Subj : New normals was: disability To : Barry Martin From : Nancy Backus Date : Wed May 06 2020 18:28:28 -=> Quoting Barry Martin to Nancy Backus on 30-Apr-2020 11:30 <=- BM>> LIS some time back, the COVID-19 issues may end up having the positive BM>> effect of people being more mindful of health issues. Glancing at the BM>> sink does not equate washing ones hands. Coughing/sneezing into the BM>> air may be easier for that person but can be unhealthy for the BM>> surrounding people. (Ask anyone in retail!) NB>> For sure... :) Some of that is merely good health sense... The NB>> negative is in the what may be overkill reactions to dealing with it, NB>> at least in the long term, of the social distancing and isolations and NB>> even masks and gloves.... Hopefully the restrictions will be all NB>> lifted when the crisis is over, leaving just the reasonable health NB>> responses... :) BM> It will be interesting! Right now the masking and gloves and santizing BM> everything might be an overreaction. Possibly.... certainly more than I'd necessarily find necessary, but then I tend to be more laid back about such things... BM> Not saying it isn't the right thing to do; at this point we don't know BM> the details and so tend to overreact, to do everything to protect as BM> opposed to just what is necessary. And that's pretty much how I look at it, too... better probably to overreact to some extent, than to be too complacent... Where one draws the line varies, though, I've noted.... ;) BM> I do think society in general will change: it will be almost a social BM> disgrace to go out sick. Where the sick line is drawn I don't know: BM> sniffles from allergies isn't catching but can be similiar to sniffles BM> from a cold. For a while, maybe... and not that bad a thing in some respects for people to be allowed to stay home when actually sick... I expect that it'll be back more to what we've had pretty soon after the threat is over, people being what they are... only a hundred years ago was the Spanish Flu... and that didn't change behaviours forever... ;) BM> Small gatherings -- would be somewhat easy to maintain a bit of a BM> distance, which I think will be decreased but not back to the almost BM> walking into each other. Larger gathering will be more difficult to BM> maintain a distance, especially as excitement builds on the event BM> floor. We're going to be back to having weddings and funerals.... some of those are relatively small... but I don't think that someone wanting a large wedding is going to hold back just because.... And a large family will make for a large funeral.... BM> Business will be interesting. For "corporate stuff" they've found a BM> lot could be done from home, so might be a way for the many of the cube BM> farms to be disassembled, possibly replacing a few with conference BM> rooms for when people do have to meet once or three times a week. Maybe.... as long as the management doesn't feel the need to be hands-on meddling in every detail.... BM> Retail will probably essentially stay somewhat like current with a big BM> amount as on-line shopping. People do like to shop, especially feel BM> clothing and see how it fits, so maybe that segment of shopping back BM> to as it was, though possibly even less in-stock (one shirt in stock, BM> sold, replacement comes in.) A lot of people need to make sure clothing actually fits, and make sure the color or pattern is flattering... so I'd think that would go back to what it was... Even appliances and cars and such there's a lot of personal preference (and need to actually check out in person) that goes into choices.... BM> The mom-and-pop type shops are going to have a short-term struggle and BM> then possibly proliferate as they take over specialties. Maybe the BM> return of shoe stores as people prefer to try on to be certain is BM> comfortable as opposed to a shirt/blouse which doesn't have to not hit BM> on a bunion and can flop around a bit. I'd guess both would need to be more in person to make sure of fit... :) BM> All guesses, of course, And we'll see how things actually play out... :) BM>> There may be other positive effects: might be easier to take time off BM>> if one is sick - factory, office, etc. General thought was come to BM>> work unless you're dead. Maybe now will change to if you're sick stay BM>> home. NB>> That would be a positive effect from it... Fewer other communicable NB>> things could be so easily transmitted if sick people could stay home NB>> to get well first... :) BM> True. I know I went to work several times just because "it was the BM> thing to do". Fortunately, I don't get sick all that often... and when I do, I'm really sick and couldn't go in if I wanted to... :) NB>>> And the latest executive order from our governor mandates masks for NB>>> all in public where social distancing might be an issue.... it's NB>>> still voluntary compliance, but this does raise the ante.... Mass NB>>> transport, for-hire vehicles and stores are specifically mentioned... BM>> Makes sense. (I initially interpreted 'Mass transport' as the one in BM>> Massachusetts -- well, MA is next to NY, plus