Freedom, you've gotta give for what you take
I think one of the things that will take a long time after this whole pandemic is to regain my trust in people. It broke severely during lockdown and is not repaired.
As someone who is at risk and in the vulnerable category for COVID, the whole 'freedom' debate to not have a vaccination or not wear a mask or protect others is basically saying 'I don't care if you live or die, I'm gonna do what I want, and screw you'. It's blatant as if they said 'go away and die' to my face. Major lack of respect to me and it is incredibly rude. You bet I take it personally.
Their freedom is my demise, yet weirdly they get all upset and play victim when I don't respect their decision that their 'freedom' - such major life-changing actions like wearing a mask indoors in public spaces or a vaccination, such onerous tasks *eyeroll* - basically stops mine (and might stop my life, let alone freedom!), and makes me have to shield and avoid people like that cos they are most likely carriers.
They cry about free speech and 'MAH FREEDUMB' but what about MY freedom to not get COVID-19 and be seriously ill or worse? Apparently that's not worth shit. Apparently they think it's some Darwinism in action, and cull the herd and screw science or caring.
Sadly the intersection between these people and those who think LGBTQ people or other minorities should also 'go away and die somewhere else' is high also. These people don't give respect, so why are they demanding it in return for nothing? That's not how it works. You've gotta give for what you take, as George Michael sang once.
I don't care for people who are happy for me to die, I don't care for their 'opinion' which really isn't an opinion it's actually bloody-mindedness and lack of empathy and lack of critical thought wrapped up as a hot take. They just don't want to be inconvenienced - but are happy to inconvenience - or kill other people. In that case fuck those people.
I don't care if they die, but I do care if they kill us all on the way.
(reposted from FB - triggered by the outburst of friends of friends there, but also the whole Joe Rogan thing, which Spotify is rightly in damage-control over, but they were 100% fine with before it blew up, so screw them - they pulled my podcast over one copyright track, but apparently spreading lies about COVID, racist and transphobic language is fine?
And some of the podcasters are defending him? It's beyond belief. Shouting fire in a crowded theatre is not free speech, spreading public health lies and starting riots are traditionally where free speech stopped - not anymore it seems.
Did Trump not teach y'all anything?)