No One Likes Rambo: A Community Dialogue

Names changed.

Rambo: I am concerned about socializing my daughter in this time of distancing. She's at the stage of development where I think it's important for her to be around peers. Who would like to arrange play dates in small group setting? Preferably outside, the weather will be nice. (zero likes)

Nancy:  Your child is going to get the socialization that she needs if she stays healthy. Stay home and practice social distancing. This is not going to go on long enough to impact your child's social development. It will be okay. (5 likes)

Rambo: I'm sorry. I was under the impression groups of ten were still good, and there's no community spread, and the social distancing measures are going to last a lot longer than we can expect right now. I am young and healthy, and there are no reports of kids being seriously effected. (zero likes)

Jill: We started community spread as of 2 days ago. We now have 11 positives in Montana, including a new Missoulian in her 20s. It's here.

Bob: I feel for you with your situation with your daughter, but I also think that she is going to be totally fine socially after this social distancing period is through. Think about it this way: It only works for everyone if everyone participates, including you and your daughter. If you ignore the social distancing, then you are putting everyone else at risk. If your daughter touches 9 other kids, and someone has it, then they go and touch their parents and grandparents, whom are highly susceptible to this virus, then I hope you can see how everyone needs to be a responsible community member and minimize interactions with others. The point is: The better we all do it together, the quicker this will subside. (10 likes)

Rambo: People who are at risk or around others who are at risk can't decide to quarantine on their own? Have individual liberties been suspended? I guess my concern, almost as much as the virus, is the  mass authoritarianism and public shaming that has started to emerge because of it. (0 likes)

Jill: Let's leave Rambo alone to make decisions. Rambo, I believe you'll have a difficult time finding others to have play dates but the choice is certainly yours. ( Rambo likes)

Susan: I don't understand why he and his wife can't play with the baby.

Rambo: We do play with the baby--she gets lots of mom and dad time, but seeks attention from her peer group. Do you have a child? What do you think the acceptable amount of time to quarantine a child is? 

Susan: Let me ask you this...what is your little bundle of joy's name? If you continue your reckless, anti-social behavior, she'll no doubt have a new nickname soon. Like Typhoid Mary but for Covid 19. (noone likes Susan)

Bob: Classy, Susan. Do you think such comments are helpful or in any way persuasive? Nothing wrong with disagreeing, but when you act like a know it all and attack someone people stop listening. (people like Bob)

Rick:  Rambo, if your child has a play date please don’t send her to Susan’s parents house. (haha faces)

Justin: Links to news articles about Italy.

Rambo: I've read the news from Italy and other countries. I think what concerns me is that when social distancing is lifted, there's going to be a second wave of the virus, and then a third, and you get my idea. It's not going away anytime soon, only the economy is going to get continually worse, and we still won't have the medical resources to deal with it, because what does that take? Taxes. And how do people afford to pay taxes? Young healthy ones who have a low risk of a severe side effects or transmitting to others with that risk continue to go to work. And what provides them the opportunity to  go to work? They socialize their children with others under the supervision of other adults. I don't see another way around it. 

Margaret: If this helps, I and my peers went through several 3 months isolations in the 1940s and 1950s due to the then Polio epidemic. We were stuck in our home and yard. My little brother was 2 when the first one was instituted and since my other siblings and I were 10 years or more older, we didn’t play with him much. (Ignoring my parents rules). My brother grew up totally normal, outgoing, popular athlete in school and ended up a physicist. We also played “long range “ games with the other kids across the street, if that is something possible where you live, but at your daughter’s age, you will have to participate too. I am 76, prone to pneumonia, and trust me, this social isolation is difficult for us too, especially since we already knew that the end of the tunnel is closer for us anyway. Hang in there. We will get through this. (Lots of likes)

Rambo: Thank you, Margaret. That does help.

Jill:  Maybe just change focus for a few weeks until we get a better grasp on how this is going to affect Montana? (Rambo Likes)

No one likes Rambo.