AUSTIN | Misc. Discussions - No Politics

[Geographer]

What do the forum members think about the rising COVID cases in Travis county? What should be done about them?

[GoldenBoot]

1) What do you mean: "What should be done about them?" Quarantine them!?! It's a new virus with no vaccine.

2) Overall cases are going to increase with more availability to testing. Gosh, I have three acquaintances who were "ill" as early as January who tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies (none were tested for COVID directly - for one reason or another)! We need to start focusing on current hospitalization numbers versus total number of cases as a key in how this virus is truly acting within this population.

[urbancore]

Originally Posted by Geographer

What do the forum members think about the rising COVID cases in Travis county? What should be done about them?

I think asking young people to stay away from each other with zero end in sight and no plan, was not thought through. This was all very predictable.


From drugs, smoking, binge drinking, unprotected sex, the list goes on and on, young people are risk takers. I’m surprised they lasted as long as they did. Especially taking away most of their entry level jobs.

Youth and my 90 y/o grandma don’t give a shit.

[Geographer]

Why isn't the Texas government putting some teeth into its recommendation, like fining people for not wearing masks in public?

Other countries enforce their social distancing and mask-wearing rules, why not Texas?

[urbancore]

Originally Posted by Geographer

Why isn't the Texas government putting some teeth into its recommendation, like fining people for not wearing masks in public?

Other countries enforce their social distancing and mask-wearing rules, why not Texas?

That will never happen. And I’m not sure want to slide down that slope.

[Jdawgboy]

But it's not just the 20 something year olds. I see plenty of older people who do not want to wear masks either and its the older people that make the biggest deal out of it when asked to wear them. At my work, we will not let customers inside without a mask on and I have no trouble at all about telling them how a mask is properly worn if I see they are not wearing it properly. It's not the younger people that we have an issue with as much but rather it's the people 35 and up. It really comes down to the community as a whole. If people can't understand or simply do not care to do their part to stop the spread (very simple steps that don't take much effort to do), then it's going to spread. The lack of sense of being apart of an interconnected community is the difference between this state and country compared to others around the world and it is why we will continue to lead the world in cases and deaths.

[lonewolf]

I have seen A LOT more masks since about Sunday. I think the state will start allowing munis to crack down on this. It has actually already started so idk where the "that will never happen" is coming from.

Here is some good lit on why masks have a shot to kill the virus, (and our cheapest one too)
https://medium.com/incerto/the-masks...e-7de897b517b7

[zrx299]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

But it's not just the 20 something year olds. I see plenty of older people who do not want to wear masks either and its the older people that make the biggest deal out of it when asked to wear them. At my work, we will not let customers inside without a mask on and I have no trouble at all about telling them how a mask is properly worn if I see they are not wearing it properly. It's not the younger people that we have an issue with as much but rather it's the people 35 and up. It really comes down to the community as a whole. If people can't understand or simply do not care to do their part to stop the spread (very simple steps that don't take much effort to do), then it's going to spread. The lack of sense of being apart of an interconnected community is the difference between this state and country compared to others around the world and it is why we will continue to lead the world in cases and deaths.

"Slowing the spread" means we're going to have to deal with this crap for the next 3-4 years instead of the next 3-4 months. You can't blame the younger generation for not wanting to partake in a complete upheaval of modern society for something that has a 99.6% survival rate.

The more you test people, the more cases will go up. Focus on the death rate, and the number *currently* hospitalized. That's what really matters. You'll also notice the recovered numbers barely get mentioned, because good news doesn't get mouse clicks or tv eyeballs.

Isolation only works for introverts. The rest of us have lives to live and things to do. If anyone feels scared or vulnerable, or otherwise has a different risk-profile, go get yourself a *proper* hospital-grade mask that actually guards against microscopic virus particles and wear that thing as much as your heart desires. Forcing this stuff on everyone else is just lunacy, especially generic fabric face coverings that do nothing but annoy people.

The media and politicians at all levels have got people scared to death acting as if this is Stage 5 cancer just out there floating on the breeze like tree pollen. I'm sick of it. But this being Travis County I'm sure we'll be subjected to many more rounds of arbitrary policies and illogical "guidelines" in the next coming weeks and months... if not years.

[urbancore]

Originally Posted by lonewolf

I have seen A LOT more masks since about Sunday. I think the state will start allowing munis to crack down on this. It has actually already started so idk where the "that will never happen" is coming from.

