Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Which Way Do the Arrows Go?

The pandemic has divided people into two basic groups: those worried about catching the virus and those who are not. Are the reactions between them creating a third group?

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By André van Heerden, Communications Director

The other day I ventured out of my house to go grocery shopping. I suspect for many this has either become a source of great stress or great excitement.

For those worried about catching the virus, going shopping is extremely stressful. For those who aren’t worried about catching the virus, the trip is a chance to get out of the house and do something different.

Those in the first group see the second group as cavalier fools. Those in the second group see the first group as overanxious hypochondriacs.

What I find interesting is that both reactions are a natural part of being human and yet both reactions are often harshly judged. The COVID-19 outbreak has not only changed how we do most things, but our reactions to those things as well.

Both groups have good arguments and stories to back up their positions. If you’re talking to someone from “your group,” you can feel good knowing that you’re in the right. You may complain with each other about the other group, and you may even see the other group as being less intelligent, willingly working against you, or hurting others like you. You may instinctively think less of those from the other group—even if they’re someone close to you or that you generally like.

But ask yourself: are you willingly hurting others? Do you want anyone to get sick? Do you want anyone to lose their job? Do you want anyone to suffer mental stress and depression?

When I do make it to the grocery store, I’m careful to follow the direction arrows on the floor. They’re not the usual route that I take, and if I miss something it’s a pain to go back around, but I’m worried about being that guy. No, not the guy who goes against the arrows, but the guy who is yelled at by another shopper for doing so!

I’ve seen people being called out for going the wrong direction and it’s awful. A coworker of mine shared that it recently happened to her and she was mortified. She didn’t mean to. She had just missed the arrows. A store employee thankfully came and told the yelling man to calm down.

In this crisis, are we now creating a third group—those terrified of making a social mistake—to go along with those terrified of the virus and those terrified of the restrictions? That’s a lot of terror to go around.

I’m still working on this but while I naturally find myself in one of the groups, I’m realizing more and more that those in the other group are governed by their feelings and instincts as much as I am. They might be different than me, and their stories of frustration and woe may be different, but they’re just trying to navigate the pandemic the best that they can.

Sowing anger and animosity between the groups won’t help anyone. In fact, it may create that third group of people—those standing terrified and ostracized in a grocery isle.

Whatever group you fall into, do your best to follow the guidelines to help us all get through this pandemic quicker and with less stress. Limit your visits, give people two metres of space, follow the arrows, and, most importantly, be kind.

Which Way Do the Arrows Go?

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