Originally Posted by scottiesrgreat@gmail.com (Post 1932381)

I have NEVER been afraid of Covid. The only reason I wear/wore a mask and distanced is to be thoughtful for those who have been afraid.

Wasting this past year ++ in the final years of my life on earth has been the biggest challenge of my long life. Ok, I have a stupid rant..... I am sure people think they are being kind when they say “Stay Safe!” - but, it makes me cringe inside when anyone says it in the context of Covid. My mom & dad used to tell me to “be safe” and I find myself telling my friends and loved ones to be safe - but it is in reference to things like - staying safe from bad drivers, pick-pockets, cyber-criminals, slippery streets during a ice/snow storm, embarking on a long trip, going up a ladder to clean gutters ....

Anyway, sorry for rambling - if knowing makes you happy - yes, I got the vaccinations. I have absolutely no desire to know if you have gotten the vaccine. I will wear a mask - where I must. I will, however, choose to patronize businesses that do not mandate masks (please don’t get in a tizzy - it is my choice, if you feel different - that is your choice).

If masks remain mandatory - I will not waste my time getting any more Covid vaccinations. Again, don’t get in a tizzy - my choice.

‘Stay Sane!!’ :-) :-) :-) I think this is much more appropriate :-). But - again - it is just what I think. Say and do what you want to!

Originally Posted by jeanninern@yahoo.com (Post 1932421)

However, if you do contract Covid-19 you may not die, but you could expose others to the virus who may not be so lucky.

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 1932469)

Oh please. Mammograms never existed, once upon a time. And now they're considered a normal and expected part of an average woman's journey through adulthood. They've become the "new normal" for women, and other than complaining about how uncomfortable they are to get (I attest!), the vast majority of women get them and don't even batt an eye when the doctor reminds them it's time for the next one.

Triple antibiotic ointment didn't exist, once upon a time. And now any parent keeps a tube of the stuff in the cabinet to smear on Junior when he scrapes his leg. There's nothing nefarious about it, and it has become the "new normal" to prepare for the inevitability. It is a preventative for infection. You no longer have to pour whiskey over the wound or pack it with macerated herb poultices and hope it doesn't fester.

Masks has been a normal in some parts of the world for decades. No one gives it a second thought. You leave the house, you wear a mask. No big deal. It's not mandated in those countries, no one is telling them they must do so. They do anyway. There's no reason why we can't do the same here, except that everyone is so focused on "mah freedumz" that they forget "mah health" is one of those freedumz.

Sort of like, if the color green offends you, but it's discovered that green can actually be helpful to humanity in some strange way, then when most of the world starts putting a green rock outside their door, you decide you'll just steal all the rocks because it offends your delicate sensibilities and violates your freedom to not have to see green.

Seriously. That's the mentality I perceive when I hear people railing against masks because of conspiracies and political agendas. If you don't want to wear a mask because you just don't LIKE them, be honest. That is a valid reason to not WANT to wear them. I hate the things, myself. I personally would love to not wear them in other peoples' buildings. No one thinks less of me for not wanting half my face to be covered when I'm out grocery shopping. No one thinks less of me for really wishing no one else had to do the same, so I could read their lips since I'm hard of hearing.

But I'll still wear the mask, until the CDC says it's safe for the vast majority of people (around 80%, regardless of age) to not wear them. The CDC is saying it's safe for vaccinated people to not wear them. But MOST people are not fully vaccinated. And so as a precaution, no matter how unnecessary it is for ME, I'll continue. Your health is more important than my facial comfort.

And if you haven't gotten the virus yet and have shopped at Publix in the last year, you're welcome.

Originally Posted by Looking for next wife (Post 1932537)

Welcome to the Freedom Cafe
We trust you to make your own choices if you want to wear a face mask and in the same spirit of our individual liberty, we allow our staff to make their own choices about the safety procedures they prefer as they prepare and serve your food. We encourage our employees to wash their hands after using the bathroom but we do understand that some people may be allergic to certain soaps or may simply prefer not to wash their hands. It is not our place to infringe on their freedoms and tell them what to do.We understand that you may be used to and expect chicken that has been cooked to 165 degrees, however, we do have to respect that some of our cooks may have seen a meme or a youtube video that says that 100 degrees is sufficient and we allow that because we do not want to encroach on their beliefs. Some servers may want to touch your food as they serve it and, as such, there is no reason a healthy person with clean hands can't touch your food. In the interest of freedom, we will take their word for it that they are healthy and clean. Water temperature and use of detergent are highly personal choices so we are allowing our dishwasher team to decide how they prefer to wash the silverware that you will be putting in your mouth. Some of you may get sick, but almost everyone survives food poisoning. We think you will agree that it is a small price to pay for the sweet freedom of no one ever being told what to do and especially not for the super silly reason of helping to keep complete strangers healthy.

