1. The new normal?
The phrase “new normal” is now used more and more frequently, and several countries are even using it officially in various decrees. What they mean, it seems to me, is that after the pandemic, our lives will change for good. But why would it, and most importantly how?
“The world is going to need new forms of entertainment that don’t require packing into bars or movie theaters,” Bloomberg writes. Other sources are projecting a new world where human interaction is drastically decreased, yet others are sure that working from home is going to be the “new normal”.
Bullshit! I just don’t want a world like that.
I want a world in which I can meet not only my close friends and relatives, but strangers too! I am one of those hundreds of millions who want to have first hand experience in different cultures. I am one who wants to talk to people whether it is a local farmer in a small town in Sumatra, a complete stranger in a bus stop in Paris or a fellow traveller that I meet on a long distance bus trip in Vietnam.
I want to be able to go to busy and popular restaurants. To bars packed with people. To theatres, concert halls and even protest, joining tens of thousands of people who want to express their opinion that I share.
I don’t know how many people go to restaurants solely for the purpose of eating. Are there any at all? How many people around the world would go to a nice café only because they are thirsty and want to drink a glass of fruit juice? Simple eateries are of course different, but real restaurants and cafés do not serve the purpose of feeding customers, and customers expect much-much more than food. And the number one among these expectations, I am absolutely sure, is the presence of other customers – rich people for some, hipsters for others, backpackers for yet others. Or would you go to a restaurant or a café or a bar which is entirely empty except yourself?
Packed bars and packed theatres are essential for many people, young and old, similarly to a million other packed places like sports events, concerts of any kind, and the list goes on forever. Why? Because we are humans. And one of the very basic human needs is company. Yes, the company of strangers, too. Sometimes a lot of them!
2. What’s in a name? Do NOT do social distancing please!
“Social distancing” is the official name, it seems, for measures to stop the spread of the virus by keeping a distance from other people. Officially, it seems to have two names: social distancing and physical distancing, both are used on websites like that of the CDC in the US.
But I have yet to see a news report, an article or TV coverage where they use both. In a hundred per cent of the cases, I only saw/heard “social distancing”.
You might say this is just a minor question, and that I shouldn’t make a mountain out of a molehill. But I think the name is awfully important. In a time when the entire world is under quarantine, we should emphasize in any way we can, that social interaction and human contacts are more important than ever. With whoever is available.
There are huge numbers of people living alone, and not only old people, and not only in the western world. We should give them advice on how to stay in contact with other people, now that they don’t have the possibility to go out and chat at least with the shop assistant or the vendor at the market or whoever they can meet outside. Even simply walking among other people helps their mood and reduce anxiety.
3. Cities are for people, not for wild goats
There are now dozens (or hundreds?) of images posted online, which show wild animals roaming the city streets and city parks, from all over the world. Probably because these animals saw no danger of humans there, so they simply wondered around city centres in search of food.
Most of the reactions that I saw on Twitter and Facebook were something like “It makes be happy”, “well done, this is wonderful” or something similar.
I have no idea how anyone can be happy to see empty city streets, which have become so deserted (of people), that wild animals feel safe to walk down the once busy avenues. Have you just lost your minds? Are you happy to see people, including yourself, closed into a prison of your own apartment? Are you happy to see all the businesses closed? Are you happy to see that people are losing their jobs and losing their income, endangering their survival? Are you happy to see people unable to meet anyone, and falling into deep depresssion?
There should be a limit even for those who worry solely about the wellbeing of wild animals, and it’s high time they should worry at least a little about the wellbeing of humans, too.
And of course, they should realize that cities are human habitats, and when these become free of humans, it shouldn’t be less tragic than seeing fewer and fewer orangutans in the jungles of Borneo.
4. Which danger is more serious?
Another thing that I have been thinking about for some time now is this: some people say the lockdowns cause much more trouble for societies everywhere than the actual virus with the illnesses and deaths. I still haven’t heard healthcare professionals say this, and I just don’t know what to think about it. One thing is sure: the longer we live in a complete lockdown, the more devastating consequences it will have. Not the virus, the lockdown.
Because what about those people who are not killed by the virus, but who continue to live, but with so much hardship and suffering because of losing jobs, that they will lack even basic needs? These are not hundreds of thousands (the number of deaths at the moment globally), but tens and tens of millions only in the US, and how many more millions in less developed countries, where there is no social security, where there is no unemployment benefit?
We are talking too much about home office, like it was available for everyone or even most people. No, it definitely isn’t! What about those hundreds and hundreds of millions of people, who make their living working not from a nice office in peaceful time? Those who need to meet people to make a living? Those, who need to move around freely to be able to earn just enough to feed their families?
More posts related to COVID-19:
Advice for digital nomads abroad for COVID-19 quarantine shopping
How COVID-19 Coronavirus affects digital nomads – updated diary
