The CDC + Keeping Up w/ Social Joneses

 

The CDC says that those individuals who are fully vaccinated do not have to wear masks. It has been interesting to see the variety of responses to this news. Some are simply happy about the announcement but many others are a bit more cautious.  

Here is a collection of some of responses I have seen:

"Look, I want to get back to “normal” as soon as possible but until there’s a HIPPA compliant way to verify someone is vaccinated, I just don’t trust the general public. Cuz have y’all met the general public?" A friend

"Not gonna lie. I am thrilled that we who are fully vaccinated can stop wearing masks all the time, but I love the almost total anoynmity I've enjoyed in public, for the first time in 30 years, during the last 18 months or so." Will Wheaton

"I still want to differentiate between science deniers and believers: variants are still popping up and until we have herd immunity I'm still potentially vulnerable to new variants, even after vaccination. (Maybe it's a low probability you won't be aware of a new vaccine-resistant strain in the news, but that's small consolation if you are one of the first to get it.) So identifying and staying away from anti-vaxxers is still worthwhile to me, they are the most likely vector for anything new, and not wearing masks have been their hallmark. I get the math that my personal risk is extremely low after vaccination, but I prefer to wear a mask to identify and differentiate myself as a science believer and someone safe to be around, which I get is ironic due to my technical lack of need. Besides all that, travel is opening up and there are entire countries with barely anyone vaccinated, some of which can easily travel to the States. As long as there are people like that among us, who need to evaluate their risk level because they are not vaxxed (not by choice), we need a way to signal who is safe to be around and who is not. Again, masks as a symbol, not a need. I think we should all wear masks until none of us have to." A friend of a Facebook friend.

"I agree … I am fully vaccinated, however I have actually gotten used to wearing a mask and it has almost become a safety blanket for me. I think I am not too confident to walk around in public indoors without one for fear that I would be seen as a Trump supporter or anti-masker." A friend

"I think it’s wayyyy too soon! Outside, fine. Inside all vaxxed, also fine. We’re gonna see a huge wave again and again. I also think it will be many variants that send the new waves. I understand it’s a reward for those with vaccines, and why they are doing it. I understand them wanting to send us hope. It’s just too soon." A friend of a Facebook friend.

Personally I am not thrilled because it feels like the CDC is trying to make us all be more social too quickly. I like having a mask to hide behind. I noticed some of this when I was recently part of an online zoom panel where they made us use our cameras. I have only been forced to use my camera 2 or 3 times in the past 1 1/2 years and I have become very comfortable not being seen. 

There is always going to be a range of people, some who can't wait to now go to big events and be seen, and some people who once vaccinated will add 1 or 2 people to their bubble to start and build from there. I think there is going to be collective pressure that we are all supposed to want to be social now, stop working from home, etc but it is important to be able to stand up to that pressure and say NO! 

No Matter What It Might Feel Like Nobody Has To Be More Social Now. Nobody!!! So give yourself a break and simply breathe in and out. "People" will exist out there in that thing called the world no matter how long your journey or if your journey leads you to want to actually be social with them.

Also for those socializing people out there here are some tips:

1. Don't be creepy!!!

2. Don't comment on anyone's weight

No one should have done so pre-Covid, but especially now Don't!!!

3. Don't ask How was your year? Everyone has had a hard year. 

If you want to share some of your struggles go ahead but don't put others on the spot to do so. 

4. Do ask good questions!!

 How is your mental health holding up right now? 

Are you excited to be socializing here or are you feeling more somehow about it?

What is one show/movie/book/song you have seen/read/heard recently?

5. Do understand many people will not want to talk, that is ok, don't push them

For some of us we are going to want to lurk in the background for a while before we are more social

6. Do understand for some of us we have not interacted with people outside of small bubbles for a year so an event with multiple new people will overwhelm us. 

It is not personal. We are not being anti-social. We just need to ease our way into it. 

Sometimes we want to watch a marathon before we run in a marathon, and before running in a marathon we better have started with say a 5k and worked our way up. You may not know it but this event/activity we are at/doing feels like a marathon to us and we might need to take breaks as we go.