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I had a bit of an epiphany today, in my thinking on how people are making COVID-related decisions in their lives... like should I travel, should I have a party, etc.
And the inspiration came from how people view fisheries
And the inspiration came from how people view fisheries
I am going to overgeneralize here: Many fishers do not really "grok" that the purpose of restricting catch in fisheries is to protect the stock and ecosystem, so that you can fish again in the future.
To many, the reason you restrict catch is because the government is making you
To many, the reason you restrict catch is because the government is making you
The ecosystem is basically irrelevant. The problem is government is restricting your catch.
If they let you fish more, you'd be able to catch more. Simple as that.
(Again there are plenty of fishers who DO get it. But IMO this attitude is not rare)
If they let you fish more, you'd be able to catch more. Simple as that.
(Again there are plenty of fishers who DO get it. But IMO this attitude is not rare)
With COVID, there's a similar dynamic. The *majority* of people don't bother trying to understand the dynamics of the virus - how it transmits, what it does, what the long term consequences are, etc. These may as well not exist.
What matters is what government allows you to do
What matters is what government allows you to do
Does the government let me go to theme parks? Yes? Ok great.
Does the government let me go to the pub? Yes? Off I go.
The thought process isn't about the underlying threat - it's a proximate view of what is currently being allowed
Does the government let me go to the pub? Yes? Off I go.
The thought process isn't about the underlying threat - it's a proximate view of what is currently being allowed
If this is your mental model, then OF COURSE you want restrictions lifted. Because the more they lift, the more you get to do.
The mechanism of inconvenience is not the virus or anything about it, it's the restrictions.
The mechanism of inconvenience is not the virus or anything about it, it's the restrictions.
I think this explains the big differences in how groups of people I know IRL are responding to this.
The people who make an effort to understand the threat are staying home and exceeding health restrictions.
The people who make an effort to understand the threat are staying home and exceeding health restrictions.
The people who just follow the daily list of what is and isn't allowed are constantly in a state of confusion and surprise.
And of course, this leads to bad behaviour, like travelling. It's not *disallowed* so why are you mad at me for doing it?
And of course, this leads to bad behaviour, like travelling. It's not *disallowed* so why are you mad at me for doing it?
I was trying to figure out why smart people in my life seem to be acting so differently, and I think this might explain part of it...
The difference is a curiosity in understanding the underlying issue, vs. just following the rules of the day, w/o worrying about "why"
The difference is a curiosity in understanding the underlying issue, vs. just following the rules of the day, w/o worrying about "why"
