A civil disagreement

Reaction to a reader’s criticism

AS A WISE editor once noted (actually more than once): We learn most from our critics. As he explained, it’s difficult to learn from compliments. But our critics can teach us much.

In the normal and usual way, we received a letter this week from a reader, which was, according to our correspondent, “less a letter to the editor and more of a suggestion.” It was polite. Which is rare these days—a critical note that’s civil, even respectful. (Who says manners have disappeared?)

Our much Valued Reader said our editorial writers have bought — hook, link, sinker, bobber, tackle box — into “the sensationalism and over-reaction that is mostly political and media frenzyinduced in nature” when it comes to this covid-19 pandemic.

And “you are not specialists of any kind regarding viral infections and their many variations.”

Instead of writing editorials agreeing with the economic shutdown, why not “write an editorial or other news article on the facts regarding this virus’ effects worldwide rather than go along with these radical decisions to shut down everything?”

And why write editorials pressuring folks to wear masks and practice social distancing? “We have not done this for any previous pandemic, nor do we ever do anything remotely similar to this for the annual flu.”

Besides, what about all the loss of businesses created by the shutdown, and even death caused by lack of economic activity?

“The infection and death rates are not close to as predicted and in fact are far lower than those rates for the annual influenza. Let us see something balanced from you and a suggestion that it is not nearly as bad as suspected in the beginning. We need to get back to normal and back to work. I want to shake hands again, and I will.”

Now that’s how to admonish without scolding. Not once did our Valued Reader call us fat-heads.

But there’s a lot to unpack there, and doubtless there are other readers who agree with him. So call this a letter from the editors:

We certainly are not specialists of any kind regarding viral infections and their many variations. Neither is the governor of Arkansas, nor the mayor of Little Rock. But the suggestion to wear face masks and stay 6 feet away from one another was made by specialists in the medical field who very much know their stuff. The rest of us are taking their advice. Doctors’ orders.

As far as treating this outbreak with more caution than previous pandemics, there is an ongoing but dark joke in the medical community on this stuff: Once you’ve seen one pandemic … you’ve seen one pandemic. Until we know more about how this one is going to go, We the People need to handle it with more care.

Our correspondent is right when he allows that the outbreak isn’t as bad as predicted. That is, the number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths — in Arkansas at least — isn’t as high as feared a month ago. And the models were blessedly wrong.

But some of us think that is precisely because authorities have shut down so many businesses and churches and parks. The virus hasn’t had anywhere to go. The whole point was to flatten that awful curve so the numbers would go down. And it’s working. Some of us think Arkansans should be applauded for the successful effort (so far).

We need to get back to normal and back to work? No doubt, brother. Which is why the governor explained again on Monday his plan to open the gates, one at a time, as Arkansas meets the national standards. But we can’t go through the first gate until we have a two-week window of a downward trajectory of this covid-19 outbreak.

Which is why all the closings, shutdown and general fuss.

OUR FRIEND was kind enough to provide links to several websites explaining how the various governments have got it all wrong when it comes to the pandemic. And how the media has “grossly misrepresented” the disease. And how the current policies of government have created more problems than the virus will.

We stopped reading about the time that the websites started accusing the media of psychological warfare against the country. Nobody said the Internet was mannerly.

Experts are worrying about “quarantine fatigue,” and anybody who has it, we can’t blame you. But Americans still need to listen to the doctors who specialize in these sort of things.

And we’ll keep repeating their suggestions here. Along with answering the mail.

But we’ll do it from home.