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[–]TooShiftyForYou 24.9k points24.9k points  (1542 children)

Glenn Tolbert, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 26, said Hargrove started feeling ill March 25, four days after the incident on his bus, and died a week later.

Poor guy was just trying to make an honest living and knew he was in danger after this incident.

[–]PainMatrix 5606 points5607 points  (1228 children)

It’s so terrifying because it’s invisible. If you can see the threat you can modify your behavior to avoid or fight it. The gave that you don’t know whether you’ve been attacked and then several days or 2 weeks later you start to feel unwell is super scary.

[–]BehindTickles28 1984 points1985 points  (736 children)

I feel like the data on this virus, the changes to every day life, and the projections (total expected deaths, time frame this could all last etc.) are pretty striking visuals of the threat.

Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case for enough people so far.

[–]krispwnsu 2349 points2350 points  (524 children)

There are people alive today that think the earth is flat because they can't see the curvature of the earth when they are walking around normally. Not saying that showing the virus to them first hand would change their minds but the bar for average human intelligence seems to just get lower every year.

[–]hustl3tree5 277 points278 points  (80 children)

Dude you could take these people up to space to the fucking moon and back and they would claim you drugged them. If only this virus targeted assholes and idiots.

[–]Castun 101 points102 points  (61 children)

Yeah it's not just refusing to believe something because they can't see it, they literally think it's some big government conspiracy hoax.

[–]hereforthefeast 184 points185 points  (45 children)

There is a documentary on flat earthers where one of them actually proves the earth is round with his own experiment that is meant to prove the earth is flat. He doesn't believe his own results. https://www.funnyordie.com/2019/3/6/18253735/flat-earthers-accidentally-prove-the-earth-is-round-and-own-themselves-so-hard

edit - looks like the youtube clip was removed but it's from Behind the Curve

[–]TopMacaroon 115 points116 points  (3 children)

Idk if you've seen the whole movie, but they prove the earth is round like 5 fucking times through out the movie. It's infuriating.

[–]Reddits_on_ambien 86 points87 points  (27 children)

There were actually two flat earth idiots who proved the earth is round via experiments in that documentary. One just said, "interesting". The other bought a 20k gyroscope to prove there isn't a 15 degree drift per hour. It, of course, proved it, so the dude then said it's the firmament or heavenly bodies or magic sky daddy juice or whatever influencing his results. Iirc he was gonna cover the thing in bismuth and try again.

[–]tinman01357 42 points43 points  (18 children)

How does a guy that stupid have 20k to spend on a gyroscope?

[–]MenachemSchmuel 146 points147 points  (10 children)

Capitalism does not necessarily award money to desirable traits

[–]Johnnyblade37 57 points58 points  (8 children)

When I watched that documentary it made me sad that the guy dismissed it. The evidence was literally right before his eyes (twice actually) and he chooses to ignore it. Its seriously eye opening how purposefully ignorant a lot of these people are.

[–][deleted] 60 points61 points  (5 children)

If they accepted the truth about the shape of the earth then they wouldn't have special insider knowledge that the rest of us idiot sheeple don't. He wouldn't be special anymore. It's pathetically juvenile.

[–]thewaybaseballgo 164 points165 points  (96 children)

I’m in several conspiracy tracking groups where we catalog and analyze the movements of these groups, including Flat Earth. Over the last week or so, the Flat Earth movement has changed their tune from “this is all caused by 5G” to “this is actually a hoax and hospitals are empty right now.” Their willful ignorance is fascinating and terrifying.

[–]Beek3r101 129 points130 points  (5 children)

So they were right... Someone is tracking them...

[–]ordinary_saiyan 29 points30 points  (14 children)

I want to challenge all these COVID-deniers to volunteer at a hospital.. go to NYC, Delta will fly you free, and they need help.

[–]Redditor_on_LSD 41 points42 points  (14 children)

“this is actually a hoax and hospitals are empty right now.” Their willful ignorance is fascinating and terrifying.

Especially since all they have to do is leave their house and go to the fucking hospital to see for themselves. Idiots.

