# Poll: Should we retire the Quarantine Zone? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 16, 2024, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-we-retire-the-quarantine-zone/996173 "2024-01-16T16:49:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2024, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-we-retire-the-quarantine-zone/996173/21 "2024-01-16T22:14:44Z")
I still social distance. It was a good idea and still is. (I do touch my face though) ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2024, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-we-retire-the-quarantine-zone/996173/22 "2024-01-16T22:41:54Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > > [@Telemark](#): > > > > > [@Superdude](#): > > > > > > I’d suggest making it a “read only” forum. > > > > This would be my call as well. > > I doubt this is possible, without someone manually closing every thread. I think you can make categories read only … May need an admin though. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-we-retire-the-quarantine-zone/996173/23 "2024-01-17T00:54:31Z")
Another vote for making things easy for the mods. That said, COVID isn’t entirely over. There are lots of yellow zones around the country. > **[MeasureMeasure (@MeasureMeasure@mastodon.social)](https://mastodon.social/@MeasureMeasure/111768553621982678)** > > Attached: 1 image > > Current COVID community risk levels. From covidactnow.org ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-we-retire-the-quarantine-zone/996173/24 "2024-01-17T00:57:14Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > We won’t have another pandemic soon, but I think we need to brace for the Pandamic, where black and white bears from China run rampant through our cities, seeking blood and bamboo. There is a reason that pandas have the nickname “Piranhas of the Bamboo”. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-we-retire-the-quarantine-zone/996173/25 "2024-01-17T01:12:36Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > COVID isn’t entirely over. It never will be, albeit it is not the _novel_ coronavirus anymore … but that is not the point. A separate forum was indicated when there were so many active threads with so many posts that segregating them was necessary for other conversations to not effectively get buried. That time is long gone. I voted to retire but truth be told I’ve long hidden it from my list so it doesn’t matter much to me, but I can’t see a dedicated complete forum having a point now. Maybe a single thread for relevant fora (news, debates, humble opinions…) but no more than that. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-we-retire-the-quarantine-zone/996173/26 "2024-01-17T01:36:32Z")
Also, do you want Ants? Because… /s ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-we-retire-the-quarantine-zone/996173/27 "2024-01-17T02:10:31Z")
I say keep it. I don’t think COVID is done mutating yet, and I suspect we’ll have another serious tussle or two before it’s consigned to the cold and flu category. It seems less trouble to keep it than to get rid of it and then need to bring it back later. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-we-retire-the-quarantine-zone/996173/28 "2024-01-17T02:15:21Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > I don’t really want to be known as a message board with a dedicated forum for everyone’s health issues. I dunno. I kinda like the idea of people being able to avoid those threads easily. Some folks get squicked out easily, and don’t like to stumble into a medical discussion. Me, I’m always interested, and have reached the age where it’s a primary topic when my friends get together. ---
**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:** [January 17, 2024, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-we-retire-the-quarantine-zone/996173/29 "2024-01-17T02:22:14Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Close it, lock it, but keep its rotting corpse visible to serve as a warning to future generations. Or expand it. We obviously need a RSV site, a Flu site, a common cold site, and a hang nail site. So everyone with any fears can have their own place. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-we-retire-the-quarantine-zone/996173/30 "2024-01-17T02:26:00Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I still social distance. It was a good idea and still is. (I do touch my face though) Yep and yep. I do still wear a mask when I visit Kaiser. > [@DSeid](#): > > It never will be, albeit it is not the _novel_ coronavirus anymore … but that is not the point. Does than mean I have to wear my covid beard forever?? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-we-retire-the-quarantine-zone/996173/31 "2024-01-17T04:53:05Z")
It means you _can_ wear your covid beard forever. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-we-retire-the-quarantine-zone/996173/32 "2024-01-17T04:53:29Z")
I think we can retire it, yes. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-we-retire-the-quarantine-zone/996173/33 "2024-01-17T06:06:08Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > It means you _can_ wear your covid beard forever. People say I look good in in, and I saw myself being interviewed in a small indy film years ago without it, and i didnt even recognize myself. 🤪 Mind you, by “good in it” one “friend” said “it covers up more of your face, which is a good thing.” ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-we-retire-the-quarantine-zone/996173/34 "2024-01-17T10:51:05Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > We have an awful lot of colonoscopy threads… I vote for a less serious version of The Pit called “Blow it out your ass” ---
**Author:** ![Mikkel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikkel/32/13151_2.png) [@Mikkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikkel)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2024, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-we-retire-the-quarantine-zone/996173/35 "2024-01-17T11:01:12Z")
I voted keep it. We might keep it as an underforum of IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2024, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-we-retire-the-quarantine-zone/996173/36 "2024-01-18T00:57:31Z")
I think it’s worth keeping for now, anyway. It was an enormous global multi-year event. With tremendous known impacts and no doubt tremendous unknown effects. I was recently contacted by the people running a long term study my kids are part of. They want to collect some information about our covid experiences as a sort of add-on project. They already have a big dataset, so there’s an opportunity to use it to study covid’s impact on a variety of things. My point is, there’s probably going to be a steady stream of studies, theories, treatment breakthroughs, etc., even if we aren’t trying to drink from a fire hose anymore. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2024, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-we-retire-the-quarantine-zone/996173/37 "2024-01-18T02:30:27Z")
I don’t think the suggestion is to cornfield it. (But I am recalling how amusing it was to read posters there who were very sure that their posts were going to be important historical documents! I don’t think so.) Conversation about Covid can continue to be had in appropriate fora, for those who want to participate, and read and searched for, just not persisting actively in a no longer indicated dedicated segregated one. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2024, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-we-retire-the-quarantine-zone/996173/38 "2024-01-18T03:35:30Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > I don’t think the suggestion is to cornfield it. (But I am recalling how amusing it was to read posters there who were very sure that their posts were going to be important historical documents! I don’t think so.) I’m not sure if this was a response to me, but if it was, then I think I wasn’t very clear. My point wasn’t that people would study the forum. My point, which got lost, maybe, was that it would still be useful for posting news of covid, whether it’s new variants or outbreaks, or news of newly discovered after-effects, or progress on understanding post-viral syndrome by studying long Covid, or new perspectives on how the lockdowns affected different people and different groups differently. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2024, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-we-retire-the-quarantine-zone/996173/39 "2024-01-18T03:38:18Z")
> [@eschrodinger](#): > > it would still be useful for posting news of covid > [@DSeid](#): > > Conversation about Covid can continue to be had in appropriate fora, for those who want to participate, * * * ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2024, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-we-retire-the-quarantine-zone/996173/40 "2024-01-18T03:39:33Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Would it maybe be a good idea to repurpose it as a health/illness related forum? Seems like as we age, we’re seeing more and more threads like that anyway. I (not quite jokingly) suggested taking medical advice out of IMHO and merging the existing quarantine zone into just such a thread a while back. And I still think it’s a good idea. IMHO has plenty of traffic, and the board has plenty of medical / health questions. It was back when another poster suggested a dedicated Trump forum due to Trump crawling into far too many otherwise unrelated discussions. But that’s a whole other can of worms! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-we-retire-the-quarantine-zone/996173.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-should-we-retire-the-quarantine-zone/996173.md?page=3)