20 March 2020

Radical New Social Norms: 'QUARANTINE SHAMING'

Quarantine shaming
calling out those not abiding by social distancing rules — is part of a new and startling reality for Americans who must navigate a world of rapidly evolving social norms in the age of COVID-19."
_________________________________________________________________________
The Associated Press published an article that described the backlash the chairman of Arizona’s Asian Chamber of Commerce Ryan Winkle received after posting a photo on Instagram of him attending a small dinner at a local restaurant to bolster the business and bring together other leaders to discuss how to help Asian-American eateries devastated by the coronavirus.
“My thinking is always about the economics.

Imagine when all these businesses shut down.
That’s a whole different problem.”
_________________________________________________________________________________
"As schools close and shelter-in-place orders sweep across the U.S., the divide between those who are stringently practicing self-isolation and those who are still trying to go about some semblance of a normal life has never been more clear.
Complicating matters: What was socially acceptable even 48 hours ago may now be taboo, as government officials race to contain the virus with ever-expanding circles of social isolation.
_________________________________________________________________________

'Quarantine Shaming': US Navigates Radical New Social Norms

"The chairman of Arizona's Asian Chamber of Commerce didn't see much downside to attending a small dinner at a local restaurant to bolster the business and bring together other leaders to discuss how to help Asian-American eateries devastated by the coronavirus.
That was, at least, until he posted about it on Instagram. The feedback was swift from people who were appalled that Ryan Winkle would promote a gathering — even a small one — as COVID-19 raged and entire cities were urged to self-isolate.
“I started getting some messages saying, ‘Hey, why are you trying to spread the virus?' I was like, ’It’s a small event, and everyone had washed their hands, and they had sanitizer on the tables,'” Winkle said of the dinner held Saturday in Mesa, Arizona.
“My thinking is always about the economics. Imagine when all these businesses shut down. That’s a whole different problem.”
. . . Winkle, for his part, has re-examined his approach to social distancing since the weekend event. It helps that Mesa instituted a ban on dine-in serve at restaurants and bars on Tuesday.
“I get it, and I get where they’re coming from,” he said.
“I definitely took it to heart and thought maybe it's time to start slowing things down.”
READ THE ENTIRE REPORT > Associated Press Online via NY Times