# Why can't people understand this (covid protocols and policies vs reality) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [December 29, 2020, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-understand-this-covid-protocols-and-policies-vs-reality/929178 "2020-12-29T14:39:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-understand-this-covid-protocols-and-policies-vs-reality/929178/41 "2020-12-31T16:58:05Z")
Here’s another example - “In their own words: Quebecers returning from sunny COVID-19 holidays explain their logic” ([https://news.google.com/articles/CAIiEHWnbOUOv9-9gilyBQDjRxkqGQgEKhAIACoHCAow7PeJCzCV0pwDMLHPowY?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen](https://news.google.com/articles/CAIiEHWnbOUOv9-9gilyBQDjRxkqGQgEKhAIACoHCAow7PeJCzCV0pwDMLHPowY?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen)) From the article “A lot has changed, however, since vacationers in sunny spots left Quebec a week or two ago”. This is the type of thing that’s pissing me off because it’s just exacerbating an already really bad thing. Contrary to the quote, nothing has fucking changed over the last fucking few weeks except what spokespeople are saying. This is like having a bunch of people standing on the lip of Mount Etna, as it Bible’s away, when the authorities state that jumping into the volcano is allowed, so off they jump; a few days later the authorities state that jumping into the volcano is no allowed. I’m not criticizing the politicians; they have a bunch of things to balance, one of which is public health. We the public, however, should have the brains to see through that. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-understand-this-covid-protocols-and-policies-vs-reality/929178/42 "2020-12-31T17:04:44Z")
> [@velomont](#): > > This is like having a bunch of people standing on the lip of Mount Etna, as it Bible’s away Candidate for best autocorrect ever. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-understand-this-covid-protocols-and-policies-vs-reality/929178/43 "2020-12-31T17:35:29Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Candidate for best autocorrect ever Oh bloody hell, that was supposed to be “bubbles”. But thanks for picking that up😀 ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-understand-this-covid-protocols-and-policies-vs-reality/929178/44 "2021-01-01T16:31:25Z")
> [@velomont](#): > > Cue the various statements that the citizenry is “confused” by this. “When we are preparing the next report next week, we’ll have these conflicting reported statements that are no longer true, which is confusing to us, particularly when we have a deadline and are paid to work to a fixed schedule” Many people are unable to differentiate between “I’m confused, because of the nature of my job”, and “other people are confused”. Even fewer people care to make the distinction. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-understand-this-covid-protocols-and-policies-vs-reality/929178/45 "2021-01-01T16:57:02Z")
I think a large part of the problem is we couldn’t do the perfect solution. If we had somehow established an absolute lockdown back in February and prevented all contact between people, the virus would have disappeared within a few weeks. Tough for the people who had it and died for a lack of medical treatment. And tough for the people who didn’t have a six week supply of food on hand. And we would have had to seal the borders to keep the disease out of the country. This was never a realistic plan. We need to keep society functioning which means we need to have some contact between people. People need to be able to buy food and gas. People need medical treatment and other vital services. Which means people need to go to work. So we try to reduce the risks rather than eliminating them. We play percentages. So you have a situation where you have a guy delivering pizzas every day for the last ten months. And his brother has been working in a gas station every day for the last ten months. But we tell them they can’t visit each other, even though it’s Christmas and they haven’t seen each other since March. And these guys are thinking _“Why is it an acceptable risk for us for us to go to work for ten months and see dozens of strangers each day on our jobs but it’s an unacceptable risk for us to see each other on one day of the year?”_ ---
**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-understand-this-covid-protocols-and-policies-vs-reality/929178/46 "2021-01-01T17:08:04Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I think a large part of the problem is we couldn’t do the perfect solution. Uh oh. Cue the New Zealand contingent. “If we could do it on an island\* in the middle of nowhere, surely a massive country at the center of global commerce can.” \*archipelago ---
**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:** [January 1, 2021, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-understand-this-covid-protocols-and-policies-vs-reality/929178/47 "2021-01-01T17:26:45Z")
Germany has 1/3rd the deaths per million we do, do you think that’s because Germany is an island in the middle of nowhere? ---
**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-understand-this-covid-protocols-and-policies-vs-reality/929178/48 "2021-01-01T17:31:26Z")
Wait, you’re saying Germany followed Little Nemo’s “perfect plan”? Because otherwise, your response makes no sense. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-understand-this-covid-protocols-and-policies-vs-reality/929178/49 "2021-01-01T17:31:28Z")
And, the UK, which _is_ actually an island, is worse than the US in deaths per 100k. It was possible to get this under control, with competent leadership and a reasonable population. ---