Originally Posted by MSchad (Post 1932622)

CDC says you can still spread covid if vaccinated or not. So what is the point of a passport? Now if you couldn’t catch it or spread it, then that would be totally different.

Originally Posted by MSchad (Post 1932635)

You can still expose others to the virus even after you are vaccinated. That is why they are saying you still have to wear the mask. Contracting it or not isn’t the question, it’s passing it on.

Originally Posted by Mortal1 (Post 1932168)

is that I sneeze and cough into my arm...take mine and my wife's temp every day and I don't go into crowded areas like the town squares or stores. I wash my hands frequently and carry hand sanitizer(75% alcohol)which I use after coughing, sneezing and handling objects others might have touched.

Nope...haven't got the vaccine yet(I'm 67...wife is 65). We don't plan to and I do not consider our decision to be NOT careful thinking or ourselves and others. Since you can still infect others if vaccinated I don't see the need for your comment. Especially since I view your posts as the most common sense and caring of all posters.

Originally Posted by Swoop (Post 1932182)

According to the CDC 87% of those who have been hospitalized or died from Covid were obese or overweight. Also according to the CDC, on average, those who died from Covid had 2.6 comorbidities. The most common being diabetes, lung disease, heart disease and hypertension. As someone who is not overweight and has none of the common preexisting conditions, my risk level is extremely low. Therefore I will most likely opt not to take the vaccine.

Originally Posted by donassaid (Post 1932392)

Or maybe lots of naive people. I wouldn't call taking an "experimental vaccine" that has caused the death of numerous healthy people and severe symptoms in many others to avoid a virus with a 99% recovery rate, particularly smart. To each his own. Guess i won't be attending any events that "require proof of vaccination".

Originally Posted by MDLNB (Post 1932444)

Agreed. However, what is the percentage chance that you WILL contract the virus, and then what is the percentage that you will contract it and then also pass it on to another that won't "be so lucky?" The virus is now way over 99% survivable. The infection rate is based on positive test results, which are skewed by many factors. Return recipients of those being tested positive are counted as newly infected. There is evidence of many false positives also. Many deaths are labeled with a cause of death "with" covid, not death by covid. Stats can be deceiving, more as much as politics. And now, we have the promise of the "miracle" vaccine, so there is a 100% survival rate for those vaccinated.



The masks should come off. Those that won't or can't get the vaccination should protect themselves. The rest of us should go back to a normal lifestyle.

Originally Posted by Looking for next wife (Post 1932537)

Welcome to the Freedom Cafe
We trust you to make your own choices if you want to wear a face mask and in the same spirit of our individual liberty, we allow our staff to make their own choices about the safety procedures they prefer as they prepare and serve your food. We encourage our employees to wash their hands after using the bathroom but we do understand that some people may be allergic to certain soaps or may simply prefer not to wash their hands. It is not our place to infringe on their freedoms and tell them what to do.We understand that you may be used to and expect chicken that has been cooked to 165 degrees, however, we do have to respect that some of our cooks may have seen a meme or a youtube video that says that 100 degrees is sufficient and we allow that because we do not want to encroach on their beliefs. Some servers may want to touch your food as they serve it and, as such, there is no reason a healthy person with clean hands can't touch your food. In the interest of freedom, we will take their word for it that they are healthy and clean. Water temperature and use of detergent are highly personal choices so we are allowing our dishwasher team to decide how they prefer to wash the silverware that you will be putting in your mouth. Some of you may get sick, but almost everyone survives food poisoning. We think you will agree that it is a small price to pay for the sweet freedom of no one ever being told what to do and especially not for the super silly reason of helping to keep complete strangers healthy.

Originally Posted by jimjamuser (Post 1932672)

You just can't snap your fingers and WILL a "normal lifestyle". We have to WAIT and hope that enough people get vaccinated to achieve a risk-free herd immunity. The anti-vaxxers could upset the "normal lifestyle".

Originally Posted by MSchad (Post 1932622)

CDC says you can still spread covid if vaccinated or not. So what is the point of a passport? Now if you couldn’t catch it or spread it, then that would be totally different.

Originally Posted by jimjamuser (Post 1932666)

OK, I will try to explain why Not getting vaccinated COULD have deadly consequences to the entire human race. Fully vaccinated people have almost zero chance of spreading CV. The anti-vaxxers will be spreading it among themselves and children under 16 (until they can be vaccinated). This will allow the VIRUS to evolve or mutate into a POSSIBLY (?) greater KILLER of HUMANS. It COULD (?) evolve to the point that it can avoid our current vaccines. That would be a DISASTER. Nobody wants that dire situation. 80% of the people in the US COULD (?) have all their effort and expense to get vaccinated to be for NOTHING - because of the 20% of anti-vaxxers that would not be vaccinated. Then, the US deaths would possibly double to 1 MILLION. And people would start over needing a NEW vaccine. ALL anti-vaxxers should think long and hard about whether they want to treat themselves and their fellow citizens that callously! The shots are free to the patient and have few side effects or dangers - they are also readily available. Think about it!

