kibblesandbits
Pearl Clutcher
At the corner of Awesome and Bombdiggity
Posts: 3,305
Aug 13, 2016 13:47:39 GMT
|
Post by kibblesandbits on Sept 26, 2021 15:46:19 GMT
I see this phrase all this time as a rationalization for chosen behaviors during the pandemic. But, what does it MEAN? Hopefully I'll be able to get my thinking about this out without the usual nitpickers. Does a mask make you feel "safe"? Do published sanitization protocols make you feel "safe"? Given that anyone and everyone can pass on the virus, can be asymptomatic and still transmit the virus, there's no knowing who is vaccinated and who is not, vaccination doesn't seem to be the cure-all that was "promised" in the beginning, etc etc etc. Given all that, the concept of "feeling safe" is just completely strange to me. It reads to me like a feeling of safety is something that is now of value and is applied to many decisions (like the gym, in another thread). Does the feeling of safety come from yourself? Or outside influence? I ask, as I can't imagine applying the word "safe" to this pandemic at all. Maybe I just don't understand the concept. Esoteric discussion for a Sunday.
|
|
|
Post by gar on Sept 26, 2021 15:52:56 GMT
I would guess that maybe it means "I have weighed up the risks, taken various factors into account and decided I am comfortable with this level of risk, while knowing nothing is 100% safe."
I don't think we're there yet with the vaccination (rates aren't high enough) but in the end it will be as good as it gets. I don't believe we were promised more than that.
|
|
caangel
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,734
Location: So Cal
Jun 26, 2014 16:42:12 GMT
|
Post by caangel on Sept 26, 2021 15:53:07 GMT
Personally in this context "safe" is short for "safe enough, based on the science as I understand it and my/the mitigation measures, to take the risk".
|
|
|
Post by freecharlie on Sept 26, 2021 15:54:53 GMT
For me, it means that whatever precautions being taken are enough for me to not have anxiety.
Am I safe? Of course not. But I would also say that I feel safe in my neighborhood and that doesn't eliminate the possibility of something happening to me.
Maybe safe is more "acceptable level" or I've accepted the risk.
For me... Dh works with covid patients all day in full ppe, but that doesn't keep him from being exposed by others in the hospital or out in public.
I work in a school with 600+ students with no mask mandate or real quarantine protocol.
Ds goes to a school with similar numbers and the same non-protocols.
Am I safe? No, but there's really nothing I can do about it at this point.
Would I go somewhere small and confined and purposefully sit with unvaccinated people who refuse any precautions? Probably not.
Will I be at opening night of hockey with thousands of other people? Yup.
"I'd rather die while I'm living than live while I'm dead" ~ jimmy buffett
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Nov 24, 2024 2:30:57 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2021 15:56:50 GMT
I felt safe during the pandemic. Why?
1. Steady income
2. Solid place to live that was warm, dry, and cool depending on outside weather
3. Didn't have to worry about loosing our home
4. Easy access to food and the money to buy it when prices went up
5. Ability for dh to work from home and help me care for the kids
6. Solid fast interest to stay connected to family, friends, work, school
7. Able to afford Instacart and not have to be in stores end mid March - May when it was really bad. Late May till now we shop in stores again
8. Ability to afford and have masks
9. Private health insurance and being close to care when needed as well as a team of doctors for the kids who kept us safe.
Do I feel safe being out and about? Yes. I wear a mask. I am vaccinated as are the kids and dh and all but 1 family member (too young). I even had my hair done as did dd (cvid immunocompromised) in July 2020.
I am not going to live my life in fear but I am going to be smart. And being smart keeps us safe in my house.
We all have various levels of safe.
Threads like this annoy me. Why? Because you are calling out others who feel safe at different level than you. I am so tired of these nit picky call out threads.
You do you. I do me.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Nov 24, 2024 2:30:57 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2021 15:57:16 GMT
I don’t think there is a “safe” .
I think there is a risk assessment instead.
