Denialism

[julietmanchester]

Im married to a man who pretends covid isn't real. It's becoming too much to put up with him anymore. If I want to discuss higher rates or surge of any kind, he literally tells me to shut up and he won't listen to my 'covid obsession'

Any advice? Move out?

We follow the advice but don't discuss Covid every day. Mind you, we are about to have our armed forces helping the ambulance service here soon, not much chance for denial up here.

There are people who actually think there is no virus. It’s not clear if OPs husband is one of these people.

To me, saying 'isn't real' makes me think he is one of these people.

Complete denial. Literally. It's like it NEVER happened or it's over.

Arguing the finer points of levels of denial really doesn't seem helpful in this or most instances. But perhaps it makes covid downplayers feel better about themselves.

I meant, OP also says the second bolded quote. I think it's clear, ie.

Arguing the finer points of levels of denial really doesn't seem helpful in this or most instances.

Well it is, though, if “denial” stretches from everything to “thinks it’s an invented global conspiracy and the virus has never existed” to “doesn’t want to constantly discuss whether his kids will get long covid.”

There’s a big range in “it NEVER happened or it’s over” - the virus never existed? or the threat is over? I wouldn’t agree with either really but they are still not the same thing.

I would be more worried that he’s telling her to ‘shut up’ and that her mum thinks he’s in some way dangerous, at any rate.

But perhaps it makes covid downplayers feel better about themselves.

I suspect for every "covid downplayer" out there, there's also a "covid catastrophier" to match

I would be more worried that he’s telling her to ‘shut up’ and that her mum thinks he’s in some way dangerous, at any rate.

Exactly this. Seems there could be bigger issues going on in the relationship than views on covid

I suspect for every "covid downplayer" out there, there's also a "covid catastrophier" to match

I think you've already made your own position clear.

@milkyaqua

I suspect for every "covid downplayer" out there, there's also a "covid catastrophier" to match

I think you've already made your own position clear.

As have you my dear

@LuchiMangsho @SoloISland @TrampolineForMrKite

Why did Luchi say that 1000 were dying in Florida alone? Seems less than 400 at the height of things. That sort of gross exaggeration is not helpful

As have you my dear biscuit

Ta, I was peckish.

There is a middle ground of facts, and reason.

@milkyaqua

As have you my dear biscuit

Ta, I was peckish.

There is a middle ground of facts, and reason.

Of course there is and tbh were probably both on the same page where covid stands but just pointing how some comments can be made unnecessarily and taken the wrong way. Most people realise that covid is real and here to stay and make conscious decisions on their actions to accommodate a circulating virus, but don't feel the need to talk about it 24/7 like it's the only important thing in the world because its not. Not wanting to talk about covid all day every does not make someone a covid denier or down player

People who deny Covid exists are just uneducated. But you can't force people to educate themselves unfortunately.

As have you my dear

Quite.

There is a middle ground of facts, and reason

Yes. And believing that the virus is a conspiracy and never existed is incompatible with facts and reason. Not wanting to engage in endless conversations about covid “surges” and the risks to children of long covid is not incompatible with facts or reason . This is not a question of debating the “finer points” of denial, is about understanding whether the OPs husband is out of touch with reality or not.

I am confused. You say he pretends Covid isn't real and shuts you down when you try to talk about it. Maybe, he just doesn't want to talk about it. A lot of people don't, and just want to get on with life as best they can without thinking about Covid all the time.

@XenoBitch

Probably true. But if there's a reason to discuss it like our child's school having an outbreak, you can't shut it out.

And who said I talk about it 'all the time'?

Really not the place to talk about Covid denial lots of people on here are the same 🤦🏼‍♀️😂.

@XenoBitch

I am confused. You say he pretends Covid isn't real and shuts you down when you try to talk about it. Maybe, he just doesn't want to talk about it. A lot of people don't, and just want to get on with life as best they can without thinking about Covid all the time.

If my husband wouldn't talk about covid at all, even in relation to an outbreak at my children's school, I would think he was either a twat or had a genuine emotional problem around covid i.e. either in denial or avoidant.

'Getting on with life' is not the same as 'pretending covid isn't happening'.

There are vast numbers of people who seemingly can't handle thinking about covid at all. God knows if they'll get used to it in time given we are stuck with it every year now!

[quote Shelddd]@lannistunut

What will it be like? Probably similar to before. I am not a covid denier, this is going to stay around like the flu from now on.

Do we discuss the tens of thousands of flu deaths every year? No, yeah just time to get on with it. Get vaccinated, especially if you're over 50 or high risk, and just get on with your life.[/quote]
Do we discuss the tens of thousands of flu deaths every year?

But regular flu doesn't cause thousands of deaths among healthy and/or young people as COVID has. You can't compare the two.

@Tinydancer321

Really not the place to talk about Covid denial lots of people on here are the same 🤦🏼‍♀️😂.

Yes, many have scurried over to help support the husband, in this case.

But regular flu doesn't cause thousands of deaths among healthy and/or young people as COVID has. You can't compare the two

A reminder that yes, the flu is more deadly for
kids. Really lays out who society considers important, doesn’t it?

@Aquafizzle

But regular flu doesn't cause thousands of deaths among healthy and/or young people as COVID has. You can't compare the two.

But flu is more dangerous in children...

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.news-medical.net/amp/news/20210614/Study-suggests-COVID-19-in-children-is-milder-than-the-flu.aspx

But there are also flu vaccines!!

Are people nad enough to be suggesting that the world doesnt care for childrens health because we have created a COVID vaccine? Absolutely bonkers logic. I'm out.

"Do we discuss the tens of thousands of flu deaths every year?"

We do! Every year there is an elaborate flu campaign warning of the dangers to children, pregnant women, people with underlying health problems. TV, radio, social media adverts, posters in chemists, GP surgeries, workplaces advising on risk of flu and benefits of vaccination. Stats published weekly. People just ignore it!

@UsedUpUsername

But regular flu doesn't cause thousands of deaths among healthy and/or young people as COVID has. You can't compare the two

A reminder that yes, the flu is more deadly for
kids. Really lays out who society considers important, doesn’t it?

Longlasting symptoms are more prevalent for the young following covid. Long covid is their major risk really, and is not to be dismissed.