# How long do you think it’ll take you to trust going out again? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [March 25, 2020, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261 "2020-03-25T16:40:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/1 "2020-03-25T16:40:53Z")
No matter how many people this disease affects, no matter how many waves may or may not happen in the future, eventually half of the U.S. population will have to try to get back into a normal routine SOMETIME, whether it’s next month, six months from now, whatever. When it’s your turn, how long will it take you to take being in public for granted again? Or even just not flinching when someone near you coughs, or your nervousness at being around lots of people goes down a little? Or will you be able to blithely get back to normal attitude fairly easily? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/2 "2020-03-25T16:44:13Z")
I don’t think I’ll have any problem blithely getting back to normal attitude fairly easily. I’ll probably wash my hands often for the first few days. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/3 "2020-03-25T16:56:03Z")
No idea. I haven’t gone outside since March 12th. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/4 "2020-03-25T17:01:25Z")
Dunno, but I’ve been watching tv shows and shouting at the tv “Wash your hands! Don’t stand so close! OMG you’re drinking out of the same glass as that other guy! Shaking hands, are you INSANE?!” so it’s possible this has affected my world view somewhat. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/5 "2020-03-25T17:05:24Z")
I’ve been taking walks in the park on nicer days. I drove up to a restaurant for pick up yesterday. I do think I will no longer engage in the archaic practice of hand shaking though, even when the pandemic ends. My state is in lockdown basically. The roads are really empty, at least by New Jersey standards. The trip yesterday normally takes 20 minutes each way and took less than 15. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/6 "2020-03-25T17:13:36Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I don’t think I’ll have any problem blithely getting back to normal attitude fairly easily. Similar here. I’m not deathly afraid or nervous now. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your pov, I’m pretty blithe in general. I don’t worry about terrorists, I don’t worry about earthquakes, I don’t worry(much)about cancer. I do worry just a tad about senility ;). But I also don’t worry about disease and pandemics except in the strictly practical or distant or abstract - how does it impact my family, the country, society, the economy, the world. But I don’t much worry about _myself_. If I get it, I get it and I’ll either muddle through or not. I practice social distancing as much as possible while doing essential shopping and the like, but only because I’m actively thinking about it and trying to be respectful to others. But I try and be courteous and not infect others if I have a cold or certainly the flu as well. I think people who happily put themselves or others in harm’s way in a situation like this are both idiots and selfish. But it’s certainly not an automatic twitch response and I’m not nervous about it. If I hear a sneeze and think about it at all, I tend to just think **allergies**. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/7 "2020-03-25T17:17:30Z")
I don’t trust now! I look at people sniffling like they’re zombies! ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/8 "2020-03-25T17:19:27Z")
I’ll feel totally comfortable once I’ve had that vaccine shoved into my arm. Until then, you’re all suspect. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/9 "2020-03-25T17:22:44Z")
I’ve not been very worried about catching COVID myself, so as soon as the health professionals tell me I’m not putting the old and vulnerable at risk I will be happy to return to normal. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/10 "2020-03-25T17:24:53Z")
I mean, it kinda depends on how the statistics go. My feelings tend to be based on evidence. As long as things are out of control, I’m staying in. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/11 "2020-03-25T17:25:01Z")
I only shop once a month so that’s a calculated risk. The school I coach at is closed until Apr. 19th and it’s not certain yet if the district will re-open for the remainder of the school year. The rest of the track (and other spring sports) season is uncertain. The real concern is the gym. Even after the gym announced measures to reduce exposure, there were still idiots not cleaning up after finishing with equipment. I haven’t decided if I’ll return when they re-open but I may go armed with sanitizer and gloves. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/12 "2020-03-25T17:29:26Z")
I am a teacher. One thing that is hitting the senior teachers really hard is the realization that they may never see most of their students again. When we left March 13, we suspected we’d be gone for more than a week, but not months. I think it will be weird to see in real life people who have turned into on-line friends. So, like, I have a lunch group at work. There are 7 of us who eat together when we can–say, 4-5 any given day. It’s fluid. Well, we started a group chat that last Friday, and it’s turned into this huge lifeline. We text so much. We have the occasional Zoom Happy Hour. In many ways, it’s gone from a loose association to a really tight friend group really quickly. It’s going to be so weird to see them again, on the other side of this. I am also really looking forward to the day I can see my mom again. When I saw her last, on the 14th, I didn’t think it would be so long. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/13 "2020-03-25T17:37:03Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > I am a teacher. One thing that is hitting the senior teachers really hard is the realization that they may never see most of their students again. When we left March 13, we suspected we’d be gone for more than a week, but not months. Yep. My district is out until May 1st, and I really doubt they’ll open then. At least it will cut down on all the hassles and arguments over graduation tickets! ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/14 "2020-03-25T17:55:02Z")
Whenever the statistics show we’re on the back side of the transmission curve. So maybe 2-3 months. To be clear, that doesn’t mean being afraid to go out, _per se_; more being concerned about mixing with crowds. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/15 "2020-03-25T18:01:02Z")
Three minutes after the bars re-open. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/16 "2020-03-25T18:16:11Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > I am a teacher. One thing that is hitting the senior teachers really hard is the realization that they may never see most of their students again. When we left March 13, we suspected we’d be gone for more than a week, but not months. Think about how the students feel. Most of them left school that Friday/Monday had no idea they’d never see a lot of those people again. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/17 "2020-03-25T18:28:47Z")
Combined sloth+weather stabilize our rhythms. We were snowbound for a week as the world fell apart and snow is pounding again. “Going out” meant a weekly shopping trip to the county seat, a roll every month or two to big-box shopping around a state capitol, and the occasional scenic mountain drive. “Dining out” was a stop at a deli or taco truck for lunch or maybe the odd sit-down plate somewhere. Now it’s store-order pickups with snacking at home. When will we venture out more? Probably a couple weeks after the brewpubs downhill re-open. ---
**Author:** ![Kovitlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@Kovitlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kovitlac)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/18 "2020-03-25T18:39:43Z")
It depends on how long this lasts for, but I’m expecting to go back to normal day 1. Even now my routine really isn’t very different. I’m a homebody though, and I put off working from home till Monday. That’ll feel weird… ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/19 "2020-03-25T18:50:48Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Think about how the students feel. Most of them left school that Friday/Monday had no idea they’d never see a lot of those people again. My wife is an elementary school teacher, and one thing she’s done to make things a little better is to arrange for a daily virtual recess for her students. Every day at 2 pm she invites them to a Zoom meeting where she mutes herself and let’s the kids talk to each other about whatever they want. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/20 "2020-03-25T19:46:35Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > My wife is an elementary school teacher, and one thing she’s done to make things a little better is to arrange for a daily virtual recess for her students. Every day at 2 pm she invites them to a Zoom meeting where she mutes herself and let’s the kids talk to each other about whatever they want. What a cool idea! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261.md?page=2)