An old practice from #AIDS movements that I think we should try out for this pandemic: at the beginning of events, inviting audiences to call out the names of people who aren’t here because of the virus. Covid deaths, long covid, people sick today, immuno-inaccessible events, caregivers, etc. It’s so hidden, people think they don’t know anyone despite the huge numbers.
@beandreams I've found, when slightly pressed, many people do meekly acknowledge they know someone close maimed or affected... but the propaganda to ignore our pain now that "COVID is over" is very strong and it disrupts business as usual when the emotions are allowed to surface.
Not allowing the emotions to surface, to sit with them and process the loss, will have dire consequences for mental health downstream... sadly, this path seems all but fixed for most people. 😔
@beandreams yes! i keep hearing people say "i don't know anyone with long covid" but everyone seems to know people who have recently just stopped showing up to events or fallen out of their lives for "no reason".
@ivy That's exactly it, isn't it? It's a very slow feedback loop. I'm sure a lot of folks who have stopped showing up don't yet realize they have long covid.
@beandreams the slow feedback loop feels like a huge issue. someone i've organized with for a while got covid a couple months ago and has progressively become more fatigued, is constantly sick, and has stopped showing up to actions. i tried to breach the topic of long covid with them speaking to my (similar) experience but they aren't making the connection that it could be happening to them and they keep going out partying every weekend. it's so hard watching them do that to themselves, but i feel like pushing harder is just going to make them pull away. bleh.
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