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kozar

(2,029 posts)
Sat Mar 14, 2020, 08:59 PM Mar 2020

a totally non-scientific observation

Here is what I see as I live in USA, and Corona affecting us all.

The differences,, I see many videos of Italy ( one of the hardest hit regions of the world) stepping out on their balcony, while quarantined, and singing with neighbors,, every site I happen to read,most of them seem to deal with toilet paper, seems Americans are turning to the keyboard,and typing,not even acknowledging a neighbor. Yes, I know I am typing this out now, it is later on a Saturday night, and my hcp daughter is quiet and calm, and pulled out of her provided day services.

I am simply an old man who is saying, I can sit on my front porch and hear no singing or joy, what can we learn from Italy?


Koz

24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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a totally non-scientific observation (Original Post) kozar Mar 2020 OP
I saw an elderly neighbor and waved to her. She knows me and my dog, but she turned quickly hlthe2b Mar 2020 #1
Ah! Vous avez un chat francais. nt tblue37 Mar 2020 #4
I wonder if, where there are balconies to sing from, Americans are doing it? The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2020 #2
Many of us are not close to our neoghbors, partly because we don't want to have to stop and tblue37 Mar 2020 #3
We're not singing (yet) C_U_L8R Mar 2020 #5
I will agree to all replies and request,, kozar Mar 2020 #6
drink cappuccino only in the morning edhopper Mar 2020 #7
and welcome to internet,, kozar Mar 2020 #14
lil bit edhopper Mar 2020 #20
They are further along on the pandemic curve. Look around in four weeks, people might be singing WhiskeyGrinder Mar 2020 #8
ty I agree kozar Mar 2020 #10
On our neighborhood online newsletter, several have offered errands for elderly whom they do emmaverybo Mar 2020 #9
this lifts me kozar Mar 2020 #12
Got a little hope from that. Me too, Koz, looking for our better angels. I know they are out there. emmaverybo Mar 2020 #15
our day... NRaleighLiberal Mar 2020 #11
ty kozar Mar 2020 #16
At 10:00 pm CET, every Spaniard came out on their... SKKY Mar 2020 #13
I cant wait kozar Mar 2020 #17
Send Trump and Pence to Italy and I will start singing and dancing. Jamastiene Mar 2020 #18
or Jam,, kozar Mar 2020 #21
And clear the area of all living beings, lol. Jamastiene Mar 2020 #23
On last night's PBS Newshour misanthrope Mar 2020 #19
Exactly. kozar Mar 2020 #22
Not all that way marlakay Mar 2020 #24

hlthe2b

(101,698 posts)
1. I saw an elderly neighbor and waved to her. She knows me and my dog, but she turned quickly
Sat Mar 14, 2020, 09:05 PM
Mar 2020

and walked back from the mailbox to her door. I feel certain she saw me and she normally would want to greet my dog and chat. I suspect many are paranoid to be around others right now. Maybe she didn't actually see me, but I can't help but wonder. At any rate, I didn't want to make her uncomfortable.

tblue37

(64,979 posts)
3. Many of us are not close to our neoghbors, partly because we don't want to have to stop and
Sat Mar 14, 2020, 09:09 PM
Mar 2020

chat every time we take out the garbage, because most of us are exhaused, overworked, and pressed for time.

C_U_L8R

(44,889 posts)
5. We're not singing (yet)
Sat Mar 14, 2020, 09:11 PM
Mar 2020

But I've seen lots of proof of humanity around here, online and off.
We're all in this together, in spite of Trump's lies and division.

kozar

(2,029 posts)
6. I will agree to all replies and request,,
Sat Mar 14, 2020, 09:22 PM
Mar 2020

be the one who makes a difference in this country, be the first one to wave to a neighbor when you see them. Be the first one to initiate conversation, basically, be the first one to be a true neighbor.
And I speak from truth,, when we moved to this sub division many years ago,, no one waved,,no one talked. Today is different,, I do not know all names,, but I can sit on porch and watch drivers pass by and wave at each other. Never happened before,but I was raised waving in car as you passed neighbors.
I see it working in my subdivision,, who will the first one to wave while driving to your home? every time so the example is set.. and yep I know a few neighbors by name now and will stop and talk to them while I drive in,,, but sadly,,,

none of them has asked me to sing yet!!

Just make your difference,it seems small,, but it is still a difference.


Koz

emmaverybo

(8,144 posts)
9. On our neighborhood online newsletter, several have offered errands for elderly whom they do
Sat Mar 14, 2020, 09:29 PM
Mar 2020

not know and collections being taken for homeless.

