It would be an understatement to say that we are living through an incredibly anxiety-provoking time. Between fear of the unknown, a lack of information and miscommunications surrounding preventative care for ourselves and others, I am surprised the world isn't in more of a panic. Yet, a great way that we can cope with COVID-19 is to actively take the time to educate ourselves, and to be as rational as possible when it comes to basic human understanding.
It now seems that every time I go on Facebook, I'm scrolling through the comment section of an argumentative post trying to figure out where I stand on the issue. For days on end, I have seen people share posts about what they believe are the best actions to take regarding preventative care for COVID-19, and for as many of those posts that are out there, I've probably seen twice as many countering every word they say. I find it extremely triggering to watch people call each other "disgusting" for leaving their house during the pandemic or for being upset about the current state of affairs. I find it heartless to assume people are "disrespectful" to the needs of others because they may need to take care of their own. If we are neglecting our own health, how are we expected to care for the health of those most compromised?
It warms my heart to see so many people around the world coming together and supporting one another in this time of crisis. In the same sense, it also breaks my heart to see uneducated people using social media to attack one another for their stances on the issue or the precautions they feel necessary to take in order to protect themselves. This is not to say one group of people knows more than another. In fact, I think what we are all forgetting is that we as a nation are very much in the dark about the entirety of the COVID-19 situation. We may think we know all that there is to know, but when our government and health care professionals who serve on the front lines against this virus are still trying to understand what is happening, I think it is safe to say that social media users should take a step back. Instead of trolling another person's post to start an argument, use the time to check updates and read up on the current state of affairs. If we simply have a bit more understanding for one another in this time of uncertainty, we can grow together and educate one another instead of wasting our time being irrational.
