I’m really disappointed in this article and in you, Brian.

So what? If you don’t want your naval flag to be associated with war crimes, don’t use the same flag that your country committed massive warcrimes under.

The sun/dot should be fine since it’s literally their flag. If China thinks using the Japanese flag is offensive due to Japan’s past war crimes, then perhaps using the Chinese flag should be considered offensive due to their crimes against humanity being perpetrated right now. China’s high horse is one of the lowest…

At the moment, my partner’s parents are visiting. They are vaccinated, we are not. My partner worked hard to find restaurants (his parents insist on eating out every meal while here) with covered and heated outdoor seating so we could still feel safe. Last night, they showed up at the restaurant and got a table inside…

I mean, that’s true but those corporations emit so much carbon in large part because of demand for their products and services. Like, most of the emissions attributed to those top 25 corporations are from the use of their products. So one Steve switching to a Prius or using public transit wouldn’t make a difference,…

For real. We have gotten conflicting messages but if you stick to listening to people who actually know things about viruses (the CDC, doctors, etc) it's been pretty clear.

Would I tell them “I told you so,”?  No.  Would I tell all my other friends eating in restaurants I know someone who got sick doing that? Yes. 

I feel like there are a lot of gray areas, but indoor dining isn’t one of them. 

This. It’s been really hard to watch people I once considered kind and socially conscious continue to engage in risky behavior because they’re...bored. All people with secure jobs and insurance and housing. I love them, but I certainly do not like them right now and I struggle to imagine hanging out with them in…

“we have received very little guidance from those in power about what is permissible versus what is advisable”

It’s a simple feeling of unfairness, compounded by the feeling that others’ irresponsibility is lengthening the pandemic, and even a personal hurt if they’ve personally lost friends and family.

What a shitty response to a valid question. There are consequences for breaking the rules of sensible behavior, and I don’t see why one should be unquestioningly sympathetic of someone who knowingly brought a misfortune upon themselves.

But I think there’s a far greater danger in being swayed by the idea that people invite their own misfortune.

The “scolds” are suffering because irresponsible people are exacerbating the situation, which is leading to a longer epidemic and more deaths. This is literally life and death. It’s not scolding people for cutting the line, or talking in a movie theater. The risk/reward factor here does not compute. Someone’s “need”…

TL:DR - you can’t be mad at your friend because Brandy also likes to go out and do the things your friend is doing.

“that forcing a virus to be an individual responsibility instead of a community one”

Especially because one of the reason I have to deny myself the pleasures that this person enjoyed is exactly because of behavior like hers. The more people blow off guidelines because they just haaaave to try the cute new restaurant with indoor dining, the more the rest of us don’t get to.

I really sympathize with the letter writer here. I think one of the things we’ll be dealing with long after this pandemic is over is the loss of respect for people over their behavior throughout this ordeal. I mean, I get that there are some people who would look at me going for walks in my neighborhood with friends…

The scolds are often simply reacting to the same vacuum of information by clinging to a type of superstition: As long as I forcefully denounce the risk-takers then I myself will be made safe.

Legitimately assumed the rest of your sentence was going to describe a flashback of witnessing folks dying in a grape press.