Outdoor, generously distanced, short time exposure , high quality mask and vaccination , with no extra health vulnerability would equal less risk - but not “safe” .
The opposite circumstances would represent high risk.
I guess it depends on what level of risk a person is comfortable with.
Our family opts for as low risk as possible and takes every precaution going which means sacrifice but it is our choice .
|
|
seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,878
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
|
Post by seaexplore on Sept 26, 2021 15:59:51 GMT
Personally in this context "safe" is short for "safe enough, based on the science as I understand it and my/the mitigation measures, to take the risk". Same.
|
|
|
Post by revirdsuba99 on Sept 26, 2021 15:59:58 GMT
I think I use 'safer' rather then safe. Vaccinated and I mask when out. Groceries delivered by masked person. Me too. Avoid large groups.
Therefore 'safer'...
|
|
|
Post by scrapmaven on Sept 26, 2021 16:03:15 GMT
I don't feel safe. I feel frustrated that this is happening to everyone in the world.
|
|
kibblesandbits
Pearl Clutcher
At the corner of Awesome and Bombdiggity
Posts: 3,305
Aug 13, 2016 13:47:39 GMT
|
Post by kibblesandbits on Sept 26, 2021 16:11:55 GMT
I felt safe during the pandemic. Why? 1. Steady income 2. Solid place to live that was warm, dry, and cool depending on outside weather 3. Didn't have to worry about loosing our home 4. Easy access to food and the money to buy it when prices went up 5. Ability for dh to work from home and help me care for the kids 6. Solid fast interest to stay connected to family, friends, work, school 7. Able to afford Instacart and not have to be in stores end mid March - May when it was really bad. Late May till now we shop in stores again 8. Ability to afford and have masks 9. Private health insurance and being close to care when needed as well as a team of doctors for the kids who kept us safe. Do I feel safe being out and about? Yes. I wear a mask. I am vaccinated as are the kids and dh and all but 1 family member (too young). I even had my hair done as did dd (cvid immunocompromised) in July 2020. I am not going to live my life in fear but I am going to be smart. And being smart keeps us safe in my house. We all have various levels of safe. Threads like this annoy me. Why? Because you are calling out others who feel safe at different level than you. I am so tired of these nit picky call out threads.You do you. I do me. How on earth is this a "call out" thread? I'm genuinely asking. I hear the phrase here, I hear it in real life. I'm just asking. There's no ill intent here.
|
|
kibblesandbits
Pearl Clutcher
At the corner of Awesome and Bombdiggity
Posts: 3,305
Aug 13, 2016 13:47:39 GMT
|
Post by kibblesandbits on Sept 26, 2021 16:13:08 GMT
I don’t think there is a “safe” . I think there is a risk assessment instead. Outdoor, generously distanced, short time exposure , high quality mask and vaccination , with no extra health vulnerability would equal less risk - but not “safe” . The opposite circumstances would represent high risk. I guess it depends on what level of risk a person is comfortable with. Our family opts for as low risk as possible and takes every precaution going which means sacrifice but it is our choice . Risk assessment - okay. Makes sense. Thanks for your response.
|
|
|
Post by freecharlie on Sept 26, 2021 16:13:09 GMT
I felt safe during the pandemic. Why? 1. Steady income 2. Solid place to live that was warm, dry, and cool depending on outside weather 3. Didn't have to worry about loosing our home 4. Easy access to food and the money to buy it when prices went up 5. Ability for dh to work from home and help me care for the kids 6. Solid fast interest to stay connected to family, friends, work, school 7. Able to afford Instacart and not have to be in stores end mid March - May when it was really bad. Late May till now we shop in stores again 8. Ability to afford and have masks 9. Private health insurance and being close to care when needed as well as a team of doctors for the kids who kept us safe. Do I feel safe being out and about? Yes. I wear a mask. I am vaccinated as are the kids and dh and all but 1 family member (too young). I even had my hair done as did dd (cvid immunocompromised) in July 2020. I am not going to live my life in fear but I am going to be smart. And being smart keeps us safe in my house. We all have various levels of safe. Threads like this annoy me. Why? Because you are calling out others who feel safe at different level than you. I am so tired of these nit picky call out threads.You do you. I do me. How on earth is this a "call out" thread? I'm genuinely asking. I hear the phrase here, I hear it in real life. I'm just asking. There's no ill intent here. it's not, at least not to me. It is a genuine question as we all have different perspectives. If I felt I was doing something wrong, them I might feel called out.
