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>I'd love to see you try and add all that up in micromorts of personal risk and show me that it's actually a bad rational decision. On an individual level, I h

>I'd love to see you try and add all that up in micromorts of personal risk and show me that it's actually a bad rational decision. On an individual level, I have no doubt you're right. The health benefits from exercise would definitely outweigh the risk of COVID-19 (assuming the individual's not over 65 or has a majorly risky health condition). But this is a pandemic, so decisions are made on the community level. The disease spreads. Healthy people don't live in separate cities from those at risk. Even if everyone is careful, mistakes happen: an unexpected sneeze, unconsciously rubbing your eyes, getting caught in a crowd. We're trying to minimize the number of mistakes (especially the more likely ones). That's not too say whatever policy is current in your area is right. But if you think things can be done safely, consider reaching out to your representatives with a plan backed up by medical research. I know my state desperately wants to reopen businesses; the government doesn't benefit from closures.

graerg 6y ago
The ugly truth is that a large fraction of the population just doesn't care about at-risk people (that is to say, they may care to some degree, but not nearly to the same degree as proponents of quarantine). It's pretty gross. This isn't new in any way; just look at how we've treated at-risk populations previously (e.g., homeless folks, the foster system, etc). The difference with the pandemic is that there was a rapid increase in who's considered "at risk".
Enginerrrd 6y ago
I actually emphatically support the decisions of local public health authorities, OP just asked for some idea of what the people going to gyms were thinking. Empathy =/= agreement.
dopylitty 6y ago
It's not true to say that Covid is only risky for the elderly or folks with pre-existing conditions. Many many young people have been hospitalized and even those who caught the disease and were not hospitalized are finding they have long term health impacts such as difficulty breathing, strokes, and heart problems that can lead to sudden death. It's extremely dangerous to give people the impression that the disease is only serious for those over 65 or with pre-existing conditions. That sort of impression is why people are engaging in risky behavior such as going to gyms.

graerg 6y ago

The ugly truth is that a large fraction of the population just doesn't care about at-risk people (that is to say, they may care to some degree, but not nearly to the same degree as proponents of quarantine). It's pretty gross. This isn't new in any way; just look at how we've treated at-risk populations previously (e.g., homeless folks, the foster system, etc). The difference with the pandemic is that there was a rapid increase in who's considered "at risk".

Enginerrrd 6y ago

I actually emphatically support the decisions of local public health authorities, OP just asked for some idea of what the people going to gyms were thinking. Empathy =/= agreement.

dopylitty 6y ago

It's not true to say that Covid is only risky for the elderly or folks with pre-existing conditions. Many many young people have been hospitalized and even those who caught the disease and were not hospitalized are finding they have long term health impacts such as difficulty breathing, strokes, and heart problems that can lead to sudden death. It's extremely dangerous to give people the impression that the disease is only serious for those over 65 or with pre-existing conditions. That sort of impression is why people are engaging in risky behavior such as going to gyms.