Jesus is with me right here, right now…how can I be more aware of that?
Go to Yosemite. Trust me. Just go to Yosemite. You can’t ignore God there. It’s just not possible. It made a pilgrim out of me.
–If I get it, will it kill me? Am I ready to die?
Maybe. Probably not. You’re still fairly healthy for a guy your age. As for being ready to die.… If you’re not, you have some things that you should be getting around to, and now is a good time. If you’d asked me in my 20s where I thought I’d be by 40, I’d have told you “Dead in the line of duty.” Sad thing is, in my 20s, I was perfectly okay with it.
Dallin, I want to answer all of these, but many of them are far too deep and require intense introspection to resolve within yourself. I feel like anything I tell you will sound trite. That being said, it made me think of this youtube channel I watch (called 2 minute papers) where this guy explains complicated math papers about computer simulations. He gets really excited and usually ends with “WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE” and it get’s me excited about this stuff that I will never really understand. I think that if you have a lot of days like that, where you are just struck by how lucky you are to be alive, than you shouldn’t be afraid of dying, because you really took advantage of the time you had on earth.
You should watch Tiger King, it’s stranger than fiction, but it’s a bit of a tragedy.
Jig-saw puzzles are a mindless distraction, until all the border pieces get placed and your wife is 10x faster than you are, then they become a mindless frustration.
Also, don’t worry about gaining 34 pounds, I have only gained 15 so let me know if you want some tips to help you “flatten the curve.”
If Jesus is in the room with you, you better be 6 feet apart.
Sorry for all the jokes, I guess it’s my coping mechanism for all of this. Be safe, be well, and know that every day is a really great day to be alive.