Boomers Not Taking This Seriously
My Mother-in-law left Friday for Florida for three weeks with her sister to use her timeshare. They are 70 and will be 1000 miles from home with no support in what is likely the worst state in America to be in right now. This is despite their children begging them not to go.
I have heard from other friends that their Boomer parents are also not taking this as seriously as they should given a possible 6-10% death rate for that cohort. I know users of this blog are all ages, but lots of us have parents in that age group, are your parents taking this seriously?
March 24th, 2020 at 12:10 PM ^
I don't take this post seriously.
March 24th, 2020 at 12:11 PM ^
My mom initially was going to keep doing things but after a few days changed her mind (I think as she read more and gave it more thought). My dad still playing golf but the course had taken precautions - no bunker rakes, no flags, everyone in their own cart, carts sanitized after use, etc. Their church moved to streaming services, they do a lot of things on Zoom and other conference stuff. They're in Florida, so even if the governor refuses to force people to do it, certainly some of the people are taking it seriously.
March 24th, 2020 at 12:12 PM ^
My mother is 65, her siblings are older, and her mother is 92. They don't appear to be taking it as seriously as I think they should - my mother kept going to work (which didn't shut down right away) even though she is a lawyer who can easily work from home. And they all keep visiting my grandmother, though at least they say that they are keeping away from direct physical contact.
I don't think Boomers are stupid, but I do think that they are not getting the same information that the rest of us are. (Broad generalizations from here on:) Those of us young enough to be online, on social media, the internet, etc., use this as our source of information. I think a lot of us have spent time reading relatively deep dives into the impact of the pandemic, and the impact that social distancing and other mitigation efforts will have to flatten the curve.
My mother, as an example, doesn't live in that world. She watches local or national news, maybe reads the newspaper or email summaries, which are not nearly as comprehensive. She doesn't have the time to study a 5000 word Medium article. She may get it in general but is simply not up to speed on the specifics. It's the same reason Boomers use "password" as all their passwords - they just are not as educated on specific steps to take. Again, in general - there are plenty who are, and good for them. On the flip side, I have peers who don't spend time on blogs/twitter/facebook, and they're "not taking it seriously" in the same way.
To the OP - if your MIL and sister have the resources to have a timeshare and pay for travel, and support to tell them not to do that, I agree they're being exceedingly dumb, borderline suicidal. I don't know what else to say; what they're doing is indefensible.
March 24th, 2020 at 12:22 PM ^
I'm 62 at the end of the boomers. The Wife and I have been very, very careful and stay at home.
My Dad at 92 has been a goof ball out in public for no good reason.
My Sister at 69 a real boomer just wised up after her kids clobbered her. She is in FL and was out to eat, etc.
If everyone cooperates for a short time span we can beat this thing.
March 24th, 2020 at 12:25 PM ^
The geographic distribution of who is complying with social distancing and who isn't is being tracked by cell phone data. Kinda interesting.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/03/24/social-distancing-maps-cellphone-location/
March 24th, 2020 at 12:35 PM ^
Seems like you have no respect for your elders to make a decision about their own life.
March 24th, 2020 at 12:36 PM ^
Is "boomer" a slur being used by younger people?
Not sure why. It means we've extended life expectancy.
I see young people call others boomer on twitter when they've lost the argument. Other than that I don't see it.
So, is it supposed to be a bad thing?
March 24th, 2020 at 12:38 PM ^
I find it disrespectful. They call everyone older than them boomer. It's stupid.
It's supposed to be disrespectful.
Much in the same way people use "millennial" in a disrespectful manner.
March 24th, 2020 at 12:56 PM ^
American life expectancy has actually been dropping recently.
I think most young people are upset about the two financial recessions and two pointless wars we've lived through as well as the destruction of the environment.
Not sure why. It means we've extended life expectancy.
"Boomer" has to do with when they were born. There was a baby boom in the U.S. from c. 1945-65.
Of course, grouping them all into one "generation" is silly and arbitrary. Is a person born in 1962 really going to have more in common with someone born in 1947 than with someone born in 1967?
March 24th, 2020 at 12:37 PM ^
I'm 50 and just being careful like I would during any FLU season. My parents are in their mid 70's and doing the same. For the most part just laying low and staying home but making sure to wash hands after going into crowded places and have to touch things (like shopping carts, etc) and staying home for the most part. I certainly am not afraid to go to the hardware store to grab some things or go grab take out or head to the grocery for some items. It just plain is not any scarier than the FLU to me personally. If it was something crazy like 20% of the people were dying from this, after being infected, it would be a totally different story.