Here is some good lit on why masks have a shot to kill the virus, (and our cheapest one too)
https://medium.com/incerto/the-masks...e-7de897b517b7

Most municipalities are seriously considering defunding police to one extent or another. I’ve not seen a police car in Zilker in months. How in the world could the city “crack down”? What does that look like?

I agree masks are worthwhile. I disagree that all will wear them, no matter the laws or the consequences. And I don’t believe any city has the resources to stop them, now or in the future.

Americans love breaking rules, and doing our own thing. For better and worse.

[urbancore]

Originally Posted by zrx299

"Slowing the spread" means we're going to have to deal with this crap for the next 3-4 years instead of the next 3-4 months. You can't blame the younger generation for not wanting to partake in a complete upheaval of modern society for something that has a 99.6% survival rate.

The more you test people, the more cases will go up. Focus on the death rate, and the number *currently* hospitalized. That's what really matters. You'll also notice the recovered numbers barely get mentioned, because good news doesn't get mouse clicks or tv eyeballs.

Isolation only works for introverts. The rest of us have lives to live and things to do. If anyone feels scared or vulnerable, or otherwise has a different risk-profile, go get yourself a *proper* hospital-grade mask that actually guards against microscopic virus particles and wear that thing as much as your heart desires. Forcing this stuff on everyone else is just lunacy, especially generic fabric face coverings that do nothing but annoy people.

The media and politicians at all levels have got people scared to death acting as if this is Stage 5 cancer just out there floating on the breeze like tree pollen. I'm sick of it. But this being Travis County I'm sure we'll be subjected to many more rounds of arbitrary policies and illogical "guidelines" in the next coming weeks and months... if not years.

Exactly.

[lzppjb]

I think I've worn a mask 3 times since this all began. Back in April during quarantine, I left Austin and drove to Weslaco to visit friends for a week. Nobody in that group wore a mask. We had family dinners and spent a lot of time together. Nobody got sick. I had to wear a mask down there twice. Walmart and a convenient store were enforcing it.

Again here in Austin on Wednesday I wore a mask when going to get blood drawn for my doctor.

I've visited my parents multiple times, saw my sister and her kids, went to Weatherford for a domino tournament where 60+ people showed up and we ate potluck bbq.

I just don't feel the need to completely shut down my life for something that a vast majority of people survive. I never get the flu and I've never once had a flu shot. I wash my hands and practice normal avoidance every day. I'm doing the same thing now with the addition of keeping hand sanitizer in my truck.

We were never going to eradicate this. In the beginning, they were saying to quarantine in order to slow it down. They never said it would be eradicated. We're probably all going to get this eventually. They just didn't want everyone getting it at once and flooding the hospitals. When did this all morph into "stay home till there's a vaccine?"

By the way, I don't mock anyone who wears a mask. Go for it. If you get sick a lot or have underlying issues, wear them.

[lonewolf]

Originally Posted by urbancore

Most municipalities are seriously considering defunding police to one extent or another. I’ve not seen a police car in Zilker in months. How in the world could the city “crack down”? What does that look like?

I agree masks are worthwhile. I disagree that all will wear them, no matter the laws or the consequences. And I don’t believe any city has the resources to stop them, now or in the future.

Americans love breaking rules, and doing our own thing. For better and worse.

Ordering businesses to enforce mask wearing.

[urbancore]

Originally Posted by lonewolf

Ordering businesses to enforce mask wearing.

go on.....

[lonewolf]

Originally Posted by urbancore

go on.....

that's it. I don't see another way.

[We vs us]

Agreed. Local business is the only way to enforce a mask requirement. There's no way cops or city employees of any stripe can be in enough places to make it happen. But if each business polices itself, you've suddenly increased your enforcement exponentially.

And to be honest, many/most businesses understand that the only way to truly reopen the economy is to make sure the maximum amount of people feel comfortable enough to venture out in a sustained way. There's just no way that will happen while cases are on the rise -- regardless of the number of ICU beds still available, or number of recoveries, or whatever mitigating "good news" stat you might want to quote. It's a pandemic, people are dying, and everyone -- mask wearers and non mask wearers alike -- have to feel safe for the economy to recover. And if a mask requirement can help stave off worse measures down the road -- including living through years of economic twilight -- then maybe it's worth it for all of us in the short term.

[paul78701]

I hate to say it, but the virus is now endemic. If it would have been taken seriously by the powers that be (at all levels) back in December (or whenever they actually knew about it), we likely wouldn't be at this point right now. It is what it is though.

It will be here until there is a vaccine. That won't be happening anytime soon. So we have to learn how to live with it. We have to hope that antivirals or some other type of treatment becomes widely available soon. That is really the only way we can get back to normal sooner rather than later.

