The #NormalContact movement is about not being afraid. We recognize, however, that the idea of normal interactions makes some people nervous. Below we’ve compiled a list of common concerns and compassionate #NormalContact responses.
One quick disclaimer: yes, we understand the difference between SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. We’ve used “COVID-19” in both cases everywhere on this site for simplicity.
What is #NormalContact?
The #NormalContact idea is simple: it’s time to be comfortable again to have normal interactions at normal distances. As a movement, #NormalContact tries to be a somewhat specific as possible to this one idea because we believe it’s possible for people of all sorts to agree on small, narrowly-focused fundamentals. This can help us move towards identities and communities of ideas, not just political labels.
Why aren’t you afraid of COVID-19?
That’s a great question, but it’s technically incorrect. All #NormalContact aficionados want to avoid contracting COVID-19. They’d also prefer never to get the flu, or malaria, or HIV. (We’re not saying those diseases are the same, just that they’re all things folks would like to avoid in general.) Look, a healthy respect and fear for disease is prudent and wise; a lack of all fear is always foolish. In the case of COVID-19, however, we’ve gone far beyond the realm of prudence as a human society. Instead, we’ve entered a pattern of self-destructive behavior.
This is a really big concept, though. It’s big enough that we gave it its own page.
Aren’t you encouraging the spread of COVID-19?
From a technical perspective this is accurate, but not from a practical one. Once you recognize that the “shelter in place” orders not only didn’t prevent the spread of COVID-19 but also made it easier to spread the disease more quickly from fewer points of infection/exposure, then it’s obvious that #NormalContact interactions, while they aren’t designed to limit the spread of COVID-19, aren’t any more likely to spread COVID-19 than all of your other trips to the store that abide by those orders.
Why are you breaking quarantine and “shelter in place” restrictions about social distancing?
Social distancing and “shelter in place” orders are now doing more harm than good. We’re breaking the restrictions of social distancing not in protest, but in recognition of the damage it’s causing to comply and the urgent need we now have to return to normalcy. Breaking the social distancing guidelines could actually save the life of someone who’s depressed from the quarantine!
Aren’t you putting vulnerable people at risk? Why can’t you just wear a mask to keep other people safe?
There are two important points here. Quarantine was never designed to keep us from all contracting COVID-19. It was designed to keep us from catching it all at the same time. The problem is that it failed miserably. Quarantine failed to slow the spread of COVID-19 and the unrestricted spread hasn’t generally caused overcrowding of hospitals. Therefore, there is no significant reason to quarantine in the first place.
The second important point to make here is that anyone who wants to should feel free to self-quarantine. Plenty of #NormalContact fans would be happy to serve a vulnerable neighbor or friend by dropping off groceries or other necessities on request. #NormalContact is not a mandate to anyone like “shelter in place” orders. Rather, it’s an invitation to nearby people to relax and be themselves. (This assumes they can do so in a respectful and appropriate manner, of course).
The last relevant point to be made here is that some people wear a #NormalContact ribbon and a mask. There’s no doctrine here, just a very simple idea backed by science.
Wouldn’t you feel awful if a friend or family member died because you managed to give them COVID-19?
Back up. There’s two parts here. Would we feel bad if someone we loved died? Well, yes. Duh.
Look, every life lost includes the loss of irreplaceable knowledge, untold or forgotten stories. And above all, death means the loss of a unique and unduplicated person. Death is always a tragedy, and even more so when we knew the person who died. However, death is also a part of the existence we receive with life. Part of being a healthy person is accepting that death happens. That doesn’t mean you aren’t sad, but that you can accept the reality that exists around you.
Would we feel bad if we accidentally caused the death of someone else? Obviously, yes! Participating in #NormalContact does not mean that you were the reason someone got sick, however. People get sick for all sorts of unexpected reasons all the time. Perhaps most importantly, however, “shelter in place” orders weren’t designed to keep anyone from getting sick. Following them won’t make it more likely that you don’t get sick.
Why do you insist on saying that COVID-19 is “just a flu?”
We don’t. You aren’t going to find that argument here. There may be many #NormalContact fans that will make that point adamantly. The argument, however, is outside the scope of what #NormalContact represents.
Are you guys doctors? Why should I listen to you?
We wish more people asked that question! More importantly, though, we wished more people actually listened to the answer.
The #NormalContact web site, email accounts, and social media are maintained by volunteers. There is no requirement that anyone have any particular medical knowledge or skills. (That said, some do, some don’t.) Plus, we’re anonymous for our own protection! So if we were you, we wouldn’t ever listen to anything we said that didn’t have some clear and heavily documented science behind it.
The #NormalContact movement doesn’t exist because of its own knowledge or research. It relies on the research and work of hundreds and thousands of doctors and researchers who’ve published the studies, papers, and articles supporting the fact that COVID-19 is costing more lives from quarantine than if we refuse to return to normal. These people published information so that it would be accessible. Sometimes the medical language can be difficult for a layperson. Most of these sources don’t include laypeople as the intended audience like a media story doesn’t. That doesn’t mean, however, that they can’t be properly understood.
The positions of the #NormalContact movement are backed by tons of science, research, experimental studies, and more. We make no claim that the publishers of said research endorse our movement. We only claim that the (substantial!) research backs up our position. We also strongly encourage you to do some searching on your own to find more.
Does the #NormalContact movement put women and minorities at risk of violence?
No. Violence is not a normal, healthy interaction. The #NormalContact movement is about normal interactions and contact. Supporting the #NormalContact movement is not an invitation to be interacted with, manipulated, or attacked by others. It is an invitation to have normal, healthy, pre-COVID-19 interactions. Frankly, that’s kind of a weird question to ask. Nothing from the #NormalContact site should give you that idea, you’d have to come up with it on your own.
What’s in the future for the #NormalContact movement after the resolution of COVID-19?
Probably nothing! With any luck, the #NormalContact movement won’t be relevant anymore after COVID-19 resolves. As we stated on the front page, the entire point is to have a very narrow idea that is accessible to anyone, regardless of any other affiliations. We believe it would be better for narrowly-focused movements to pop up and fade away as they are (or aren’t!) needed. Today’s politics are filled with too much of a focus on identity. The reality is that regardless of disparate identities two people should be able and willing to come together on an idea without it threatening the identity of either one. Focusing on what we can agree on is the best way to heal the political divisions of our time.
There’s a small chance in the future that maybe #NormalContact (and the ribbon) could shift slightly to mean that you’re willing to have normal, friendly interactions with someone even if you disagree with them over something polarizing like politics (or something else viral and pustulent!) ;), but at this point it seems improbable. That’s about the only thing that we can imagine #NormalContact being relevant to, and frankly, we probably don’t have the drive to pivot to it after life finally returns to normal.