“From the beginning, there were those who refused to don masks, and many others wore them improperly. Soon San Franciscans abandoned their masks … By the time the epidemic came to an end that spring, 45,000 San Franciscans were sickened and 3,000 died over the course of these two waves of the [1918] influenza pandemic, resulting in one of the highest death rates in the country.”
—Nancy Bristow, TIME
“The model, from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, now forecasts 137,000 deaths in the United States by August [2020], up from an earlier prediction of about 134,000.”
—Christina Maxouris and Holly Yan, CNN
I went to a garden center on Sunday.
I wore my mask. I tried to keep at least six feet away from people.
I felt like I was darting through a haunted house because people kept getting closer and closer to me even if I moved.
It was a shit show! Half the people weren’t wearing masks. They brought their babies and kids and let them run around. Most of the other people wearing masks were pulling them down or didn’t have them over their noses.
I really regret going out.
I feel stupid for doing it. I gave people way too much credit.
I left after less than ten minutes because I just didn’t feel safe and I wasn’t enjoying myself. I’m probably fine, but I’m still worried.
Aaron suggested going Friday morning. I might.
But honestly I’m so turned off by it now and the business absolutely could be doing better. They could be limiting the number of people who come in and turning away families with kids. They could be requiring masks. They didn’t even have sanitation stations for their garden carts. Now I’m just pissed and I don’t even want to give them my business.
There are waaaayyyyy too many people walking around in public hanging out in large groups. No masks. Closer than six feet.
I want to support local businesses, but I just can’t. Unless it’s a pick up order within a mile of my house (Dillinger’s, Grand Vin, Left Bank) I won’t be going anywhere.
It’s going to have to be all delivery and mail order.
TJ Maxx today in North Central Arkansas
What’s your impression? pic.twitter.com/czQWmdXi6F— chickmom (@Marsha34) May 9, 2020
Businesses have a responsibility to mitigate the risks of this disease and when they don’t, they’re contributing to and encouraging irresponsible behavior.
Everyone thinks this is a free for all now and it’s gonna blow up.
Truth is that all the people who are acting like this were never respectful or courteous in the first place.
They just didn’t previously encounter any barriers to convenience or consumption.
Service industry workers were always dirt under their boots but now that they’re being told they have to wait or follow certain SIMPLE FUCKING REQUESTS they’re showing all their cards.
These assholes are never going to learn until they’re struggling in a hospital bed or watching someone close to them die from it.
I wish it didn’t have to be like this, but is this what it’s going to take?
—emily duchaine
Flommist Emily Duchaine lives in the Pacific Northwest. She likes to drink mead, learn about sharks, and listen to the Talking Heads. She pretends to be a professional businesswoman most days. Copyright © 2020 Emily Duchaine. Pictured: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Berlin Street Scene (detail), 1913, source.
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