Rachel 🏳️‍🌈 #DavosSafe for allJan 9, 2023

Via #CovidMeetups I was invited to join a #Discord server of self-proclaimed #CovidCautious isolators. I’d never used Discord previously & tried my best to connect with the folks there. There were 500-odd members & the active ones all knew one another well.

I didn’t last long due to blatant #ClassPrivilege rearing its ugly head early on. Constant quips like “if you leave your home to get groceries, you can only blame yourself if you get COVID” w/plenty agreeing emphatically. Hello?!

Show threadRachel 🏳️‍🌈 #DavosSafe for allJan 9, 2023

Many of us don’t have a choice but to leave the house to keep eking out a living. Personally, I judge people on their choice to act like it’s still 2019, not whether they can afford grocery delivery.

Don’t get me wrong—I don’t do anything unmasked, and I always wear an #N95 whether I’m indoors or out…but shaming people for doing what they need to do just to get by? To literally stay alive?! Completely and utterly unrelatable and reductive.

Show threadRachel 🏳️‍🌈 #DavosSafe for allJan 9, 2023

One additional gripe: there were a few regular users who seemed to LOVE embracing nihilistic pessimism, to the extent of “you can’t truly ponder whether antiseptic nose sprays work to keep COVID from entering your #ACE2 receptors bc there’s no published research PROVING IT!”
🙄

Multiple #Novavax denialists as well—“just get #mRNA, are you an antivaxxer?!” …not at all, just searching for something that might work a bit better over the long term so I don’t die thinking mRNA worked perfectly? 🙃

Show threadRachel 🏳️‍🌈 #DavosSafe for allJan 9, 2023

TLDR; don’t gatekeep #CovidCautiousCommunity groups/spaces! It’s so easy to avoid doing so!

Nobody who’s joined a #CovidIsolator group doubts that #CovidIsNotOver. At the same time, we don’t all have cushy #WFH jobs!

We ought to focus on maximizing the benefits of virtual/remote #CommunityBuilding so there’s a robust, established network of #CovidCautious ppl—regardless of income, nationality, ethnicity, race, caste, gender—who can lean on one another. Why do I even have to say this? 🥹

Show threadRat (she/her)
@nothingtoseehere, I'm so sorry you had such a negative experience on CovidMeetups.com! Fwiw, I've met folks through that site who aren't gatekeeping or judgemental and are trying to foster an open and collaborative community, but at the same time, I've encountered others with the attitudes you unfortunately ran into. Wherever we all end up, however, I do hope that covid cautious folks find ways to come together and support each other, especially those less privileged who are vulnerable
Jan 9, 2023 at 4:54pmWeb
Show threadRachel 🏳️‍🌈 #DavosSafe for allJan 9, 2023
@TheRatCantRead Hi! Thanks for the encouragement! I have no doubt that the majority of the people on #CovidMeetups are wonderful, and probably very kind and understanding IRL. I’ve tried to find folks to connect with in my area, but unfortunately most of the gatherings are held while I’m working and/or far away from me (public transit options within NYC’s boroughs can be tough). But I would definitely consider trying again, especially now that so many more people know about it!
Show threadRat (she/her)Jan 9, 2023
@nothingtoseehere, yes, I've also found that connecting with folks in-person through the site can be hit or miss, unfortunately. Personally, I've found that connecting with folks through some of the groups, even the virtual-only ones, can be useful, but of course, it all depends on what you're looking for on the site! I think it's good that you're being honest about what you're seeing there, though, the good and the bad. Our community needs that!