Just 8 short months ago, my gf was 100% healthy. She was fully vaxxed and got a booster, so long covid was entirely unexpected. Now she's dealing with a long list of digestive, cardiovascular, breathing and mental problems. We're getting an MRI soon because maybe she got a minor stroke 😔
Recently-ish (don't want to dox myself) schools in my area dropped the mask mandate. Honestly I was terrified for myself but also for my partner. I just imagine if she got covid again, she'd go way worse. Honestly the research seems to confirm this, as well as anecdotal stuff I've seen with people I know.
So I offhandedly told my tutor class (homeroom) that I'm continuing to mask because I have a vulnerable relative at home. Apparently another student lives with a grandparent, and other's dad has diabetes. Holy fucking shit, the 16 year olds all mask up without being told, to this fucking day.
No lie, all the stress is keeping me up over the past weeks, with me coming into work with 2 hours of sleep. I'm falling behind with projects, and NGL I'm becoming a bit nervous about my job. I had to confess to a few managers and department heads what's happening. There has definitely been covid being passed around school, and the absolute fuckheads called white liberal teachers need to pack into small, unventilated meeting spaces mask free. I'm terrified and uncomfortable, individual students and staff have confessed that they're also very uncomfortable, but we're well in the minority.
So I have told my partner's story to 3 managers and 5 friends. Some people have masked up around me, although not all. I feel a bit better. As for the other people that can't be bothered to do the smallest thing to protect my safety and my loved ones, you're not my fucking mate anymore. Thank you Karl Marx for preparing me for what utter sociopaths liberals can be.
But the thing is, I haven't asked my gf's permission. She has enough to deal with right now, with the literal fear of death that she's experiencing each and every day. I feel terrible, I try to keep the story to myself, and I resist the temptation to send out a staff wide email. Hexbear, AITL (Am I The Lib)?
BTW, I want to cry about the whole thing, even though my partner is DEFINITELY getting the worse experience.
Whatever gets the job done.
Fuck. I got lazy and didn't mask at work where I had been in a room alone for the last six weeks. New guy got hired, missed a few days, boss offhandedly tells me that the dude "thinks he has covid" in a nonchalant way, shows up to work hacking and wheezing and now I'm on day five of COVID, my boss is out of the office with COVID, and I've infected my wife with COVID.
So yeah, you're doing the right thing.
Both times I've had COVID were because of work. The first time was because my boss was in denial about having it, so they came in to work every single day, and almost all of us caught it. The second was someone who felt sick, got tested, and then kept working for like two days without saying anything while they waited for their results. As with the first case, almost everyone caught it
I have a relative who had heart and lung damage before getting Covid and they're now basically ready to die because their quality of life has degraded so much. It really grinds my gears hearing people say it's like the cold or flu still, and people wearing masks at all is becoming rarer everyday.
People tell me that masks don't work, or they're not that effective. I'm like, "MOTHERFUCKER, YOU DON'T WORK IN PUBLIC HEALTH". Sorry about your relative.
I don't think its shitty. Its the truth. I think people just don't realize the severity of the situation and the fact that it isn't just about themselves as an individual.
I wore my mask at work for a really long time. I still do depending on where I'm going within my workplace. But my coworkers would make comments as to why I was still wearing a mask long after masks were no longer required. I never told them that its because I live with my father who's a senior and in declining health. But I kind of wish I had so that they could have some perspective as to why some people were more protective.
Sad thing is that when we got hit by covid (my dad, sibiling, and myself, but not my mom) it was because a family member decided to visit while having covid despite knowing what the danger of it. It was scary since my dad suffered from pretty bad symptoms. Thankfully he didn't need to go to the hospital since we were able to get some covid medication for him.
But it just highlights how people just don't really think about these things. Sometimes the only option you have is to use the suffering either you or someone close to you is going through to make people aware of whats going on. Sucks, but that's what happens living in such an individualistic society.
it was because a family member decided to visit while having covid despite knowing what the danger of it
Family member or no I think I would have put that fucker in the hospital
Anyone who’s shamed people for wearing masks or knowingly exposed others gets 5 years mandatory re-education
God damn this evil psychopathic death cult of a country
You aren't pity mining, you're pointing out material consequences.
I wear an industrial grade N95. I DON'T eat with the other teachers in the staff room, partly because I fucking hate them. I might get in trouble for it, but I sneakily eat in my classroom with windows open.