My personal opinion (and I already know many of you will neg me and bash me per usual) is this whole thing is a bit over the top as far as reaction. People pass away from viruses and diseases all the time. Many things can kill us. It's estimated that doctors alone kill over 100,000 patients yearly by over medicating them (by accident of course). I understand that some countries have been hit hard (Italy - Which has a high elderly population) but we have had bad viruses before.
Swine Flue - CDC estimated that up to 575,400 people worldwide died from (H1N1)pdm09 virus infection during the first year the virus circulated - 2009.
The Flu in general in the US (for this years CDC estimated burden) will infect 38 to 54 million people with an estimated 29 to 59 thousand people dying from it. Yet no one bats an eyelash.
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm
I do realize this seems to be easier to catch and I understand a possible 2 to 4 week "stay home, stay safe" thing, but much more than that is it really necessary? I don't want anyone to lose a close family member to this virus but life goes on and many things can and do kill us. The economy and small business, etc are more on my mind (far more peoples lives ruined and business closing) and if we look back and it wasn't even as bad as the typical flu season stats was or is this reaction even worth it and is it possible this virus has been around far longer than we thought? I guess my take is ..... why this virus and why not others in the past? It seems a high number are basically getting flu like symptoms and recover and the ones that struggle are the same ones that struggle with the flu and other sicknesses.
Feel free to chime in.
Because this illness is not the same as others. It is highly contagious, people have no built in immunity to it, and kills a relatively high number of people it infects. Unchecked, we're talking MILLIONS dead by 2021. Life goes on I guess?
Now, call your grandma and tell her to her face 'sorry meemaw, but I don't really give a shit if there's a pandemic going around that has a 25% chance of killing you if you catch it, and that there's a 60% chance that you'll get it'
People don't have "built in" full immunity to the FLU. You can catch different strains even if you just had a strain of it. So it's not full immunity at all.
This whole response that the media has created ....Everyone PANIC! Life is over .... just seems a bit over the top as again other viruses and such have caused havoc. Cautious and careful yes but I am just saying any more than a month shutdown I am just not sure it is worth it? Time will tell. I am not saying I am right and I personally am being cautious and venturing out very little.
People DO have a built in immunity to the flu.
This is a novel virus, which our immune systems have never seen before. What you are failing to understand is that all of these precautions are because we've identified a virus that WILL kill millions if left unchecked, and are trying to prevent that. You seem to be comparing how many have died from it since it was discovered to how many die from the flu, which is not a good analysis. There is a little thing called exponential growth. Right now you may not think COVID-19 is that big a deal because only a few hundred have died from it in the US. Those few hundred deaths will increase at an alarming rate until the number is in the millions. This is not hyperbole.
https://labblog.uofmhealth.org/rounds/how-scientists-quantify-intensity-of-an-outbreak-like-covid-19
This epidemic will fill our hospitals to capacity and leave people dying at home and on the streets without care if we don't do all we can to slow the spread of it. Do you not understand that?
Edit:
Here's the current graph from John Hopkins for daily number of confirmed cases in the US:
You see how it was "not a big deal" just a couple of weeks ago, with >1000 cases? Now there are more than 50k confirmed cases. It is spreading exponentially. If this trend continues, imagine where we'll be 2 weeks from now. Or 2 months from now. With a 2-3% overall fatality rate, that means 1,000 of those confirmed cases will die. If 1,000,000 people become infected, 20,000 people will die. If ~60% of the US becomes infected, as many people have projected, that would mean death for 4 million people. Probably more, because our healthcare system will be overloaded at that point, and cases where death could have been prevented under normal circumstances will result in death.
Lot's of "if's" that is the thing ... I understand trying to be safe and get ahead of it and to be cautious. Right now the death rate of it is around 3.7 percent I believe. I am not discounting it is a virus that can kill you. Like the Flu they are predicting warmer weather (humidity) will help curb the spread. I appreciate the info but my personal view has not changed. As far as immunity for the FLU you can get different strains of the flu and are not immune to the other strains if you have not had it yet. It's obvious you are very worried about this and I appreciate it, but not all of us are going overboard with this. Again ... shut down for a month .... cool ... but any more than 4 weeks seems excessive. So we shut down for 6 months and if even 10 people still have it then the spread will just start all over again and do we then panic and shut down every time? What are your thoughts on that? I am actually trying to be reasonable about this and I know loss of life is going to happen. To your response my grandparents are all gone by now and I don't wish anyone to lose any family member if it can be helped. Again, I am practicing self restraint and staying home for the most part and only going out to get things I need at times. I simply am just not afraid to go out and get those things.
