# 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:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/21 "2020-03-25T20:02:53Z")
> [@C3](#): > > I’ll feel totally comfortable once I’ve had that vaccine shoved into my arm. Until then, you’re all suspect. This. ---
**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, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/22 "2020-03-25T20:20:08Z")
> [@C3](#): > > I’ll feel totally comfortable once I’ve had that vaccine shoved into my arm. Until then, you’re all suspect. Understandable. But what does this mean for you in practice and action? ---
**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/23 "2020-03-25T20:47:40Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > 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. I’m starting to develop a whole new appreciation for _Monk_ reruns. ---
**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, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/24 "2020-03-25T22:15:02Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Understandable. But what does this mean for you in practice and action? I’ll have to go back to work, but I’ll maintain the near-constant handwashing and disinfecting stuff, limit my visits to public places to what’s necessary (grocery store and…well I can’t think of anything else at the moment), stay out of crowds. I probably won’t be doing anything like going to the theater or the mall until I can get a vaccination. Basically, what we were doing a week or two ago…what’s necessary with caution. ---
**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, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/25 "2020-03-25T22:33:41Z")
> [@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. You really think I’m not? ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/26 "2020-03-25T22:54:23Z")
I’ll trust \*myself \*going out when: - I last coughed over two weeks ago - Infections are going down - The authorities say I can. All three of those true? I’ll be whooping it down the streets ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/27 "2020-03-25T23:28:32Z")
My routine hasn’t really changed, other than the hours things are open. I guess the biggest change is that I finally managed to make some friends 40 years into my life who would normally invite me out and over to their places, and now it’s like I’m being forced back into social anxiety and avoidance and I have to be vigilant to maintain an outlook that goes against current society for my own health. I hope that safe social non-distancing will become the norm again. ---
**Author:** ![Noelq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noelq/32/16438_2.png) [@Noelq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noelq)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2020, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/28 "2020-03-25T23:32:40Z")
I’ve never been nervous. I’ve never given it one thought. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/29 "2020-03-26T00:36:30Z")
> [@C3](#): > > I’ll have to go back to work, but I’ll maintain the near-constant handwashing and disinfecting stuff, limit my visits to public places to what’s necessary (grocery store and…well I can’t think of anything else at the moment), stay out of crowds. I probably won’t be doing anything like going to the theater or the mall until I can get a vaccination. Basically, what we were doing a week or two ago…what’s necessary with caution. Just out of curiosity, if you took public transit before this (which you evidently don’t), would you reconsider doing so? Would you be ABLE to reconsider it? ---
**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 26, 2020, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/30 "2020-03-26T01:34:56Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Just out of curiosity, if you took public transit before this (which you evidently don’t), would you reconsider doing so? Would you be ABLE to reconsider it? That’s not a factor for me. I guess if it was, I would try to not use it if at all possible, but would try to minimize my risk as much as possible. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/31 "2020-03-26T12:36:51Z")
I don’t consider this to be a binary matter. One day I’m afraid to go out, the next day I’m not. Depending on what needs to be done, the type of place I’m going to, how long I will be there, etc., things will vary. Probably a couple months for semi-important or very quick things. Could be as long as 6 months for more casual/moderate stuff. Sometime next year maybe for extended “fun” stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2020, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261/32 "2020-03-26T21:17:43Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > Three minutes after the bars re-open. I’ll raise a glass to that. It is deeply strange and unpleasant not to have the sanctuary of a single pub available in the whole of merry England. I turned down an invitation to meet my mum for a snifter two weeks ago, and have been regretting it ever since. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-you-think-it-ll-take-you-to-trust-going-out-again/850261.md?page=1)