Lining the shelves of your local Walmart and Kroger, there are no more rolls of toilet paper. The COVID-19 pandemic is swinging citizens of the world into full frenzy, to the point that the last toilet paper package in a 50-mile radius was taken by a wild dad stockpiling 10 packages — 120 toilet paper rolls. And while stockpiling of hand sanitizer and marinara sauce makes a little more sense, why stockpile toilet paper? Are people really so concerned about their bathroom habits that they think they'll need 120 toilet paper rolls?
But, alas, there's really not much that anyone can do to stop the national toilet paper hysteria other than assuring acquaintances that foraging for toilet paper will not save their lives, but rather that doing our own jobs to prevent the spread will. Heck, the COVID-19 doesn't even cause diarrhea! Funnily enough, many of the rabid creatures ransacking their local Target are the same people who would have refused to get a COVID-19 vaccine if it had come out during the early stages of the virus, the same people who felt as though sanitary practices were not necessary until cases began appearing within a 50-mile radius, the same people who are still meeting in large groups and ignoring the CDC's recommendations.
It seems as though we, as humans, are not particularly concerned with anything — that is, until it targets us specifically. With every global concern, we shake off the problem until we are the next on the target list. And when we do move up the "Next Target" list, we do every small thing we can do in a desperate fashion (other than the more obvious things that take effort, of course).
The Toilet Paper Panic (henceforth referred to as the TPP) demonstrates our natural tendency. See, people are willing to buy loads of toilet paper, because it's easy to do. It doesn't interfere with one's individual schedule and is a relatively simple buy/action. Thus, it qualifies as an actionable choice. On the other hand, something like staying out of large groups is simply just too difficult for anyone to do. Ruining Friday plans proves too big of hassle to undertake. Following the CDC's recommendations? Too much of a hassle!
So, please, when the COVID-19 Panic inevitably ends (along with the TPP), continue to urge others and yourself to follow sanitary practices and to take other preventative measures. And if a similar pandemic arises again, hopefully we as a world will be less likely to spur a TPP pt. 2.
But, alas, there's really not much that anyone can do to stop the national toilet paper hysteria other than assuring acquaintances that foraging for toilet paper will not save their lives, but rather that doing our own jobs to prevent the spread will. Heck, the COVID-19 doesn't even cause diarrhea! Funnily enough, many of the rabid creatures ransacking their local Target are the same people who would have refused to get a COVID-19 vaccine if it had come out during the early stages of the virus, the same people who felt as though sanitary practices were not necessary until cases began appearing within a 50-mile radius, the same people who are still meeting in large groups and ignoring the CDC's recommendations.
It seems as though we, as humans, are not particularly concerned with anything — that is, until it targets us specifically. With every global concern, we shake off the problem until we are the next on the target list. And when we do move up the "Next Target" list, we do every small thing we can do in a desperate fashion (other than the more obvious things that take effort, of course).
The Toilet Paper Panic (henceforth referred to as the TPP) demonstrates our natural tendency. See, people are willing to buy loads of toilet paper, because it's easy to do. It doesn't interfere with one's individual schedule and is a relatively simple buy/action. Thus, it qualifies as an actionable choice. On the other hand, something like staying out of large groups is simply just too difficult for anyone to do. Ruining Friday plans proves too big of hassle to undertake. Following the CDC's recommendations? Too much of a hassle!
So, please, when the COVID-19 Panic inevitably ends (along with the TPP), continue to urge others and yourself to follow sanitary practices and to take other preventative measures. And if a similar pandemic arises again, hopefully we as a world will be less likely to spur a TPP pt. 2.
I agree that people do irrational things during panics, we'll often do something - anything - but this might not help to resolve the problem at all; taking a step back and doing some careful, logical thinking on how to proceed is how progress can actually be made.
ReplyDeleteIt is true that in the a pandemic or similar event people opt for what is most convenient and provides them the illusion of doing something over what is useful such as the recommendations made by the CDC. Current events only continue to prove the ignorance that permeates society.
ReplyDeleteSo....it was wrong to buy all the toilet paper....LOL. I am kidding. I own a normal amount of toilet paper. I enjoyed this post and the naming of this time in our lives.
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