|
|
kibblesandbits
Pearl Clutcher
At the corner of Awesome and Bombdiggity
Posts: 3,305
Aug 13, 2016 13:47:39 GMT
|
Post by kibblesandbits on Sept 26, 2021 16:13:53 GMT
Personally in this context "safe" is short for "safe enough, based on the science as I understand it and my/the mitigation measures, to take the risk". This is well put. Thanks for your response.
|
|
kibblesandbits
Pearl Clutcher
At the corner of Awesome and Bombdiggity
Posts: 3,305
Aug 13, 2016 13:47:39 GMT
|
Post by kibblesandbits on Sept 26, 2021 16:14:28 GMT
I think I use 'safer' rather then safe. Vaccinated and I mask when out. Groceries delivered by masked person. Me too. Avoid large groups. Therefore 'safer'... Thanks, this makes total sense.
|
|
kibblesandbits
Pearl Clutcher
At the corner of Awesome and Bombdiggity
Posts: 3,305
Aug 13, 2016 13:47:39 GMT
|
Post by kibblesandbits on Sept 26, 2021 16:18:56 GMT
For me, it means that whatever precautions being taken are enough for me to not have anxiety. Am I safe? Of course not. But I would also say that I feel safe in my neighborhood and that doesn't eliminate the possibility of something happening to me. Maybe safe is more "acceptable level" or I've accepted the risk. For me... Dh works with covid patients all day in full ppe, but that doesn't keep him from being exposed by others in the hospital or out in public. I work in a school with 600+ students with no mask mandate or real quarantine protocol. Ds goes to a school with similar numbers and the same non-protocols. Am I safe? No, but there's really nothing I can do about it at this point. Would I go somewhere small and confined and purposefully sit with unvaccinated people who refuse any precautions? Probably not. Will I be at opening night of hockey with thousands of other people? Yup. "I'd rather die while I'm living than live while I'm dead" ~ jimmy buffett Thanks for your input - really highlights how people experienced this pandemic differently. For me, although I am a young retiree, my life seemed to change to the opposite of what everyone else here experienced. When everyone got to stay home, suddenly I was forced out of the house and into various public situations that exposed me and my family. Everyone got to stay home, but instead my house filled up with various people experiencing housing issues. Everyone was supposed to avoid personal contact, but my home became a veritable revolving door. I became a "landlord", a "sick ward", a "safe house" for two youths in precarious situations, and a place for various friends and relatives to come stay to get away from their exposed loved ones. I had to get even MORE involved with our more vulnerable populations in town through hands on volunteer and food distribution work.
|
|
kibblesandbits
Pearl Clutcher
At the corner of Awesome and Bombdiggity
Posts: 3,305
Aug 13, 2016 13:47:39 GMT
|
Post by kibblesandbits on Sept 26, 2021 16:19:58 GMT
How on earth is this a "call out" thread? I'm genuinely asking. I hear the phrase here, I hear it in real life. I'm just asking. There's no ill intent here. it's not, at least not to me. It is a genuine question as we all have different perspectives. If I felt I was doing something wrong, them I might feel called out. Whew. Thanks! I was sure that I qualified my initial post to explain myself, but you know . . .
|
|
melissa
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,912
Jun 25, 2014 20:45:00 GMT
|
Post by melissa on Sept 26, 2021 16:21:49 GMT
Easy to feel safe when the threat is essentially invisible.