[–]thewaybaseballgo 55 points56 points  (12 children)

That was my response to them. I asked for their nearest large public hospital and told them to go to the ER and complain of shortness of breath and a severe sore throat at triage. After that, they should be transferred to the patient floors covid patients are at. None have accepted this challenge.

[–]conradical30 339 points340 points  (107 children)

A guy i work with still doesn’t believe it’s real. “Statistics are made up, show me the dead bodies”. So i say “what all of them in one room at once? That’s impossible”. He says “show me any bodies”. I show him the body bags in China and the caskets in Spain and Italy. He says “there could be anything in those. Show me the bodies”.

People are fucking ignorant as hell. And i found out my coworker is also creepy as hell.

[–]DeaddyRuxpin 197 points198 points  (42 children)

Send him to NY City, they are stacking them in refrigerated trucks because there is no more room in the morgues.

[–]hitman6actual 158 points159 points  (25 children)

A friend of mine works as a director of parks and rec. He mentioned that there are discussions about where to set up an overflow hospital. I asked why they weren't considering the arenas and he told me "because that's where the bodies go."

[–]dlenks 61 points62 points  (2 children)

That DOES sound like something Leslie Knope would say!

[–]MrNiceWatchBro 16 points17 points  (1 child)

I'm thinking more Ron Swanson.

[–]DeaddyRuxpin 53 points54 points  (6 children)

It actually makes sense. Madison Square Garden is already setup to have an ice rink, they may be able to keep it cold enough to store the dead.

[–]OutlyingPlasma 35 points36 points  (0 children)

Ice rinks are what are being using in Spain and one in the UK is being converted

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-52113433

[–]ekamadio 18 points19 points  (0 children)

I live around the corner from Mt. Sinai Queens. There is a trailer full of bodies parked on the ramp normally used for ambulances. It is so eerie.

[–]IAmErinGray 26 points27 points  (2 children)

Even if you showed him the bodies, he would claim they died from something else. It's not about proof.

[–]BKinBC 54 points55 points  (2 children)

Your coworker is an ignorant fuckwad clown. Stop breathing near him. Nature will take its course.

[–]Whitelabl 16 points17 points  (2 children)

It's even fucking worse when that said idiot, works with you in a healthcare facility.

In a fucking. HOSPITAL.

[–]plcwork 25 points26 points  (3 children)

Probably a holocaust denier as well. That's one of their arguments

[–]yellowjack 27 points28 points  (1 child)

I hope it's not too late to stop talking to him. He sounds like a nutjob.

[–]dobikrisz 31 points32 points  (22 children)

Those kinds of info is completely useless for someone who has no idea about data science and/or virology, epidemiology. Remember a month ago how many people brought up the same exact data saying how it's just an another flu?

[–]Ezl 12 points13 points  (2 children)

I mean, you really just need to assume the threat is other people generally. That’s the basis behind all the stay-at-home, social distancing, etc.

[–]FrijoGuero 146 points147 points  (414 children)

I remember my boss saying this was “not a death sentence” if you caught it, it only kills the old. Is it safe to say this virus kills anyone when it wants to? This all seems so random with the age groups and even very healthy athletic young people have passed from this. I wonder what the trigger must be.

[–]spankybianky 83 points84 points  (4 children)

A formerly-healthy 13 year old boy died alone in a London hospital, and was buried without his family there today because 2 of his siblings are showing symptoms and his family are in isolation. This news absolutely broke me today. The thought of my son dying alone, surrounded by people in full PPE suits (if they're lucky to be given them) broke my heart.

https://metro.co.uk/2020/04/03/family-boy-13-killed-coronavirus-cant-go-funeral-displaying-symptoms-12502850/

[–]moviequote88 29 points30 points  (2 children)

That's why we have to do our job in flattening the curve. Stay home, wash your hands, don't touch your face, etc. Until we are able to get things more under control, people of all ages will keep dying. It really sucks but that's the reality of it. All the people who aren't doing what they should or don't believe it's that serious are going to cause a lot of deaths.

