My cautionary email to my normie friends.

submitted by JasonCarswell from self.Coronavirus

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[–]FormosaOolong 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (5 children)

Excellent! May I mention a small detail? If you want the normies to take you seriously, I'd leave out the SImpsons. Much of what you're talking about is a big ask anyway for those who have not pondered these things, and referencing a tv cartoon might not help your case. I dunno.

Either way, a great writeup!

[–]JasonCarswell[S] 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (4 children)

I appreciate the feedback!

The Simpsons inclusion was an effort to tempt with honey rather than vinegar, as well as potentially lead to the vast community of skeptics (thus the meme and humour bounty). As well as an effort to be universally familiar and comforting in these trying times. Also, I'm an animator, so it fits a little more (I think), for those who know me.

I guess it didn't work.

I agree, it is a big ask for everyone who's been masterfully brainwashed all their life to just flip it. Especially in fear of DEATH!

I'd re-write it if it mattered, but the votes say not, like most of my other efforts, drowned out by the virtual hurricane, lost to chronos chaos.

What I really hoped for was to inspire other folks to write their friends, and maybe summarize how they make sense of it all. It's just so vast, like the monster rabbit holes of 9/11 or JFK - but this one is NOW. I look forward to the documentaries and such that will inevitably come out about this to clear it all up, though I suspect by that time I'll already know much of it too, so meh. Unlike a dozen+ years ago, today I'm spoiled with knowledge.

[–]FormosaOolong 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

It matters. Keep planting seeds. Keep watering. Summer flowers don't bloom in the snow.

[–]JasonCarswell[S] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

I got some email responses:

" Ugh, the Simpson’s always call it don’t they? "

" We had a conversation in our house the other day - pretty much exactly what you were writing about. I fear you’re right in your ‘predictions’. I honestly don’t know what to believe anymore. And I try and not watch too much news or get caught up in everyone’s “wrong” status updates on the situation because everyone is an “expert". But I do tend to agree with you. Also, I disagree with the person who commented on your writing - I think the Simpson’s reference is perfect for us ‘normies’ - everyone believes the Simpsons! :) "

And another who's "taking social distancing pretty seriously right now", with good reasons, but sadly not really taking in my message of skepticism. Too much fear can cloud the hope that comes with skepticism. Maybe hope isn't the right word. I don't know why, but I feel far more calm and confident with healthy skepticism and accepting that I don't know, rather than being afraid and not knowing or posing certainty. Maybe that's something to tap into. If we could just make people feel better with skepticism we might win the war for our minds...

[–]FormosaOolong 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

Great! I love being "wrong" in this kind of context :)

[–]JasonCarswell[S] 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

Well, 1 only commented on it, another comment included it, and the third it didn't come up. Others haven't responded - maybe because of it.

For what it's worth, I was tempted to share with them my ever-evolving Hysterical Virile Panda-Mix playlist and/or other memes, but I used my maximum restraint to only use that singular dead-on-target Simpsons clip that is ever soooooooo creepy now.