Two days ago my wife asked me, “You know, because of your views you have lost four very good friends (she lists four families we have known for years and gone on multiple holidays with). Is that a price you are willing to pay?” My response, “Yes.”
Thanks, Tom for letting me know that I am not alone. The worst is the question: what is the social cost that we are willing to pay for our own integrity.
Thank you for capturing an important facet of my day-to-day experiences and reflections. I think you make an important suggestion -> that we (who saw through the fake narratives) will have to take the lead in sorting out how we relate to our friends and loved ones who did not see thru the narratives, especially those who took up the more malevolent views about dissenters, noncompliers, and adversaries. I find myself hanging back, hoping that they will start to understand what happened and what role they played. The reality, as you suggest, is that very few ever will - and it’s up to me to sort out if or how we will relate to each other in the present.
I completely agree with your approach. I never walk away from relationships (unless they are abusive). I tend to be the one who is dropped, not the one doing the dropping. If I know from experience that a particular conversation will not go anywhere, I just don't go there. If I am provoked, I joke my way out of it. The point of this post was to make a stand.
I have not heard from my sister yet and I am a bit apprehensive waiting for the moment, but I believe that I was fair.
I know some people like this. But I have a young family member who defiantly, against my urging, got the jab. I don't know how many of my family – this is my dearest family, not the estranged part – got the jab. I'm afraid to ask. Most people who got the jab have had no problems; most have not continued getting any more jabs. They were deceived but now they are apparently less deceived, maybe that's the cumulative effect of the noise that dissenters like me made and that they hated last year but now maybe they have doubts. I don't want my granddaughter, my daughter, my son, to suffer and die and be crippled because maybe I didn't shout loud enough or maybe I shouted too loud. That's all I know. I hope, that's all I can do. I did my best, I did my worst...
Oof!! Yeah we lived through something completely insane - and now we are pretending nothing happened. We need a full public review of what we learned. I dont think people are ready yet. Perhaps soon.
I have come to terms with the personal part of covid I think by realizing how weak and confused many people are. That does not make them less dangerous, perhaps more so! But this is the human condition - those who have courage and the moral high ground are the minority.
Zork that is poignant.
Two days ago my wife asked me, “You know, because of your views you have lost four very good friends (she lists four families we have known for years and gone on multiple holidays with). Is that a price you are willing to pay?” My response, “Yes.”
It's painful nonetheless.
Thanks, Tom for letting me know that I am not alone. The worst is the question: what is the social cost that we are willing to pay for our own integrity.
I like to think that empty space will be filled with new people, who fit you better and bring you joy.
Thank you for capturing an important facet of my day-to-day experiences and reflections. I think you make an important suggestion -> that we (who saw through the fake narratives) will have to take the lead in sorting out how we relate to our friends and loved ones who did not see thru the narratives, especially those who took up the more malevolent views about dissenters, noncompliers, and adversaries. I find myself hanging back, hoping that they will start to understand what happened and what role they played. The reality, as you suggest, is that very few ever will - and it’s up to me to sort out if or how we will relate to each other in the present.
I completely agree with your approach. I never walk away from relationships (unless they are abusive). I tend to be the one who is dropped, not the one doing the dropping. If I know from experience that a particular conversation will not go anywhere, I just don't go there. If I am provoked, I joke my way out of it. The point of this post was to make a stand.
I have not heard from my sister yet and I am a bit apprehensive waiting for the moment, but I believe that I was fair.
I know some people like this. But I have a young family member who defiantly, against my urging, got the jab. I don't know how many of my family – this is my dearest family, not the estranged part – got the jab. I'm afraid to ask. Most people who got the jab have had no problems; most have not continued getting any more jabs. They were deceived but now they are apparently less deceived, maybe that's the cumulative effect of the noise that dissenters like me made and that they hated last year but now maybe they have doubts. I don't want my granddaughter, my daughter, my son, to suffer and die and be crippled because maybe I didn't shout loud enough or maybe I shouted too loud. That's all I know. I hope, that's all I can do. I did my best, I did my worst...
Thank you James, it is comforting to know that I am not alone and have people out there who know exactly what I mean.
Excellent post
Well written
I totally agree. You will probably relate to this very much: https://vicparkpetition.substack.com/p/australias-fault-lines-will-we-ever
Oof!! Yeah we lived through something completely insane - and now we are pretending nothing happened. We need a full public review of what we learned. I dont think people are ready yet. Perhaps soon.
I have come to terms with the personal part of covid I think by realizing how weak and confused many people are. That does not make them less dangerous, perhaps more so! But this is the human condition - those who have courage and the moral high ground are the minority.
The path of the hero is lonely.