**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-understand-this-covid-protocols-and-policies-vs-reality/929178/50 "2021-01-01T17:32:06Z")
Guess you both missed the "middle of nowhere " part? ---
**Author:** ![SayTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@SayTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SayTwo)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-understand-this-covid-protocols-and-policies-vs-reality/929178/51 "2021-01-01T18:06:16Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > It was possible to get this under control, with competent leadership and a reasonable population. This statement seems non-falsifiable. On Germany, is there any reason for concern at the present trends? ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-understand-this-covid-protocols-and-policies-vs-reality/929178/52 "2021-01-01T18:10:24Z")
> [@SayTwo](#): > > On Germany, is there any reason for concern at the present trends? Yes, of course. Their current wave is worse than their initial wave. Just search for “Germany COVID deaths” on Google and you’ll see the graph. Jeez. For someone who spends almost all their time in COVID discussions on this board, you should know this I would think. ---
**Author:** ![SayTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@SayTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SayTwo)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-understand-this-covid-protocols-and-policies-vs-reality/929178/53 "2021-01-01T18:17:11Z")
Yes, I know how to find their graph. I’m asking if we should take it into consideration before declaring they have managed the situation to completion. They wouldn’t be the first country, after all, to have a benign spring and a rough winter. Slovenia comes to mind, or much of Eastern Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-understand-this-covid-protocols-and-policies-vs-reality/929178/54 "2021-01-01T19:16:58Z")
My point was that no country, even New Zealand, applied the perfect guaranteed plan. Different places tried different plans based on how much risk they were willing to assume. ---
**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-understand-this-covid-protocols-and-policies-vs-reality/929178/55 "2021-01-01T19:21:15Z")
New Zealand was as close as you could expect in the real world, imho. Sure, they could have done it 3 weeks earlier, I suppose. ---
**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:** [January 1, 2021, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-understand-this-covid-protocols-and-policies-vs-reality/929178/56 "2021-01-01T19:50:57Z")
> [@FigNorton](#): > > Wait, you’re saying Germany followed Little Nemo’s “perfect plan”? Because otherwise, your response makes no sense No, but they came closer than we in the US did, and accordingly the situation is much better there than here. ---
**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-understand-this-covid-protocols-and-policies-vs-reality/929178/57 "2021-01-01T19:55:18Z")
They weren’t appreciable “closer” to what Little Nemo was describing. They managed better in other ways. ---
**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:** [January 1, 2021, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-understand-this-covid-protocols-and-policies-vs-reality/929178/58 "2021-01-01T19:55:29Z")
> [@SayTwo](#): > > On Germany, is there any reason for concern at the present trends? Things are getting worse in Germany and could spiral out of control. As was pointed out, their current wave is the worst one yet. On the other hand our current wave is also the worst one we’ve had, and is far worse than Germany’s, and is getting worse each week. The nature of exponential growth is, the worse things are, the faster they get even worse. ---
**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:** [January 1, 2021, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-understand-this-covid-protocols-and-policies-vs-reality/929178/59 "2021-01-01T19:56:27Z")
> [@FigNorton](#): > > They weren’t appreciable “closer” to what Little Nemo was describing. They managed better in other ways. I guess the virus just doesn’t like the taste of German 🙄 I already posted a cite about this which you retorted to snarkily getting a mod involved, earlier in the thread. In case the mod note confused you, here’s the link again: [https://www.bsg.ox.ac.uk/research/research-projects/coronavirus-government-response-tracker](https://www.bsg.ox.ac.uk/research/research-projects/coronavirus-government-response-tracker) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2021, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-understand-this-covid-protocols-and-policies-vs-reality/929178/60 "2021-01-01T20:07:28Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > I already posted a cite about this which you retorted to snarkily getting a mod involved, earlier in the thread. In case the mod note confused you, here’s the link again: **Moderator Note** Making snarky personal remarks while noting that another poster was moderated for such remarks is missing the point entirely. In fact, I almost included your snarky previous remark in that same mod note I gave **FigNorton**. I evidently should have. I’m giving you the same instructions I gave him: Don’t respond to other posters in a snarky and personally insulting way. I’m instructing you to remain civil in this forum in the future. Colibri Quarantine Zone Moderator [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-understand-this-covid-protocols-and-policies-vs-reality/929178.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-people-understand-this-covid-protocols-and-policies-vs-reality/929178.md?page=4)