‘Shaming’s not the answer. There’s enough of that crap on social media’
Community panel takes high road on COVID-19 isolation measures
Ah, finally, the season’s first summerlike weekend. Time to kick back, relax, take it easy and ... what?
The parks and playgrounds are closed? I have to wear a mask and gloves to go outside? If I walk within two metres of someone on the sidewalk I might get yelled at?
Time to convene our community panel to figure out an appropriate response.
On hand this week: University of Waterloo history professor Andrew Hunt, Princess Cinemas owner John Tutt, radio personality Mike Farwell, obstinate home dweller Rick Klaver, Baden business owner Isabel Kuxdorf, musician Sean Stokholm, CBC actress Taylor Thorne and former Green party candidate Stephanie Goertz. After seven weeks, we’re still under pandemic quarantine. Any vigilantes in the ranks? I hope you have your Social Shaming Handbook ready. Klaver: Shaming’s not the answer. There’s enough of that crap on social media. And it might get you a BBQ fork in the eye. I would just appeal to their common sense. Common sense? Do you really think the honour code will stick once the sun comes out? Hunt: It’s impossible to stay inside in the summer, especially for little kids. I know — I’m a dad. I went on a walk on one of those warm days last weekend, and everyone and their dog — and cat! — were outside. Can you blame them? Not me, but public health may have concerns. Taylor, as an actress/dancer/star of the CBC/Netflix series “Northern Rescue,” you’re our lone representative from Gen Z. How tough is it for a teenager to follow this whole isolation thing? Thorne: I’m an extrovert. I love
to be out and about and with friends, in Toronto or L.A., doing auditions or dancing at my studio. But considering that’s all cancelled now, it’s tough. The hardest thing was celebrating 16 at home. No friends, no driver’s licence. What happens when the weather gets nice?
Thorne: I think going outside on your front porch, driveway or backyard is totally OK — or even a walk/bike ride, as long as you’re following the guidelines. Even the government released a statement saying it was fine. So go outside! I would go crazy if I was stuck in my house while the sun was shining. Andrew, you’re walking down the street and see someone openly flaunting social distancing rules. What do you do? Hunt: To quote a character from the 1989 Patrick Swayze film “Road House”: “I didn’t see nothing — not a thing!” Nothing? You’ve gotta get in there, man, and lay down the law.
Hunt: I wasn’t cut out to be a pandemic watchdog. If somebody wants to start a Guardian Angels-style Coronavirus Community Patrol, count me in for a donation. John, as the owner of three shuttered movie houses, you have a lot at stake in getting life back to normal. What’s your reaction to pandemic scofflaws? Tutt: I would give them a wide berth and hope they would not speak moistly toward me. You’re making jokes? Your livelihood is at risk.
Tutt: If someone was walking directly toward me, zombiestyle, on the street, looking sick, I definitely would take action with my trusty stink eye and stare them down. Sean, you’re not one to suffer fools gladly. What’s your breaking point? Stokholm: I lost it on a group of twentysomethings the other day
— seven of them on BMX bikes doing trick stuff in the church parking lot across the road, and occasionally stopping to chat, shoulder to shoulder. They called me “old man.” I guess that’s an insult? Given that you’re only 51, it’s not a compliment. Stokholm: After they yelled back, I calmed down and apologized, but told them that minus that anger, I stood by what I said. Does anyone worry that with all the social shaming going on, we’re becoming a nation of Gladys Kravitz’s? (No response.) Is it possible none of you know who Gladys Kravitz is? Thorne: I mean I could Google it! Tutt: I took a guess. Lenny Kravitz’s mom? Stokholm: I always thought a pop culture journalist would update his culture references every new century or so. Seriously, where were you guys in 1966? Andrew, you’ve taught this stuff at university. Help me out here.
Hunt: Alas, older Gen-Xers like me are among the last of the devoted Gladys Kravitz fans. She imparted to all of us grateful youngsters valuable life lessons about being a nosy busybody, and the need to spy on eccentrics and troublemakers. Isabel, I’m not comparing you to Gladys, but you’ve witnessed a few isolation busters. Were you tempted to blow the whistle? Kuxdorf: McCarthy era-like spying on each other. Peeking out from behind the curtains waiting for a coroninfraction. What?! Shopping for a second time this week?! Is that a child on your driveway? Shame! You’re being ironic, yet I sense bitterness.
Kuxdorf: Sure, I was bitter a hundred years ago, back around March break, when people thought it was still OK to travel abroad and then — when they came back — their quarantine included
walking the dog, morning jogs through the neighbourhood and “I’m just going to pop into Sobeys quickly.”
And those who still went on a cruise in March?! What?! By then we had all the warnings. And then crying when they were stuck on the SS Plague-Ship immersed in their bubble of cognitive dissonance. And now?
I’m not perfect either and have made my own transgressions so I will not point fingers, snitch or shame. I don’t see a lot of castigation here. Is this a Canadian thing?
Farwell: We have no idea why someone else is picking up four cases of water and six packages of toilet paper. Are they shopping for a family member? It really doesn’t matter. We’ve got a heightened interest in what others are doing so we can tell them to stop, and an equally heightened interest in telling everyone the good job we’re doing in following the rules. Let’s just focus on the latter while worrying a little less about what our neighbour is doing. Mike, you missed your calling as a high school English teacher. Stephanie, as a former police officer, should we not read these bylaw busters the riot act?
Goertz: If you stop on the sidewalk to chat briefly with a neighbour, is someone going to be judging you? Or if you bring your child into the grocery store because you’re a single parent and have no one to leave them with? If you only have money to buy a handful of items, are people going to judge because they think you’re just “casual” shopping?
We’re going through enough struggles right now and it’s being made even worse. Rick, I apologize for doubting you. This crowd is definitely on your side. Klaver: I think we’ve done a really good job so far. I would hope people are smart enough to realize this thing is far from over.