Thankfully I'm in my 40s, and I'm used to being burnt by friends. This is cake walk for me.
Can I ask what brand your mask was? I have to visit a hospital sometimes, where many patients sneakily remove their mask until they're told to wear one or get out.
I don't think you've done anything wrong and your story is heartbreaking. All I can say is thank you for caring so deeply. I know you're not a lib, explicitly because you care so deeply. All the libs in my life have moved on and look at me as the weird one. As an immunocompromised individual myself, I thank you. Comrades who care are the only thing keeping me sane.
It is my partner, I think that caring about them is a bit of self interest. Regarding immunocompromised people, I literally don't get why people can't mask to save a life. I'd literally wear high heels to protect strangers. I'm sorry that you're living in hell world :meow-hug:
I'm insanely frustrated for you.
I was extremely cautious with covid for a long time to the point where I'd get into arguments with friends & family who weren't. It was mostly out of solidarity for others as I'm a relatively low risk factor (and because I kinda hate myself lol). But I've totally given up being cautious.
It's selfish of me. But the thing is, now that it's left up to individual discretion and EVERYONE decides to stop wearing masks in my town, what is even the point for me continuing? I know the logic doesn't really follow here (might as well mask up regardless) but the peer pressure is so strong. And I do feel happier when I pretend like it doesn't exist, which I'm sure is a big reason NOBODY here is even thinking of masks.
I'm not trying to defend myself or evade responsibility, more just sharing the perspective of a privileged dumbass like me who has given up. I just wish we had the kind of social consensus required for this.
EDIT: Also I'm really sorry for you and your girlfriend. I hope she makes a full recovery soon. But thank you for sharing, I'm going to be less selfish and make more of an effort after reading this.
I'm blaming you.It seems like most of the West is just going, literally, mask off. Schools are sometimes a bit better, if only because we're quasi academic. Anyhow, I think that capitalism has destroyed our sense of social solidarity in the West, and often we're pointed out as weird for giving a shitYeah my family truly made me feel like a psycho. I'm weak willed and it wore me down eventually.
Your comment seems sincere & understanding but it starts with "I'm blaming you" which I think might be a typo but if not, I totally don't blame you for blaming me, I deserve it 😭
I'm very sorry comrade. I've reread your comment and my comment several times and "I'm blaming you" doesn't really make sense. I think I meant "I'm blaming the people risking your health", but still the context doesn't explain it.
I'm definitely not blaming you personally. I've been literally losing sleep over covid and hospital visits, and possibly my brain was rot for that sentence. Your type of people is literally my favourite kind of person. I'm sorry I made that comment.
Oh no apology needed at all, I blame myself somewhat. Best of luck & support in your struggles comrade <3
You're not privileged enough that your capillary tissue is made different than OP's gf's. You can still talk yourself into doing the right thing for selfish reasons. Yes, those paper masks everybody threw in the gutter for a year are pointless if it's only you, but you can get good masks now.
It's true, I'm in lots of situations where it wouldn't even be a bother
I think tho when there's hundreds of people unmasked in one place you just start to give up and prefer to 'fit in' rather than 'be safe'.
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i don't think informing people of the consequences of their actions makes you a bad person, no matter the circumstance
I got one person to get vaccinated from constantly mentioning how many of my family members died, so if it works it works.
I'm really sorry for your girlfriend and I hope you two will be ok.
Yeah, my Fiance is immunocompromised, so I've been as hermit mode/masked up as I can. But I work in (union) construction, and its amazing how much of babies people can be. Like, a lot of jobsite still require masks (we do a decent amount of hospital work), but I ALWAYS get comments on other jobs about how we don't need to wear masks here, and just generally treating all safety precausions (covid or otherwise) is big bureaucratic jokes to be suffered through. As if all those safety codes aren't written in blood (covid definitely included).
Yeah, gloves are bulky and annoying, goggles fog up, and it'd be faster to just throw a quick ladder on the wall to change the light. And face masks and handwashing is annoying.
Beats being maimed or dead.
And, of course, other safety precautions are one thing, you're only risking your own hands by using tools unsafely. Pandemics are a whole other issue. As you say, its crazy how 'caring about other people' just seems dead in the west.
It’s not pity mining if it’s a real hardship, you’re just making people aware of how their selfishness affects everyone around them so they can hopefully make a better decision.
I’m so sorry for what you and your partner are going through. Solidarity.