It's ok for people to talk about this and have their opinions and I appreciate yours and the info you provided.
Unfortunately, we have a very clear picture of how bad things can get - Italy.
They're suffering horribly, and the epicenter is Lombardy, a prosperous and advanced part of the country.
I can't imagine people want a similar situation here; whatever we can do to avoid that is IMO worth the cost. Failing to take major action is irresponsible.
We also have evidence of good examples of how to successfully defend against it - South Korea and Taiwan among others. They're advanced, densely populated, open and democratic societies that took rapid, coordinated action and seem to have done an effective job limiting the damage.
Sadly, we've already missed the boat on what seems to be their strongest defense - lots of testing and tracking early on.
I'm not the type to panic, and sincerely hope we get through this without the level of suffering folks in Italy and Spain are going through, but it's clear this disease can be devastating.
Let's all work together to beat this thing.
Italy isn't a good place to base things off of I don't think. It has a very high elderly rate which can complicate things as even the Flu and Pneumonia unfortunately which complicate (cause death) things for the elderly as well.
The 60% of people in the US projection is not just for this cycle of the virus. The virus will peak then drop, then this winter will pick up again and peak again, then 2021 will do the same thing. The 60+% of people will get it is taking into account all three of these cycles.
Right now, we are trying to slow and contain it so it doesn't overwhelm the hospitals. That is all... nothing we are doing is going to eliminate the virus, just contain it. Then, hopefully by winter, they will have drugs to lessen the effects and allow for better outcomes during the next peak. Then finally, hopefully they will have a vaccine for 2021 and have minimal effects.
First: Contain
2nd: start opening back up in low risk areas
3rd: continue to monitor for flare ups
Saying millions of people in the US are going to die is not true and not helpful. Quit watching CNN.
Millions die IF LEFT UNCHECKED. I'm not making this up.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-research-…
People who don't understand exponential math fail to see the severity of this.
Keep it together pal. Even the worst projections have nowhere near a million (let alone “millions”) dying from this in the next 1-2 years.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-research-…
What's your source? Here's mine.
March 25th, 2020 at 11:28 PM ^
These are very important questions indeed.
If Its not some plague sweeping the earth as we speak...... then what could be so important and serious as to lockdown the entire globe?
Of course people will parrot out " ALEX JONES! TINFOIL HAT LOONIES!
EVERYTHING IS FINE THE MEDICAL EXPERTS AND MEDIA WOULDNT LIE TO US !! "
Many people are too afraid to admit they might have been fooled, too afraid to go down the many rabitholes to try and figure things out. Which anyone should be.... once you start puting the pieces together and see signs of the bigger picture is traumatizing.
Even if many people dont handle this perfectly, this is not the time to go on attack mode and only divide each other more.
March 24th, 2020 at 12:38 PM ^
Not a great thread title - my mother and all of her friends are taking this seriously. There's my anecdotal evidence to counter your anecdotal evidence. There certainly are people who aren't following the recommendations but they are in all age groups.
On another note, per the Health Weather map, Michigan is looking better. A couple of days ago there were several counties in orange. Social distancing appears to be having an effect. Florida still looks scary though.
It's not about what group is or isn't taking it serious it's the fact boomers need to be 10 times more cautious than others considering their death rate chances are ten times more likely.
"Baby Boomer" isn't synonymous with being a senior citizen. Some are in their 50s. Jim Harbaugh (born in 1963) is a Baby Boomer by most definitions.
Regardless, everyone needs to take this seriously.
March 24th, 2020 at 12:40 PM ^
I don't think going to Florida is not taking this seriously. My aunt and uncle did the same thing. Their time share is in a senior community and they coordinate their arrival with a group of friends that will also be their. They are safe, nobody goes anywhere. My uncle is very high risk; age group and had drug resistant pneumonia that damaged his lungs. They are both very cognizant of the danger and *gasp* vote republican. The other boomers in my life are also aware of their risk.
March 24th, 2020 at 12:43 PM ^
This take is as dumb as saying millenials are not taking this seriously because a bunch of kids were partying in Florida. Most people I know of all ages are taking this seriously. Knuckleheads are not limited to any age cohort.
March 24th, 2020 at 12:58 PM ^
Most Millennials are in their 30s at this point.
Those spring breakers are Gen Z.