But no singing! Also newsletter is pretty much the only contact most neighbors in my part of this
good-sized town have with each other. But I do see some heart.

kozar

(2,029 posts)
12. this lifts me
Sat Mar 14, 2020, 09:35 PM
Mar 2020

there is hope outside of the internet, which I cna only address here,, guess I want to hear some positive news in peoples real lives. thats why I posted this discussion. ty

Koz

emmaverybo

(8,144 posts)
15. Got a little hope from that. Me too, Koz, looking for our better angels. I know they are out there.
Sat Mar 14, 2020, 09:38 PM
Mar 2020

NRaleighLiberal

(59,940 posts)
11. our day...
Sat Mar 14, 2020, 09:34 PM
Mar 2020

went to Lowes to buy some pine bark mulch. Had some nice chats with other shoppers. Went grocery shopping for corned beef and a head of cabbage. Came home, walked the dogs, went to buy some eggs from a home in back of us (we are 2 months new to our house and area), nice chat, they told us we could cut through their yard to avoid a busy road. Nice people all day.

We can't forget each other. It is easier here right now, being more rural, closest COVID case 20 miles away in Spartanburg SC. If we were still in Raleigh it would probably feel quite different (far more crowds, more COVID cases).

So, despite reading here and various trusted websites, the anxiety it produces, life has to go on (taking care, of course).

But no doubt these are weird, weird times.

kozar

(2,029 posts)
16. ty
Sat Mar 14, 2020, 09:39 PM
Mar 2020

was my point,, wherever you live,,,keep being a neighbor,initiate a wave,,or a talk, never be a slave to the keyboard. It is not that hard to be a human.
Wish you best

Koz

SKKY

(11,770 posts)
13. At 10:00 pm CET, every Spaniard came out on their...
Sat Mar 14, 2020, 09:36 PM
Mar 2020

...balconies, through their windows, or on their patios and applauded all the nurses, doctors, first responders, and anyone else responding to the COVID-19 crisis. A beautiful display of solidarity. Now, imagine that happening here. Probably not.

kozar

(2,029 posts)
17. I cant wait
Sat Mar 14, 2020, 09:40 PM
Mar 2020

to search this and listen to it in morn, cannot tonight as daughter is dragging me to come to bed,,,,,


double greats,,, 2 positives to sleep on

Koz

Jamastiene

(38,187 posts)
18. Send Trump and Pence to Italy and I will start singing and dancing.
Sat Mar 14, 2020, 09:43 PM
Mar 2020

Until then, I see nothing to sing or dance or be happy about. We are worse off than if we had no leadership as long as those buffoons are in power. Republicans can be counted on to always do the exact wrong thing to handle any given situation AND make things exponentially worse. THAT is the part that has me all grumpy. They make things SO much worse.

kozar

(2,029 posts)
21. or Jam,,
Sun Mar 15, 2020, 12:35 AM
Mar 2020

I can accept everything you just said,which is factual and true, and ignore the poilitics and be humans,, and start singing,to our self,,and then to the person next,, and pretty soon the govt doesn't matter,,because each person singing, is no longer oppressed, because if you sing out loud,, it is from your heart. and Govts anywhere need your brain and heart to control. If you are singing,they have nothing without the whole. Just sing, Jamastiene, sing loud! you'll win too


Koz

Jamastiene

(38,187 posts)
23. And clear the area of all living beings, lol.
Sun Mar 15, 2020, 01:20 AM
Mar 2020

I always joke how horrible I am as a singer. I can work as an exterminator with no equipment, lol.

misanthrope

(7,405 posts)
19. On last night's PBS Newshour
Sat Mar 14, 2020, 09:44 PM
Mar 2020

in the op-ed segment, David Brooks said he had been reading a lot about pandemics lately and noted that the pattern of behavior was that Americans usually acted fine in the beginning stages but as it went on, they began to act worse. It got to the point they expressed regrets later about the things they did and said. He went on to say that maybe this time we will finally learn those lessons from the past.

While that's a lovely and hopeful train of thought, I hope he's right, but I doubt it. Americans are more selfish and isolated now than they were then because community doesn't mean the same. We've been more deeply "trained" by the masterful psychological tools of electronic media.

Plus, Americans would have to be aware of those historic mistakes and regrets. Sadly, we are woefully ignorant of history, incurious and anti-intellectual as a whole. Our POTUS is a symptom of it.

kozar

(2,029 posts)
22. Exactly.
Sun Mar 15, 2020, 12:43 AM
Mar 2020

And given your truth of statement, and that was based on past events. Which are still being proven true,, How about we just post our beliefs, and our hearts, and after we post, why don't we just step out and sing? I have read Mr.Brooks papers,, they deal with the psyche of Americans mostly. My post should respect that and say,,other countries, while in quarantine by their Govt. find a way to adhere to the government rules, and still very loudly, show govt their hearts. Italy proved this, maybe a few posts on these interwebs will bring America to same point. we will never know in any neighborhood, until 1 person steps on their balcony/porch/front yard and just ,,,,,sings from the heart.


Koz

marlakay

(11,370 posts)
24. Not all that way
Sun Mar 15, 2020, 01:28 AM
Mar 2020

My neighbors are friendly as I walk my dog. Go deep into neighborhoods because he is golden retriever and needs a longer walk.

Yesterday i stopped to have long talk with neighbor about my trip to Ireland last summer, his family lives there.

I made a lady laugh in Costco Thursday, they had bottles of water where all the tp used to be and I said if we buy that we are really going to need tp.

I think people are looking for ways to relax from this, constant stress is not healthy.

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