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Seems a bit early for weird dystopian fantasies about populations segregated by covid-19 immunity status. Suggest the author go read Poe's Masque of the Red Dea

Seems a bit early for weird dystopian fantasies about populations segregated by covid-19 immunity status. Suggest the author go read Poe's Masque of the Red Death[1]. NYC will change and adapt. But from the perspective of someone living hear stuck in my apartment for the last few weeks, I wouldn't predict a mass exodus of older new yorkers. They are a pretty stubborn lot who live here for a reason. Maybe if we get recurring waves of large scale infections they would leave, but at that point, so would most people who could. I would predict more wealthy families with school age children who have been considering the suburbs will likely leave, but a percentage of them leave every year. I think one of the more likely and immediate impacts will be closings (as in going out of business) of many restaurants, delis, and bars and financial hardship for everyone who worked for them. I got a request from a local restaurant I've been to exactly one time to donate to a GoFundMe to save the restaurant. I'm not sure what to say about that... Doesn't feel like a reasonable 'ask' to me. The place is good, but not sure my current priority for charitable donations should be a 30 seat restaurant with $35 entrees. [1] https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1064/1064-h/1064-h.htm https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1064/1064-h/1064-h.htm

thinkmassive 7y ago
Speaking of Masque of the Red Death, Cory Doctorow created a novella of the same name as a tribute to Poe's original story: https://craphound.com/podcast/2020/03/13/the-masque-of-the-red-death/ https://craphound.com/podcast/2020/03/13/the-masque-of-the-r... Cory is the guest of first Short Story Club event, which happens tomorrow evening! https://www.shortstory.club/ https://www.shortstory.club/
subpixel 7y ago
Not wealthy, but left NY for the South three weeks ago with wife and kid and are 100% open to never returning (other than to collect belongings), depending on employment circumstances. Like many, we both are somewhat insecurely employed in our well-paying white collar jobs.
esotericn 7y ago
> not sure my current priority for charitable donations should be a 30 seat restaurant with $35 entrees. Doesn't this illustrate the issue with market decision making in general? Rationally wouldn't you want to go on funding the things you wish to happen / enjoy in equal proportion to before the crisis, if the money flows are still the same (e.g. you can still 'virtually' tip the waitress at your fancy restaurant etc?)
- SpicyLemonZest 7y ago
  The money flows can't be the same overall when lots of people aren't working. No matter how you make decisions, someone has to be worse off from the loss of the value their work would have produced.

thinkmassive 7y ago

Speaking of Masque of the Red Death, Cory Doctorow created a novella of the same name as a tribute to Poe's original story: https://craphound.com/podcast/2020/03/13/the-masque-of-the-red-death/ https://craphound.com/podcast/2020/03/13/the-masque-of-the-r... Cory is the guest of first Short Story Club event, which happens tomorrow evening! https://www.shortstory.club/ https://www.shortstory.club/

subpixel 7y ago

Not wealthy, but left NY for the South three weeks ago with wife and kid and are 100% open to never returning (other than to collect belongings), depending on employment circumstances. Like many, we both are somewhat insecurely employed in our well-paying white collar jobs.

esotericn 7y ago

> not sure my current priority for charitable donations should be a 30 seat restaurant with $35 entrees. Doesn't this illustrate the issue with market decision making in general? Rationally wouldn't you want to go on funding the things you wish to happen / enjoy in equal proportion to before the crisis, if the money flows are still the same (e.g. you can still 'virtually' tip the waitress at your fancy restaurant etc?)

SpicyLemonZest 7y ago
The money flows can't be the same overall when lots of people aren't working. No matter how you make decisions, someone has to be worse off from the loss of the value their work would have produced.