Bad behavior mars recovery from pandemic
Though many of us are thrilled to be living without the restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, there were bound to be some problems as things reopen.
For more than a year people have spent much of their time in isolation. There were few opportunities for large or even relatively small gatherings. This, along with health and economic worries brought on by the pandemic, took a tremendous toll on the mental well-being of many.
News headlines are filled with troubling examples of people who are taking advantage of the opportunity to engage with the public again but not handling it well at all.
For example, air travel is becoming popular again. Full planes have been accompanied by all too many examples of unruly passengers. In one case a Southwest Airlines flight attendant was assaulted and had two teeth knocked out by a passenger who ignored routine preflight instructions. Recently passengers had to subdue someone who attempted to breach the cockpit on a Delta flight.
Flight attendant unions say their members are dealing with unprecedented hostility from the public.
NPR reported that according to the Federal Aviation Administration, from Jan. 1 through May 24, there were roughly 2,500 reports of unruly behavior by passengers, including about 1,900 reports of people contravening the federal mask mandate, which is still in place on planes.
Similar problems are occurring in the world of sports as arenas and stadiums fill up with fans again. While unruly behavior by spectators is nothing new, recently we’ve seen an alarming number of reports of fan misbehavior ranging from extremely obnoxious to downright dangerous. Fans have been kicked out of recent NBA games for offenses ranging from throwing things and spitting at players to making racist and vulgar comments to an opposing player’s parents. And an international soccer game in Denver over the weekend was marred by fans making anti-gay chants, hurling objects at players and running on the field.
People who work in retail have been dealing with bad behavior on the part of customers since the start of the pandemic. The harassment has yet to cease. In response, a dozen retailers are collaborating on a campaign to enlist customers to combat bad behavior against retail workers. The campaign is spearheaded by nonprofits Open to All and Hollaback and the Retail Industry Leaders Association.
Even as the spread of COVID-19 slows, retailers fear abusive behavior will worsen as stores anticipate big crowds for the back-to-school and holiday seasons. With many states and businesses relaxing mask mandates and customers experiencing pandemic fatigue, workers worry about their safety.
Bystanders who witness bad behavior by others are in a difficult position. Even if they want to help, it’s rarely clear exactly what to do. And the wrong response can make matters worse for all concerned. With that in mind, Hollaback offers “Five D’s” for taking a stand against harassment.
• Distract: Rather than directly engage with the harasser, try to derail the incident by interrupting it by pretending to be lost, asking for the time, etc.
• Delegate: Ask for assistance from someone in authority.
• Document: Recording an incident as it happens can be helpful. Be sure it’s safe to do so, and never post a video online or otherwise use it without the victim’s permission.
• Delay: Even if you can’t act in the moment, you can make a difference for the person who has been harassed by checking in on them after the fact and offering to help.
• Direct: If you choose to directly intervene, be sure anything you say is short and succinct. Don’t engage in dialogue, debate or an argument. Try to assist the person who was targeted instead of engaging with the harasser.
So many of us still feel worn out from what we’ve just experienced. Let’s take a deep breath, stay determined to be on our best behavior and try to make a positive difference when tensions escalate.