not with a six foot pole, not with a 10 foot pole
have you ever wondered where the common saying, "i wouldn't touch that with a ten foot pole" came from? there are various explanations including a reference to the length of barge poles to burial practice in new orleans. while the WHO and the CDC talk about aerosol spray distances from human coughs, the 2 metre required social distancing is approximately 6 feet or the depth of a human grave. many people are talking about the similarities between covid-19 and the spanish flu of 1918. to this date globally there are over 2 million covid-19 cases and 135,000 deaths.
"To avoid something at all costs; to refuse to associate with something; signifies a strong aversion. (idiomatic) To be unable (perhaps figuratively) to approach something or someone." ~ wiki
in a post #metoo world, social distancing now takes on yet another meaning. our public interactions are being analysed, and the very idea of personal versus public spaces are being rigidly defined for us. prolonged social distancing and isolation can be a slippery slope to a totalitarian state to those vigilant to encroachment of civil and human rights by government. at the same time, social distancing can be viewed as a personal and social responsibility in not adversely effecting the health of others during a pandemic with a contagen 4x stronger than the regular flu! how long will isolation last? good question, and one worth keeping your eye on while we are navigating social behavior and consent. the dilemna comes down to not knowing enough information about the virus itself, even for the medical experts. not enough is known about asymptomatic carriers of the virus and why some contract it a second time. this all leaves me wondering if handshaking as a social custom will suddenly disappear in my lifetime!
45% of respondants to a poll asking people what they most looked forward to after the pandemic said to hug their family and friends.
humans are social beings. the idea of social distancing is very difficult and very much effected by social privelege. how can someone self isolated when you don't have a home? social and community interaction is vital to many who experience extreme isolation normally, including the elderly, physically and mentally challenged, and the homeless. particular attention will have to be paid to the vulnerable through this pandemic and after, but also the frontline care workers and essential workers. now and into the future there will be a rise in ptsd and anxiety disorders, with so many being traumatized. human touch, personal space, better care for society's vulnerable and exercising your right to community will be even more crucial in healing through the coming years.
oz factor | no. 7 #notwithasixfootpole #socialdistancing #trauma
oz factor is an ongoing blog and photo project for the duration of the covid19 pandemic.