But, yes, as others have expressed "I feel safe" for me is "I feel the risks are low enough in this situation for me personally." I do not believe that all who say that are actually taking into account the risks fully, especially the unvaxed unmasked crowd.
|
|
|
Post by bc2ca on Sept 26, 2021 16:22:36 GMT
I would guess that maybe it means "I have weighed up the risks, taken various factors into account and decided I am comfortable with this level of risk, while knowing nothing is 100% safe." It is a risk assessment exercise. For me, wearing a mask makes me feel comfortable that I'm mitigating the chances of getting sick. I value a feeling of safety in many things I do so drive wearing a seatbelt, ride wearing a helmet and kayak wearing a lifejacket.
|
|
J u l e e
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,531
Location: Cincinnati
Jun 28, 2014 2:50:47 GMT
|
Post by J u l e e on Sept 26, 2021 16:22:50 GMT
I think, like so many others have already said, that the word is an expression in relation to risk. I don’t think I’ve ever used the word safe, but I have explained my choices based on the level of risk I’m comfortable with.
On the gym thread, to me, going to the gym is a risk I’m willing to take - fully vaccinated and not around others who cannot be (children or family members). I won’t risk having my options to physical activity limited anymore. It is not worth it to me to go another winter without access to gym equipment or physical outlets that I don’t have at home. I do yoga here, and I do walk with friends outside straight through the winter, but that’s about it. I still need to run and hate to do that outdoors. So I feel “safe enough” to head to the gym without a mask, knowing fully I could come in contact with covid.
|
|
|
Post by ~summer~ on Sept 26, 2021 16:40:18 GMT
I do feel fairly safe from Covid - I’m vaccinated and everyone in my family, extended family and all friends are vaccinated and I don’t have any underlying health conditions putting me at risk for hospitalization.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Nov 24, 2024 2:30:57 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2021 17:26:49 GMT
I would guess that maybe it means "I have weighed up the risks, taken various factors into account and decided I am comfortable with this level of risk, while knowing nothing is 100% safe." I don't think we're there yet with the vaccination (rates aren't high enough) but in the end it will be as good as it gets. I don't believe we were promised more than that. 100% this. I never heard and read that the vaccines were a cure. They were a way to prevent our hospitals being flooded with very sick patients. And keep the majority of people from being very sick. Just like the flu vaccine.
|
|
Just T
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,884
Jun 26, 2014 1:20:09 GMT
|
Post by Just T on Sept 26, 2021 17:37:25 GMT
I haven't read all the responses. It's not that I feel safe. I have been vaccinated and will get the booster when I am eligible, which should be late December. I have started wearing masks again when I am at the grocery store. I honestly don't think we will ever be completely "safe" from Covid. I am not a scientist, but I just feel like it is here to stay. I hope I am wrong.
So at this point, I am doing what I can to protect myself, but I cannot isolate myself like we all mostly did in early 2020. I mostly eat outdoors when I go to restaurants, but I have eaten indoors, too. I have traveled--I went to the beach in Florida this summer, and I was a bit nervous because it was soooooooooo crowded everywhere. I have flown on a plane twice, wearing a mask. I am traveling out of state this weekend by car. I use hand sanitizer more than I ever have.
But I don't think I will ever feel completely safe from Covid. I'm just doing what I can to minimize my risk while living my life.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Nov 24, 2024 2:30:57 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2021 17:42:43 GMT
I think I would add it also depends on where people live and the prevalence.
Here in the UK is it out of control , little to no mitigation , health care buckling under the strain, I would love to live somewhere else right now . I hate this , so much loss.
|
|
|
Post by Merge on Sept 26, 2021 18:04:58 GMT
Interesting to note that the CDC doesn’t use the word “safe.” It uses “more risky” and “less risky.” There is no safe. There never will be again. There’s only whatever level of risk we’re willing to take or that is forced upon us.
|
|
|
Post by silverlining on Sept 26, 2021 18:22:28 GMT
There's quite a range between absolutely safe and crazily risky. I consider where something falls on that range and also how I can enjoy my life and do things that I love. I don't enjoy myself if a situation feels risky. I feel safer taking long brisk walks on the beach with one friend, than doing zumba inside the gym with a group of unmasked people. For now, I am choosing the safer option for exercise.