March 24th, 2020 at 12:45 PM ^
I wouldn't generalize so much based off anecdotes. I also wouldn't generalize people based off when they were born. People can control their birthday just as much as they can control their race. If it is offensive to generalize people off their race, and it most certainly is, then it also is offensive to generalize people off their age.
Additionally, there are people of all ages and backgrounds taking this seriously. And also not taking this seriously.
March 24th, 2020 at 12:53 PM ^
Thanks for the very definition of anecdotal evidence. You know there are actual numbers available.
I am one of those boomers and taking this VERY seriously.
Boomer here. I think many of us are actually taking it very seriously. Not all though as you say. One thing that may affect some boomers not taking it as seriously is we've been around for a while and seen a lot of overhyped "end-of-the-world" cataclysms that never amounted to much. So, a natural reaction when you hear about yet another deadly pandemic is to think "probably not going to be too bad". Obviously in this case, it IS really bad. I started out not taking it that seriously but I now do. I'm staying at home most of the time except for an occasional trip to the grocery store. When I do go, I'm very, very careful about what I touch and washing thoroughly before and after going to any place outside the house. I am still optimistic that this situation will get better sooner than many people are predicting.
Obviously in this case, it IS really bad
Yeah, just like we were told all the others were as they were happening.
Those college kids partied all over the place the second their classes went online no matter what the adults tried to tell them. Beaches, St Patrick's Day, etc.
At least one who was partying on the Hill in Boulder turned out to be positive before the details of individual cases stopped being significant. Police here broke up a bunch of 100+ people parties last weekend.
So there ya go, kid.
They are also not the at risk demographic. Should have kept them all on campus and not sent them home to expose other people.
Nope, mine still wanted to get together for my sons birthday with my 90 yr old grandpa in tow...we’re face timing on the day of instead
I'm only 27, so not really at risk, but I've been taking it very seriously. I've left my house once in 2 weeks.
I love my boomer relatives, and I love my gf's parents, but I cant help that feel that the generation that is most at risk is the most responsible for how bad this is going to be. Spending 40 years hollowing out public institutions so that they're completely useless, only to realize that the only way to respond to a crisis like this is a robust state? Unfortunately, the poorest and least responsible will suffer the most, as usual, but hopefully covid will run through about 95 members of the Senate, and every VC board room.
The oldest boomer turns 75 this year. The generation that is most at risk are people over 75, most of whom are parents of gen z. The last I saw the average age of death from COVID-19 was around 80. Those are not Boomers.
People over 75 are not parents of gen z. People over 50 are still in great danger if they get this disease.
Correct. I meant gen x.
Nope. Mom calls it this “virus” thing.
I'm not sure how serious my parents are taking this. They decided to drive to stay with my sister in Wisconsin for awhile, so while traveling seems like a bad idea, my sister does live in the middle of nowhere so they won't be around other people at least.
When they cancelled Church, (moved it to on-line only) my Mom took this seriously.
“My parents won’t listen to me some I’m getting on my blog and telling all my friends. That’ll show em!”
I hope at some point our species will normalize away from drawing generalizations with limited data. 80% of social media and click bait news is based upon this fallacy.
I hope we also some day normalize the understanding that for every action, there will always, always be a fringe 1-5% who will react or act with disdain, ignorance and/or hatred, and that we should not make generalizations based upon the front page news that always seems to focus on this fringe.
lots of us have parents in that age group, are your parents taking this seriously?
Mom (retired nurse practitioner), yes...staying home in Maine and taking social distancing protocols seriously. Dad (retired banker) not so much...in Florida doing his normal winter thing with little changes in his routine. Not sure if my dad isn't taking it seriously or just doesn't care since he never turns on his cell phone and is too busy monitoring the stock market and making trades. Mom says he should stay there so he doesn't come back and infect her lol.
I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority, but I say let them be and do what they want. I'm not about to preach to others how they need to change their lives to protect me or my family members. As long as you're not breaking the law, do you. Life is short.
If they stay isolated in the car, and in the timeshare, this might be alright. They can go outside to exercise, they can just as easily hang out in the timeshare. The key thing is contact with people, or more specifically, AVOIDING contact with people. If they are staying away from people, washing hands, using gloves, using hand sanitizer, they should be fine.
Certainly, as others have said, some take this seriously, some don't. I myself have gotten out on my bicycle for a good 11 mile ride the last 3 days. Yes, I'm outside, but I'm not in other's airspace, not around people, not touching anything, not in a place of danger. One of the things I've read suggests that the better your own health, your own weight, etc., the better your body can fight off an infection.