I’ve received some criticism from people who seem incensed by the fact that I’m not freaking out about the pandemic, and even criticizing the actions of politicians who are far more motivated by winning votes and casting themselves in contrast to the “Disease? What disease?” Orange-utan than by any sincere concern for human life. Some of that is simply because I’m battle-hardened enough not to freak out even when I’m being violently assaulted, and part of it is due to decades of study of mass psychology. See, specimens of homo sapiens are always afraid of things they can’t see (“sex trafficking is hidden in plain sight!” “Fifth column!” “They look just like us!” “Zombies!”) and it doesn’t get much more invisible than viruses. It triggers a very deep and irrational response in the amygdala, which manifests in panic buying, overreaction, innumeracy, etc. So while I don’t judge anyone for being scared (because it’s natural and understandable), I also discount things that are clearly panic in preparing my own mental model of what’s going on. And I’m very frustrated with those who fly up in my face for responding calmly & pragmatically to a situation instead of blindly panicking. It reminds me very much of my 20s, when I used to get called “cold” or even “inhuman” for not being a fucking drama queen about everything. So please do not approach me in that manner; I didn’t tolerate it three decades ago, and I’m a lot more ornery now than I was then.
Invisible Enemies
April 2, 2020 by Maggie McNeill
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You go girl! I’m right there with you!
Keep it same! And 100%!
JJ
Jylly Jakes
On Thu, Apr 2, 2020, 6:04 AM The Honest Courtesan wrote:
> Maggie McNeill posted: “I’ve received some criticism from people who seem > incensed by the fact that I’m not freaking out about the pandemic, and even > criticizing the actions of politicians who are far more motivated by > winning votes and casting themselves in contrast to the “Dis” >
Just popping in to say I feel you (well, to the extent that my rational lady brain has feelings, lol!).
“It triggers a very deep and irrational response in the amygdala, which manifests in panic buying, overreaction, innumeracy, etc.”
For some reason, it’s the innumeracy that is driving me batshit crazy right now.
Please keep on keepin’ on!
Brava, Maggie, as usual.
All of us should use our intelligence, take reasonable precautions, listen to advice that sounds good. But don’t panic, and let’s not go along with herd mentality.
As for politicians, and their henchpeople the police, let’s hope that they will give up their restrictions brought in because of the pandemic after it’s all over. Will they keep on asking people to justify their trips (and other activities) once the disease has run its course?
The first and most important thing when faced with any crisis or emergency is to remain calm and not panic. I keep drilling that home to people, with various results, every chance I get.
I have noticed something which, while not empirically proven and only anecdotal at this point, is that people of a certain political persuasion seem to be both most prone to panic and most intent on spreading that panic, while downplaying or outright denying actual sensible responses to the crisis. I’m not sure whether this tendency is being encouraged by the same segment of the mass media or these people are already prone to such a response, though I strongly suspect it is a confluence of those two elements. You hit it on the head when you say these people see the disease not so much as the virus as (your word) the “Orange-utan.”
I guess I still have some Pollyannish bones in my otherwise cynical body to think that something as big as this crisis might cause people, at least for awhile, to set aside their political venom, but at this point the cynical bones are starting to beat out the others. It is very disappointing to witness, but reality often is that. Meanwhile, all the rest of us can do is stay calm, not panic, take reasonable precautions, hold things steady as they go, and hope that it is calm and reason, not panic or prejudice, that spread.
Couldn’t have said it better myself! But then you already knew that. ☺
You have done the right thing, and are far more rational than the Rational-only-in-name Wiki. (AKA Conservapedia for Leftists.)
People are freaking out? Must be an US thing. Here (Switzerland), people are calm and collected and are waiting this thing out. Of course, nobody lied to the population about any aspect of this thing here, which may be part of it.
Freaking out over anything and everything is the American way.