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posted by Fnord666 on Tuesday March 17 2020, @11:52AM   Printer-friendly
from the sudden-impact dept.

A lot has already happened this year. SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) which can cause COVID-19 (COronaVIrus Disease 2019) has been making headlines shortly after it was first reported. The first cases were reported to WHO (World Health Organization) on 2019-12-31. The virus spread. It began as an epidemic in China . The world watched apprehensively. Reports surfaced of cases in other countries and the the apprehension grew. For many folk, it turned to fear when it was upgraded to a pandemic: WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 - 11 March 2020: "We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic."

We have seen increasing efforts to stem the spread of the disease. Efforts have run the gamut. Closing of borders. Cancellation of sporting events. Conferences cancelled. Churches and other places of worship also closed. Schools closed. Panic buying of household goods and supplies. Supply chain disruptions affecting manufacturers. Restaurant, bars, and other such establishments closed. Work-from-home policies established and enacted.

The changes have been many, widespread, and continuing.

Reading about all the ways that "other people" have been affected is one thing. It seems different, somehow, when it hits closer to home and affects us directly. With many of our usual social activities curtailed or cancelled, it is easy to begin isolating and lose perspective. SoylentNews arose from a troubled period (the SlashCott) and a community has formed from that challenging period.

How have you been affected? Have you been infected? Had a family member or friend who was? Helped neighbors who are struggling? Hunkering down and isolating? (In a basement is optional.) Are you suddenly working from home and finding it challenging to manage your time? Still working on site, but now have a faster commute due to all the other people staying home? Catching up on watching TV shows? Reading more SoylentNews? How has your life changed?

From a somewhat different perspective, how have others helped you to cope... and how have you been able to help others? One of the potential impacts of social distancing is isolation and depression. I count myself fortunate, indeed, to have served this site for over 6 years and for all the people I have gotten to know, here. For those who may not be aware, SoylentNews has its own IRC (Internet Relay Chat) server. Feel free to drop in to #Soylent and just say "Hi!"

Social distancing is permanent when you're dead. So, practice good hygiene and stay safe.

Previously (oldest first):
China Battles Coronavirus Outbreak: All the Latest Updates
2019-nCoV Coronavirus Story Roundup
Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Roundup
Coronavirus Roundup
Coronavirus Roundup (Feb. 17)
Roundup of Stories about the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus and COVID-19 Disease
COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 - CoronaVirus) Roundup
CoronaVirus (SARS-CoV-2) Roundup 2020-03-12
Working from Home: Lessons Learned Over 20 Years


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  • (Score: 1, Troll) by aristarchus on Wednesday March 18 2020, @04:00AM (2 children)

    by aristarchus (2645) on Wednesday March 18 2020, @04:00AM (#972636) Journal

    At risk, being 2400 years old. On the other hand, no previous plague, bacterial or viral, or fungal, has killed me off yet. So I might survive this one, as well? But in the old days, pre-1918, these things were much slower to spread. You could run, as I did from the Plague of Justinian, who was a jerk of an Emperor somewhat resembling the one we have now, especially in choice of wives. On the other hand, may have jinxed it. Cough, cough. I could really die, this time, but if I do, I call upon all Soylentils to continue my quest, and submit submissions on the alt-right, since that is what brought us to this pass.

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  • (Score: 2) by turgid on Saturday March 21 2020, @04:12PM (1 child)

    by turgid (4318) Subscriber Badge on Saturday March 21 2020, @04:12PM (#973859) Journal

    Turgid jr. will now be off school for the duration of this plague since the schools are being closed. He'll be getting lessons at home, and the teachers have already sent home some work for him. He's 10 years old, and quite inquisitive. A few weeks ago I introduced him to Zeno's paradoxes thinking I might start him on the Calculus soon. Now he's going to be at home I was wondering if you had any recommendations for philosophy to which to introduce him by way of his on-going education? As you know, I am but a simple country peasant and got as far as Natural Philosophy a long time ago, but I think an introduction to some more abstract stuff might be good, and you would be the person to ask. What do you reckon?

    • (Score: 3, Informative) by aristarchus on Saturday March 21 2020, @07:58PM

      by aristarchus (2645) on Saturday March 21 2020, @07:58PM (#973907) Journal

      Usually it is best to start with the master, Plato. Not sure if appropriate for a 10 year old, that's your call. The "Apology"? Or perhaps the "Gorgias". Maybe the "Phaedrus". "Republic" is rather long, but it is political!

      Other, more pedagogic works could be "Sophie's World" by Jostein Gaarder, or "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert Pirsig. These may be less available, being the works of recently or not dead yet authors, so still under copyright.

      There are always the other classics, 道德經, or "The Questions of King Milinda".