It would be safer for me to have groceries delivered, but I enjoy shopping and not paying delivery fees and I live in an area where most people continue to mask in stores, so I feel safe enough that I can enjoy the experience.
|
|
purplebee
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,801
Jun 27, 2014 20:37:34 GMT
|
Post by purplebee on Sept 26, 2021 18:27:46 GMT
“Safe” from the virus has taken on a whole new meaning for me. Pre-vaccination, at my primary school cafeteria job, I actually felt fairly safe. Everyone was wearing (mandated) masks and practicing social distancing, and I set up a way to still charge students but not doing my computer job face-to-face with a bunch of unvaccinated kids. I felt that most folks were doing what they could to protect each other, even with the occasional maskless person I encountered in the grocery store or more often, at Walmart. I washed my hands frequently and used Lysol wipes. I was never scared, though I was worried about the virus impacting loved ones who were older or immunocompromised.
Post-vaccine it’s a whole different world. Yes, I do feel “safer” since being vaccinated, and will get my booster shot next month. But I am no longer depending on others to protect me. I live in a red state, and the number of right-wing anti-mask, anti-vaccine, Ivermectin-swigging locals is astounding to me. School board voted no for masks this year, and social distancing is limited. We have no virtual option so everyone is back in school, many have been quarantined including unvaxxed staff. I do mask up when exposed to the student population. I can no longer trust the folks I encounter (some on a daily basis - I know of at least six in my district cafeteria staff of 14 who refuse the vaccine), both intentionally and randomly, and so my faith in the basic goodness of humanity has definitely been compromised by the pandemic.
So I guess my answer is both yes and no.
|
|
|
Post by gar on Sept 26, 2021 18:41:39 GMT
Interesting to note that the CDC doesn’t use the word “safe.” It uses “more risky” and “less risky.” There is no safe. There never will be again. There’s only whatever level of risk we’re willing to take or that is forced upon us. Do you feel this situation is (or at least will be) akin to flu in terms of risk/never going away etc ?
|
|
craftykitten
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,304
Jun 26, 2014 7:39:32 GMT
|
Post by craftykitten on Sept 26, 2021 18:53:59 GMT
Interesting to note that the CDC doesn’t use the word “safe.” It uses “more risky” and “less risky.” There is no safe. There never will be again. There’s only whatever level of risk we’re willing to take or that is forced upon us. Do you feel this situation is (or at least will be) akin to flu in terms of risk/never going away etc ? The smartest thing I’ve read about this is that we should stop trying to treat COVID like the flu, and start treating the flu like COVID. 20,000 deaths a year in the UK? Avoidable.
|
|
|
Post by 5peanutsnana on Sept 26, 2021 19:05:12 GMT
We are all in the same storm, but we are not all in the same boat. Some are in yachts and some are in row boats. I am lucky to be vaccinated and have no need to go out of my home...unless I want to.
I'm back to wearing a mask when I am in public because I know too many people who are vaccinated and still got Covid. DH and I went to a gathering at our club house a month ago of about 60 people and at least 12 people tested positive with varying symptoms. (They were vaccinated.) I feel relatively safe, but would feel even safer if more people were vaccinated. I fear for the kids who are yet unable to get the vaccine. 3 of my grands had Covid with mild symptoms.
|
|
|
Post by gar on Sept 26, 2021 19:55:54 GMT
Do you feel this situation is (or at least will be) akin to flu in terms of risk/never going away etc ? The smartest thing I’ve read about this is that we should stop trying to treat COVID like the flu, and start treating the flu like COVID. 20,000 deaths a year in the UK? Avoidable. Interesting, yes…
|
|