[urbancore]

Originally Posted by lonewolf

that's it. I don't see another way.

that's not a "crack down". Some businesses will refuse/spot enforce/half ass it. Then what? Who is writing all these citations, cops? Who gets the ticket, the owner? Does the owner hold customer in place till the cops show? Sure the lower courts have ruled, but the high courts have not. Will this be the new normal? Are we going to do this will other diseases? If not, why not? If the government can unilaterally DEMAND you wear a mask, why not demand you wear a condom to prevent herpes/AIDS, both of which can kill? The world is NOT a sanitary place, it is FULL of deadly pathogens that we often transmit unknowingly to each other. Kissing or SEX, oh my GOD...biggest swap of dirty germs ever imagined.....better ban that asap. Why don't we mandate flu shots? Or "no smoking" for that matter? Or eating a healthy diet? All of these would lead to less death, arguably WAY less death than the result of COVID19.

People who think that Texans will behave like citizens of China, that Texans will just "comply" and monitor and enforce ourselves are badly mistaken. The Chinese monitor their people better than Amazon monitors its packages.

Most companies will comply and I imagine a good number of people will too......at first. Then what? Do you really think we are going to wait till the government says..."Hey, next Friday is the day you can all go back to normal, it's safe now". That will never happen, because it isn't safe, and it won't BE safe, and it can't be safe. Even if/when there is a vaccine, there will be millions who refuse to take it because they fucked off in biology. We will read about those motards getting sick and dying for years. The news will gladly turn to the next reason to divide us all, race, health, money, class.
Never unite (which the vast majority us are...united), always divide.

Not to mention vaccines are not 100% effective. Take the flu vaccine for instance. https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/how-e...-flu-vaccine#1

And good luck enforcing masks at the lake, or the beach, or the playgrounds. People will congregate in ever increasing numbers, with and without masks. Without a heavy police force ticketing each person immediately (which will never happen), we are relying on companies and Karens to enforce it. I've got my popcorn ready.

Humans infect each other....it's one of the ways we builds UP our immunity via antibodies. It's also one of the things that kills us. All the more reason to advocate taking care of the vessel you live in, and not expecting a Dr, or the Gov, or a pill to take care of you. Take care of yourself the best you can, lower your BMI, get sunshine, love others, lift weights, fast, read, garden, exercise vigorously.....stop with the "take it easy" bullshit. Our bodies are built for rigor, not atrophy. Use it or lose it. Americans eat like shit and lay around too much. Only 12% of Americans are "metabolically healthy", and can only blame themselves. https://www.sciencedaily.com/release...1128115045.htm
The gov doesn't make people order a giant coke instead of water. We make excuses, "it's not your fault". Why? There is no money in eating less, walking, running, exercise. Money is made in disease, pills, indulgence. You haven't heard once from any official, "hey during the next few months off, in addition to wearing a mask and social distancing, the BIGGEST thing you can do, is to address your health and get to work on it asap". Nope, not a word. It's "stay inside", tune into tv, be afraid. These people are gross.

I'll never stay in my home, afraid to go outside over a virus that the OVERWHELMING majority recover. This is NOT death in the streets. COVID19 is not a death sentence, no where near. Not to mention, if you are have co-morbidities, why is the cause of death listed as "covid", and not one of the other co-morbidities? If someone had COPD, heart disease and diabetes, why does covid gets the blame? Seems to me it's far more complicated than that.

I hugged my friend last week and she broke down crying. She hadn't had a hug in 3 months. Fuck that. Come here girl, we are gonna be ok, or not.

[zrx299]

99.6% survivable. The hysteria needs to stop. Now.
My God, you have way higher odds of being taken out by a crazy driver on the highway, or some other freak accident that *you have no control over*.

Those who have a different risk-profile, mask up (a *real* mask, like I said earlier not just some piece of tshirt cloth or $0.50 Chinese garbage flap), and take basic necessary precautions like you would normally do for anything else.

The rest of us *want* to get back to work, and back to LIFE! Let us!

Stop wrecking the economy (and more importantly, the DOLLAR. We lose world reserve currency status, we are all f****d. Game over at that point) for politically opportunistic reasons masquerading as "abundance of caution".

[shoreditch]

I don't know who you think is oppressing y'all but it's literally nobody. Get a grip. Be a decent human.

[We vs us]

Aaaaand scene. Completely off into politics land. For all of our sakes, let's dump this convo and get back to bashing the surburbs, eh?