Am I right to ghost a guy for breaking quarantine?

thewetdog_ · 2020-06-08T16:36:36+00:00

I 120% agree with you. Nevermind that black people (and to an extent Hispanics) are dying are alarming rates from covid, but this performative activism at a time where the very lives they seek to protect are possibly more directly on the line, shows a huge lack of discernment and critical thinking.

That and the black square all over social media, drowning out the actual hashtags that mattered...

I think yours is going to be an unpopular opinion. And as you see, any deviation from the hive mind gets you accused of white privilege. Brace yourself.

Perhaps the biggest display of white privilege when it comes to coronavirus is attending these protests in the first place. Knowing you are less likely to die (statistically) and probably have better access to treatment should you need a ventilator, because you probably have health insurance and live in better areas than a lot of black people that will most definitely be affected by this. And being you’re also a lot less likely proportionally to be an essential worker so you have the time and means to protest.

TheQueenOfDeadHearts · 2020-06-08T17:49:39+00:00

I feel as if he has been dishonest in not telling me he was going until after he went. Also I feel like he just went there as an excuse to do something because of the quarantine becoming boring.

Those are the only problems I'm personally seeing, and they are 100% valid. It's impossible to talk about this without getting political, so I don't expect everyone to agree with me, but I hope you'll hear me out on a few key points.

First, I'm not attending protests either because I'm staying home using the quarantine time to sort through my lifelong CPTSD. I also don't feel like I have the emotional capacity to take on any major social issue (or the possible consequences to my own safety) right now no matter how strongly I feel about it. So I don't judge anyone else for staying home if that's what they need to do.
The "bystander effect" has gone on too long, that is, the social phenomenon that prevents people from being heroes because they believe someone else will step in. Compound that with the fact that capitalism forces many of the people most directly affected by these issues, who would normally be the most compelled to show up at protests, to choose between going in to work to support themselves or fighting for their civil rights and a better future.
The pandemic shutdowns have created a unique opportunity in a couple of ways. One is that many more people who care about these issues are free to attend because they're not working. The other is that the stress of a global pandemic has had everyone on edge for months, and the murder of yet another black human at the hands of police was the spark that ignited a long overdue powder keg of activism, solidarity, and change.
Like I said, I'm staying home, so I don't have firsthand knowledge or any statistics regarding this. But almost all of the footage and stills I've seen of the protests depict either appropriate social distancing, or appropriate use of facemasks. Those aren't guarantees, but they do significantly reduce risk of transmission.
The fact that so many people are willing to show up to protest despite the pandemic, while taking as many precautions as possible under the circumstances, seems to reflect just how vital this issue is to our entire global civilization's survival.
America is just the epicenter, this time anyway. Global protests are a show of solidarity and shifting values worldwide, which (in short) differentiates the right and wrong sides of history for those in power. Obviously this is a broad brushstroke but I don't want to write a book about it.

Ive left out some other important points but those are my main thoughts. Having said that, yes, I believe this movement still needs every face and voice who is willing to show up. I also believe you have to make decisions that feel aligned with your values. Sometimes internal values conflict and you have to choose one over the other to honor, so this is up to you. As long as you're being honest with yourself about your reasoning, you shouldn't feel bad about whatever you do decide.

Bitchbasic · 2020-06-08T17:27:30+00:00

Honestly the protesting is one thing, him accusing you of “showing your White privilege” is an attack that’s worthy of a dumping on its own. You weren’t doing anything wrong, you’re worried about a deadly pandemic-level virus.

CedarBrush01 · 2020-06-08T20:48:35+00:00

Ultimately, he lied to you by giving a half-assed answer, and let you find out the truth after the fact. That is enough to indicate he is an LVM.

xlillinxysx · 2020-06-08T23:23:28+00:00

There are people testing positive to covid still that are attending protests with thousands of people. There will no doubt be a huge wave of covid to come, it puts people's lives at risk, and continues to extend quarantine which is nothing but unfair and selfishness to people trapped inside that have no access to their families, have lost their job and living off rations and limited money.

Not only that he accused you of asserting white privilege which is a disgusting thing to assume of someone.

If he can be so irrational in his thinking now, he will only get worse. Ghost his dumb ass.

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