heard on the news when I BM>> was in NH!) Masks, properly fitting and worn, will trap much of the BM>> aerosol-ized exhaled breath vapor the viruses are hitchhiking on, plus BM>> block most from being inhaled, especially in close-quarters and where BM>> not much movement. Was reading where with normal walking there is BM>> enough pushing aside of small particles suspended in the air so one BM>> doesn't inhale. NB>> Interesting. Mostly for me, what I notice is that the mask traps NB>> moist, warm breath.... I'm only wearing it as mandated, in stores NB>> and such... I did wear it in the blood collection place when I NB>> needed to have blood drawn yesterday.... BM> I also have not been wearing a mask but also haven't gone any place BM> public lately. ...Good Grief! I've been home for two weeks??!! I BM> didn't go to Hy-Vee last week.... Going to go to Dollar General later BM> this morning to pick up a Mother's Day card and a couple other items; BM> Hy-Vee after that. I did make a paper towel mask last might and will BM> bring it with me should masking be required. Will wipe the basket BM> handle/cart handle with hand sanitizer -- have been doing that. No wonder you're getting stir-crazy...? ;) Are masks required in close quarters for you now, too....? NB>>> Sometimes one does have to be a little creative with storing stuff... ;) BM>> Yes. Actually a lot can be stored under there, or at least in my BM>> apartment. Here at the house don't have that option. NB>> Because someone else does use that space....? ;) BM> Nah...:) First floor bathroom's sink is on a cabinet and the room BM> itself is compact enough no space for a seating area/extra storage. BM> The upstairs bathroom has a pedestal sink so definitely no storage BM> counter. Ah, ok... ;) NB>>>> How it actually works out indeed might be interesting. I'd guess that NB>>>> having people have to work from home may also point up some aspects NB>>>> where being at the worksite actually is more beneficial after all... BM>>> That's true! Little things like the walk to the supply room for BM>>> printer paper, bigger things like the copier. And everyone in one BM>>> place for a meeting, or when answering the phone to see the person BM>>> needed to get the call is at their desk. NB>>> Yup.... one doesn't even think about that sort of thing until one NB>>> isn't in a position to just do the customary... ;) BM>> Right: was 'normal' to go to work, supplies were there, though BM>> sometimes the next cubicle stole your stapler, now it's the kids! NB>> The drawbacks are everywhere... ;) BM> True. A lot of 'all depends'. And what might be a problem for one BM> person would not be a problem for another. A parent might find BM> working at home they can break up their eight-hour job so it lasts BM> twelve or even fourteen. Might sound horrible initially but work a BM> couple hours, get the kids off to school, go back to work, take a 15 BM> minute lunch, work a bit, kids back from school and take a break with BM> them, back to work, start preparing dinner, work a bit while dinner is BM> cooking, dinner, a little more work. A different sort of flex-time... ;) But that is the sort of schedule that many self-employed working at home already have had... :) BM>> Of course depends on what the job function is. Retail can't be at BM>> home to stock the shelves. OTOH might have been found it isn't BM>> necessary to be open until ten p.m. LIS a few messages ago, I'm BM>> thinking some of the work-at-home will continue, maybe as an expansion BM>> of flex hours (everyone had to be on-site from 10 to 1, or Tuesday, BM>> Thursday and Friday). NB>> Possible... Some kinds of businesses would be more likely to be NB>> able to do that sort of thing than others, though... BM> True, again depends on specifics. And some people can work with BM> minimal supervision, others need to have that watchful eye. There is that, too... :) BM>>> OTOH it will take away from fun little quirkie things like when the BM>>> weatherman was doing his weather teaser from home and he sees his dog BM>>> come in the room -- he commented a happy 'oh-oh!' and then we hear his BM>>> dog happily barking in the background! NB>>> Or the kid running in, not realizing Mommy is "on the air".... ;) I NB>>> heard what sounded like that in the background of the main guest for NB>>> an AARP telephone town hall meeting Friday.... BM>> Uh-huh!! ...This morning the iRobot (she meant the BM>> Siri/Alexa device) alarmed and started speaking in the background BM>> during one of the news anchor's segments. NB>> Interesting little quirks.... ;) BM> Things have gone off smoother than I'd expect, especially considering BM> the anchors are suddenly working from home. For the station I BM> generally watch it looks like the anchors are working out of a family BM> room vs. a home office: a room where everyone is welcome as opposed to BM> Daddy's or Mommy's room. Perhaps that's what is most easily available... :) ttyl neb .... Everything is considered ethnic in some part of the world. --- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F * Origin: Tiny's BBS - http://www.tinysbbs.com (454:1/452) .