Originally Posted by Aloha1 (Post 1932692)

False.

"After warning for months that vaccinated people should still be cautious in order to not infect others, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests they may not be at much risk of transmitting the coronavirus.

“Vaccinated people do not carry the virus — they don’t get sick,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, told MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow on Tuesday. That’s “not just in the clinical trials, but it’s also in real-world data.”

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 1932020)

Heard on the news that half the country has been vaccinated. I saw a map with deep colors showing counties with the most vaccination. Sumter county stands out right away on a map of Florida.

I wonder what percentage of Villagers have been vaccinated.

I am guessing about 70%.

I am proud of our careful thinking of ourselves and others.

Originally Posted by cherylncliff (Post 1932569)

Based on the governors executive order, that was probably illegal for them to ask if you had been vaccinated as a condition of entry.

Originally Posted by popbaby2 (Post 1932609)

Because it is 95% effective. You can still give it to me. I will probably not die but i can pass it on. And that person may die. You are being selfish.

Originally Posted by Robbie0723 (Post 1932477)

Sumter is doing relatively well, most new cases are younger people in the coastal population areas.

Covid Act Now

Originally Posted by JimmyDebbie (Post 1932497)

My husband and I survived Covid last October (not hospitalized) and still have Covid antibodies. Studies that I’ve researched indicate that T-cell immunity also should work against Covid variants and will most likely trigger a lifetime response against Covid. I will take my God-given immune system and how it works over receiving a vaccine. I respect those who have not had Covid and choose to take a vaccine and believe that respect should work both ways for those of us who choose not to take a vaccine (especially if that person has already had covid and has immunity).

Originally Posted by MDLNB (Post 1932527)

"Masks has been a normal in some parts of the world for decades. No one gives it a second thought. "

Normal??? If you count Muslim countries as "normal" then I guess you may have a point. Some in urban areas of Japan wear masks, but I do not know if that would be considered "normal" for Japan. I have heard of many things in THIS country that are deemed "normal" by a few folks, but not the majority which would define "normal."

The rest of your comparison is not really a valid argument, but I do get what you are suggesting.

And nope, I do not think that I have had the virus in the past year of shopping at many stores. I have lived my life as normal as possible and do wear a mask ONLY where it is posted. I am seriously considering whether I intend to continue to wear one in those places after observing many folks that do not. I know of many folks that have had the virus and shrugged it off easier than a cold, and I am in better shape than them.

As for the post requesting that someone "stay away from me" I have stayed my distance from most people as much as I have been able, for many years. That is my norm. That has been my habit in order to protect myself from other illnesses. But, like I have said several times in the past, it is not up to me to protect anyone else. The responsibility for protection is on the person wishing that protection, not everyone else around that person. If one gets the vaccination and still worries about catching the virus, perhaps they should think about why they bothered to get inoculated to begin with. If a person comes around me that has refused to get vaccinated, it is not up to me to "stay away" from them when they have the choice to be near or not. I take responsibility for myself and only those I choose. It is not a moral, ethical or patriotic imperative that I assume responsibility for someone else's careless behavior. I do believe that I am mostly considerate of others....but not responsible for their welfare.

Originally Posted by alehew (Post 1932528)

If you get the vaccine why do u still wear a mask. Fauci has flipped back and forth. People are dying from the vaccine. I personally don't care if you get it or not but its everyone's freedom to choose.

Originally Posted by GrumpyOldMan (Post 1932546)

Because an individual has ignored all advice from experts and has not died of COVID does not mean they are right, it just means they have been lucky.

I just got back from 3 weeks in Ecuador, and the difference between here and there is incredible. I stayed in Cuenca and ate out most of the time I was there. The reason, I did was the precautions I saw in place. In 3 weeks in a large city I saw maybe 3 or 4 people without masks on, and they appeared to be American/European tourists. EVERY store you enter has a door mat with disinfectant to wide your feet as you go into the store. Every store/restaurant has a person that sprays your hands and most also take your temperature, as you enter. If it is a restaurant, when you get to your table they spray or wipe down the table. All tables are at social distancing separation. If you hang around and people leave, you will see their tables be disinfected when they leave. Almost everywhere you you go there are disinfectant dispensers by doors, on sidewalks etc. for public use.

