# Things the pandemic might destroy forever **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 29, 2020, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-the-pandemic-might-destroy-forever/924237 "2020-10-29T19:42:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [November 2, 2020, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-the-pandemic-might-destroy-forever/924237/41 "2020-11-02T18:50:08Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > A lot of small businesses will die (i.e. non-chain restaurants) but new ones will open in the exact same locations. A sushi restaurant near us closed and a new one opened about a month ago. I went there last week for take-out and it was packed, with diners and people picking up. I think there might be some upheaval for awhile, but when it settles down there will be plenty of eating options. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-the-pandemic-might-destroy-forever/924237/42 "2020-11-02T18:53:09Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > Handshakes are probably gone forever, and I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to greeting people outside the immediate family with hugs. They might be gone for awhile, but they’ll be back. Either by vaccine or acceptance, COVID will at some point not be the big deal it is now, and people like touching each other. We are human. It’s how we are, and handshakes are so ingrained in some cultures they won’ die that easy. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2020, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-the-pandemic-might-destroy-forever/924237/43 "2020-11-02T18:57:35Z")
I think handshakes were beginning to fade anyway. They seem like a relic of the past to me, kind of like ties. Handshakes will probably be a lot less popular with younger generations than they were pre-COVID and 20 years ago, ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-the-pandemic-might-destroy-forever/924237/44 "2020-11-02T19:25:12Z")
I agree with what others here are saying about handshakes. I think elbow bumps or fist bumps, while novel now, will become more widely accepted and may replace handshakes as the first level of greeting. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-the-pandemic-might-destroy-forever/924237/45 "2020-11-02T19:25:43Z")
Everyone seems to have forgotten that we went through this exact thing a hundred years ago. And the world didn’t change forever. People still shook hands. And they eventually stopped wearing masks. And that was without a vaccine. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2020, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-the-pandemic-might-destroy-forever/924237/46 "2020-11-02T20:24:35Z")
Again, I think handshakes were already beginning to fade though. People are better educated about disease transfer for one thing. Things do change. COVID might just be a big thing that helps to partially kill off handshakes. ---
**Author:** ![Ranch\_Dip](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranch_dip/32/5238_2.png) [@Ranch\_Dip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranch_Dip)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-the-pandemic-might-destroy-forever/924237/47 "2020-11-02T23:05:24Z")
I plan to continue mask wearing both at work and in public for the foreseeable future. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-the-pandemic-might-destroy-forever/924237/48 "2020-11-03T01:00:43Z")
I have a whole wardrobe of business wear that I haven’t mostly wore since March. I hope I can destroy it forever. I can tell you my clothing budget has disappeared. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-the-pandemic-might-destroy-forever/924237/49 "2020-11-03T01:49:26Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I’ll never pay someone else to cut my hair. I’ve always been a little creeped out having a stranger touching me like that. Same reason I’d never have a massage by a stranger. But letting them stab you thousands and thousands of times? No problem! ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-the-pandemic-might-destroy-forever/924237/50 "2020-11-03T02:00:16Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > I guess joints won’t be passed around anymore. Each will roll his or her own and smoke it all alone. I really miss sharing a pipe or joint with a friend. I agree that it probably won’t come back, sharing like that is really kinda squicky. The budestias at my dispensary have told me that pre-rolled sales are way high now. I drove by a Golden Corral buffet a few days ago and saw that it was open. Looked it up online and its now cafeteria style. I really like a few of their offerings, but watching people and kids in the buffet line grossed me out so much that we haven’t been there for years. We might go back soon if it stays cafeteria style. ---
**Author:** ![Enjoy\_Slurm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enjoy_slurm/32/3937_2.png) [@Enjoy\_Slurm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enjoy_Slurm)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-the-pandemic-might-destroy-forever/924237/51 "2020-11-03T04:34:39Z")
Movie theaters. What with Netflix and other streaming services already hitting them hard a bunch have closed, at least for now. I love going to the theater and even bought myself a yearly pass to Regal Cinemas. As long as I saw two movies a month it paid for itself. Any more after that were free. Since they closed I haven’t been able to go even though I have already paid for the months I haven’t been able to go. Thankfully Regal put the program on hold so I think I only lost two months worth of paying and they say when they open up again I’ll get credit to continue the program. But I fear that chain theaters may go away and there will just be a few art house types or those reclining chair and dinner service theaters will be the only ones to open back up. ---
