Dominic Armato
I just… what the fuck has happened to people? My parents are nutjobs where COVID is concerned. The typical ultraconservative orthodoxy. But… so we haven’t had a normal visit with them since 2019. This week, they’re in town. But they’re unvaxxed, flew in yesterday, and are spending all day today with a crowd of similarly ultraconservative folks who also just flew in. We’re leaving for Japan in less than two weeks, and if one of us gets it, the whole trip is blown… (1/2)
Dec 5, 2022 at 10:10pmWeb
Show threadDominic ArmatoDec 5, 2022

…So I explain our situation, say we’re trying to be super careful so as not to ruin this huge vacation we’ve been planning for years, and I offer them two choices. A) They come over, take a rapid test, and assuming all’s good they come inside, chill for the evening, we’ll cook, maybe eat at an outdoor restaurant somewhere. Or B) If they don’t want to take a rapid test, we can do a brief masked visit on the back patio.

Guess which one they chose.

Show threadcogDec 5, 2022
@darmato Outside. I assume.
Show threadDominic ArmatoDec 5, 2022
@cog Yuuuuuuuuuup.
Show threadSvenjaDec 5, 2022
@darmato
Ouch... 😢❤️
Show threadRolandJeskeDec 5, 2022

@darmato OMG... sad to read this.

You should gift them a cruise to Brrr Muda!

Show threadSriram "sri" Ramkrishna - 😼Dec 6, 2022
@darmato
They took the malarkey option?
Show threadMy Dog Eats PecansDec 6, 2022
@darmato we're living this dream with one of our parent sets as well. It's been years since we've had a normal visit.
Show threadBart LibertDec 6, 2022

@darmato
This is so sad. I count myself lucky people in my family "did the right thing". Even my uncle, who is terrified of needles, got vaccinated so he could keep seeing his grandchildren and grandniece. I cannot imagine how it would impact us emotionally if we could not see them anymore.

I have lost some friends over this, but being in that situation with people so close to you, it must be tough.

Stay strong

Show threadLuís CorreiaDec 6, 2022

@darmato here in Portugal, the 4th vaccination boost has been going for a while

many but many stupid people claim "people on facebook say it's no longer necessary"

(I've got mine last week)

yeah, I just don't get it!

Show threadRon's Computer Videos🖥️📼Dec 5, 2022
@darmato You don't owe anyone access to your time or health. Set boundaries. Stick to them.
Show threadDominic ArmatoDec 5, 2022
@RonsCompVids Oh, there’s no question. Not bending. I just can’t understand what is going on in their heads that not putting a Q-Tip in their noses for a few seconds is more important to them than spending a real evening with their grandkids. Just…… I don’t understand who these people are anymore.
Show threadDaniel AlbuDec 5, 2022

@darmato @RonsCompVids I’m really sorry to hear that you have to deal with such a thing!

At the beginning of the pandemic everyone thought that this type of shared experience would bring everyone closer together, instead, we found out just how selfish a lot of people (including friends and relatives) can be!

Show threadDominic ArmatoDec 6, 2022
@danielalbu @RonsCompVids Thing of it is, they're not doing themselves any favors. All they're doing is depriving themselves of family time. The selfishness certainly comes into play with a lot of other issues, but I can't even wrap my head around what the motivation is here. Is it just pride? Like, "I'm not going to be one of those covidiots who gets tested all the time"? I just don't get it.
Show threadDaniel AlbuDec 6, 2022

@darmato @RonsCompVids at this point in time, I believe that what drives these people is pure ego.

Admitting that they were wrong after being so caught up in their own beliefs is just not an option for them.

It's the same with flat-earthers, I'm sure that if some billionaire will take like 100 flat-earthers to space to show them that Earth is round, they'll still come back to Earth and insist that it's flat...

Show threadRon Gilbert (GrumpyGamer)Dec 5, 2022
@darmato They need to play the quarantine pirates puzzle in Return to Monkey Island.
Show threadDominic ArmatoDec 5, 2022
@grumpygamer Think maybe Stan can convince them?
Show threadGen X-WingDec 6, 2022

@darmato It hurts when family chooses someone else (whoever are feeding them this utter insanity) over you. I generally suggest NC, but in the kindest way. Because that is a heavy thing to do.

Have fun in Japan (such a fun place to visit!), stay safe, and take care. We need more MI in the future!

Show threadAmantisDec 6, 2022

@darmato I'm sorry to hear about that and hope everything goes as planned.

Having said that, I know of one person here who believes "vaccine is poison for the body"...including the standard ones that babies get that are for Hep B. 🤷

Show threadDominic ArmatoDec 6, 2022
@TaintedMantis Oh, we’ve been over that. And as crazypants as it is, at least I can *understand* that. If you think — however Looney Tunes it is — that the vaccines are poison, sure, you’re not going to get it. But what *possible* reason could there be for “No, you may not put a Q-Tip in my nose for a couple of seconds”? What are you trying to prove?