All of those precautions are inexpensive, and easy to implement. None of them guarantee you won't get COVID, but every little bit helps. But I think even more importantly, everyone seemed to want to help, to do what they could to help. The attitude was NOT they were being forced to do these things, it was they wanted to help each other.

Which is the point.

It seems so many people here are of the opinion the if there isn't a perfect solution/protection, they are not going to do anything. They feel that if anyone or the government suggests anything to help, they are going instantly into anger mode and refusing just on principle - no one is taking away their rights. Instead of asking, "What I can do to help", the attitude here, "I can do anything I want - I have my rights!"

With COVID, all the precautions, distancing, masks, washing hands, etc. all help. None are perfect, but they help. They are easy, they are a way each of us can show we care about each other.

In Ecuador there were no visible arguments about wearing masks, EVERYONE (99.9%) just did it. Everyone (99.9%) thank store employees for disinfecting customer hands and taking temperatures.

It's sad we hate each other so much.

Originally Posted by jimjamuser (Post 1932745)

The principle of social security and other modern government programs IS that we are ALL responsible for each other. We SHARE responsibility for roads, bridges, and national defense. It is just like one big giant TEAM. You get the benefits of that teamwork. The John Wayne-like frontier hero is long gone.

Originally Posted by alehew (Post 1932528)

If you get the vaccine why do u still wear a mask. Fauci has flipped back and forth. People are dying from the vaccine. I personally don't care if you get it or not but its everyone's freedom to choose.

Originally Posted by Swoop (Post 1932701)

Let me explain all the things wrong with your post. First, historically, Covid viruses have mutated to the point they became less able or unable to transfer between humans, in 2 to 3 years. So although the the opposite is possible, history would indicate otherwise. Second, Dr Fauci has previously stated that we would achieve herd immunity if 70% of the population has been vaccinated...

Originally Posted by jimjamuser (Post 1932762)

The way I saw the news in print and on TV was that the British variant spread MORE easily than the original US variant and was also MORE deadly, And sure enough, it is the one causing the huge problem in Michigan. The South African variant is even more deadly than the British and spreads at least as fast as the British. I don't know what more I can tell you? Maybe be wary of your information source? My intent was to try and change the hearts and minds of SOME anti-vaxxers here in TV Land. It was worth a try!

Originally Posted by Looking for next wife (Post 1932749)

Once we visited Heaven and Hell. They all had long chopsticks ( or forks ) that are too long to feed themselves.
In heaven, everyone fed complete strangers happily.
In hell, they are all suspicious of each other and try to intercept when someone try to feed someone else. All get hungry, angry and yes you are in HELL!

I am not sure the definition of freedom means what you said at the end.


Thank you for your reading and observation. What I meant, of course, was "sarcastic" for sure at the end; and the, evidently not so "obvious to everyone" sarcasm of the entire thing.

Originally Posted by MDLNB (Post 1932751)

I am sorry that you believe that. But, everyone is entitled to believe what they must. Thank you for your opinion, even if it is NOT shared by other Americans.

Originally Posted by coffeebean (Post 1932756)

Which vaccine are people dying from? From where I sit, the J&J vaccine has had 7 woman develop blood clots with one woman dying. The vaccine distribution has been paused in the US because of this development.

The mRNA vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer) have not had any pauses since their roll out in our country and other countries. I would imagine that there would be pauses in their distribution if people were dying as you say they are. But that is just my opinion. I'm aware there have been deaths post vaccination but none of those deaths have been shown to be a direct result of the vaccines.

Originally Posted by Swoop (Post 1932769)

MERS & SARS were both novel Covid viruses. SARS lasted two years, and the MERS outbreak lasted less than three years. No vaccine for either. Both mutated.

Originally Posted by jimjamuser (Post 1932778)

I don't see a direct extrapolation to CV-19? So far we are closing in on 600,000 US citizens being VERY DEAD! I just warned in post # 87 that if the anti-vaxxer's opinion became too widespread, the US could have a MILLION dead. We certainly don't want that. Do we?

Originally Posted by Mortal1 (Post 1932168)

is that I sneeze and cough into my arm...take mine and my wife's temp every day and I don't go into crowded areas like the town squares or stores. I wash my hands frequently and carry hand sanitizer(75% alcohol)which I use after coughing, sneezing and handling objects others might have touched.

Nope...haven't got the vaccine yet(I'm 67...wife is 65). We don't plan to and I do not consider our decision to be NOT careful thinking or ourselves and others. Since you can still infect others if vaccinated I don't see the need for your comment. Especially since I view your posts as the most common sense and caring of all posters.

Originally Posted by swooner (Post 1932862)

My guess is Democrats 97% and Republicans 45% Kinda like the national average.