Critical Thinking Failure II

Virus transmission through air

A family member – an in-law type – was regaling us not long ago about how all this social distancing is going to kill the restaurant business. Yeah, he's probably right, at least restaurants that can't survive on a drive-up window. I agree with the guy that this is tragic, not just because there won't be good places to eat, but also – and a damned-sight more important – because millions of people will be out of work when bars and restaurants fold.

As someone who is in an "at-risk group" (solely because of my age) I was a bit taken aback by this not particularly thoughtful gent's next pronouncement, paraphrased here:

"This social distancing is bullshit. The gummint shouldn't be telling restaurant owners to leave half their space empty. Hell, they should let the restaurants open completely, and anyone who's afraid of the virus can check the room when they come in. If they think it's too crowded, they can go somewhere else."

Ahh, the old "If you don't like it, go somewhere else" defense; a mainstay of people who lack critical thinking skills. In other words, "Only people who agree with me get a choice." Let me explain:

I'm old enough to remember restaurants and bars before there were non-smoking sections. You'd walk in, sit down, order, and start your meal. Just as your food was delivered, a party of four would sit down at a nearby table, and all four would light up. So much for smoke-free dining!

It's the same thing, only instead of a steak that tastes like cigarette ashes and some clothes that reek of smoke, in the age of COVID-19 there's a chance that you're gonna go home with a creepy virus in your sinuses. Even if the restaurant wasn't crowded when you sat down, you're at the mercy of other people, people who aren't concerned about your safety.
What're you gonna do: get up and leave? How's that a solution? How are people supposed to ensure that the space around them stays clear when other people can go anywhere they damned well please... and will?

Yeah: right... "They can go somewhere else." How 'bout you actually think for a minute, guy!

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