**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:** [November 3, 2020, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-the-pandemic-might-destroy-forever/924237/52 "2020-11-03T04:37:23Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > I agree with what others here are saying about handshakes. I think elbow bumps or fist bumps, while novel now, will become more widely accepted and may replace handshakes as the first level of greeting. There’s also the [_Demolition Man_ high five.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QTHfrXHo9M) ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-the-pandemic-might-destroy-forever/924237/53 "2020-11-03T05:39:17Z")
> [@solost](#): > > How about free samples? I miss the bounty of free samples at Costco; some days it would substitute for lunch. As of last week (when I was last at Costco), the free samples were already back. I think the attendant kept them in a plexiglass box and handed them to you rather than just having a tray and fewer sample stands but at least you could once again get a free sample of crumbled goat cheese or turkey sausage. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-the-pandemic-might-destroy-forever/924237/54 "2020-11-03T07:53:36Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > lot of these answers seem to be assuming that covid will be with us forever. (thus causing the permanent end of handshaking, blowing out candles on birthday cake, etc. ) > > But I think that once a vaccine is easily available, covid will become a minor issue, like the regular flu that we all live with. Some of the changes mentioned aren’t Covid-specific, but more of a general heightened sense of awareness. I can’t be the only human who didn’t reeeeeally think through the “blowing out the candles” ritual until recently. Especially given how little fine motor control little kids have. Now all I can picture is the “Mythbusters” segment where they back-lit Adam sneezing to show how far the spray traveled. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-the-pandemic-might-destroy-forever/924237/55 "2020-11-03T13:54:53Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > > [@solost](#): > > > > How about free samples? I miss the bounty of free samples at Costco; some days it would substitute for lunch. > > As of last week (when I was last at Costco), the free samples were already back. I think the attendant kept them in a plexiglass box and handed them to you rather than just having a tray and fewer sample stands but at least you could once again get a free sample of crumbled goat cheese or turkey sausage. Thank God, civilization is returning! ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-the-pandemic-might-destroy-forever/924237/56 "2020-11-03T14:06:08Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > Cruises, not the day type but longer ones, surely can’t survive this. I wouldn’t declare them dead just yet: [https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2020/s1030-safe-responsible-ship-passenger-operations.html](https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2020/s1030-safe-responsible-ship-passenger-operations.html) It’s a huge industry and I can’t see it disappearing. Maybe that’s wishful thinking on my part since I love to cruise, but efforts are ongoing to gets the ships back to sea. ---
**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:** [November 3, 2020, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-the-pandemic-might-destroy-forever/924237/57 "2020-11-03T14:33:43Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > > [@SciFiSam](#): > > > > Cruises, not the day type but longer ones, surely can’t survive this. > > I wouldn’t declare them dead just yet: [https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2020/s1030-safe-responsible-ship-passenger-operations.html](https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2020/s1030-safe-responsible-ship-passenger-operations.html) > > It’s a huge industry and I can’t see it disappearing. A couple we are friends with were cruising nearly continuously pre-COVID. They’d return from a cruise, do laundry, take care of the mail, relax for a couple weeks, then leave on their next cruise. They expect to go back to cruising soon. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-the-pandemic-might-destroy-forever/924237/58 "2020-11-03T16:23:18Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > > [@AskNott](#): > > > > Handshakes are probably gone forever, and I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to greeting people outside the immediate family with hugs. > > This is ridiculous. Even the black death didn’t kill handshakes. Remind me, please. Was the Black Death BEFORE or AFTER the germ theory of disease transmission was widely accepted? ---
**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:** [November 3, 2020, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-the-pandemic-might-destroy-forever/924237/59 "2020-11-03T16:43:04Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Was the Black Death BEFORE or AFTER the germ theory of disease transmission was widely accepted? **BEFORE** Black death (bubonic plaque): 1347. Pasteur published his germ theory which proved that bacteria caused diseases in 1861. ---
**Author:** ![Drummond\_Bays](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8edcca/32.png) [@Drummond\_Bays](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drummond_Bays)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-the-pandemic-might-destroy-forever/924237/60 "2020-11-04T20:54:39Z")
Heh… Amongst the few friends I have chosen to keep distanced company with, the first two sentences ring true. One friend is only an occasional smoker, and will ask for the end 1/3, I tell him every time “it’s all yours now.” Before the Shanghai Shivers, I’d keep that practice with acquaintances, though I do miss the social, communal aspect of passing one around the closest of friends. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-the-pandemic-might-destroy-forever/924237.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-the-pandemic-might-destroy-forever/924237.md?page=4)