This year began as expected. An election year is always political but this year has developed as very special. The NEWS suddenly became flooded with the stories about a virus that was killing the inferm and vulnerable adults.
Our elected leaders endorsed hand washing and sanitizing lotions. Then there were the Masks. But remember that the virus lives on surfaces for up to two weeks.
Within weeks, restaurants, theaters, and churches were closed or limited to 25 to 50 percent of occupancy. Large gatherings of people at weddings and funerals were banned.
Exceptions were allowed for high profile elected leaders. They do make the rules.
When word got out, the first reaction was to empty the Walmart Stores of its inventory of toilet paper. When hand-washing and sanitizing lotion became the norm, the Mask was a MEME for following the rules.
Doctors and Dentists who had observed sanitation procedures for decades, now, they had everyone in the office wearing a mask.
Grocery and Liquor stores did not require Masks. Menards required a mask to shop in the store. Meanwhile, weddings and funerals were not allowed, too many people in one place.
I wonder if the ceremonies could have been held in a Grocery or Liquor store.
Now that we see a marginal return to ‘normal’, restaurants, theatres, etc. I am reminded of the velvet hammer. Once it was called the “soft sell”, that is, “give the person (people) a plausible reason for following the rules”, and they will comply willingly.
The other way is to instill a fear. Real or imagined, the fear causes the people to react with unexpected actions. The psychology and response has not changed. The people who took the rail trip to the Polish and German towns. They followed rules.