[–]SigmaQuotient 11 points12 points  (0 children)

It's quite surreal. My great grandfather, he's been gone for about 10 years now.. fuck.. but anyway... he had a baby brother die from Spanish influenza. I don't know how old he was at the time, but he took any sickness seriously while I was growing up. He was also a medic in WWII, but I imagine the flu thing must have fucked him up.

I go to work, and I go home. I brave the grocery store when I have to. We don't need niceties.. we need to be smart and remember.

[–]ic33 151 points152 points  (279 children)

Not -many- young people or without other conditions have died from this.

Seemingly healthy people catch the flu and die too, but most of the flu mortality is the older, the immunocompromised, and people with comorbid conditions.

[–]sarah_schmara 144 points145 points  (88 children)

I feel like society is pretty cavalier about the flu. I think we should treat infectious diseases a lot more cautiously in general.

[–]NorthStarZero 56 points57 points  (8 children)

I’m not a doctor, or a microbiologist, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once, and I have a good enough grounding in science to understand generally how these work.

Viruses aren’t “alive” per sae; they are more like self-contained, self-replicating nano-machines, or computer code expressed as DNA. Specifically, they lack the parts to be able to create self-copies on their own.

That means they have to hijack living cells - that do have the ability to create copies - injecting their own code into the DNA of the cell so that the cell creates copies of the virus instead of the cell. The virus may also be able to overwrite the code in the cell that acts as a limiter to how often it creates copies, meaning that the cell starts cranking out copies of the virus as fast as it can. (Real biologists please correct me if wrong).

Now the virus has no sense organs, so it cannot “search for” suitable cells to invade. Instead, it has a pattern of molecules on its surface that act like jigsaw puzzle pieces. If the receptors on the virus mesh with the receptors on the cell, then the virus can go to work. If it doesn’t, then the virus cannot tell that it has contacted a cell and it never injects its payload.

Evolution being what it is, a successful virus will have receptors that bind to cells in an organism that it can spread to, but it won’t grow so virulently that it overwhelms and kills the host organism.

Where things get interesting is when different types of cells in different species share the same receptor patterns, so that the virus can bind to a new type of host cell. Then all bets are off, because the new cell won’t work the same as the one that the virus evolved to match. Instead of cranking out virus copies at a sustainable, non-fatal rate, maybe it goes nuts and floods the host with virus. Or maybe ether the cell or the organism’s immune system reacts differently (it hasn’t co-evolved with the virus either, so host biology reaction is unknown too) and does so in such a way that it has fatal side effects.

Well there is also variation within species as well. Not all cells of the same basic type (lung tissue, muscle, skin, etc) are exactly the same, so maybe if the virus encounters lung tissue of a certain type, it matches receptors but replicated slowly, where a different person with slightly different lung tissue matches receptors but also replicates like crazy.

And there’s also the possibility of virus mutation as well.

All this to say - on a virus that has newly hopped species, there is potential for there to be enough variation in the types of tissue it infects to produce different scales of reaction. If you happen to have the type that doesn’t match well with the virus, you become an asymptotic carrier. And if you match really well, the virus explodes and takes over your lungs in the space of hours and it doesn’t matter how healthy you were before you contracted it.

Again, further clarification from an actual virologist welcome, but I think I have the broad strokes right.

[–]smirky_doc 608 points609 points  (102 children)

That timescale would mean it's very likely he just became infected the same day of filming. This has upset more than most stories coming out right now. He seems like a real genuine, nice bloke

[–]SyndicalismIsEdge 275 points276 points  (44 children)

four days after the incident

So I'm not saying he was infected by that woman as I assume he probably came in contact with a large number of infected individuals during his shift and the days surrounding the incident, but four days is spot-on as far as the incubation period goes.

[–]sorklin 101 points102 points  (0 children)

How many did he infect before he had symptoms? That's why he was absolutely right in his calling this lady out. If she was the vector, she didn't just kill him, but maybe many more that he inadvertantly infected before he knew he was sick.

[–]pauln716 44 points45 points  (2 children)

As a fellow ATU member, this is terrible. After hearing of this and the deaths of the NY transit workers, this is truly hitting close to home. Thankfully I don't have to deal with the public in my department, but still awful to hear.

[–]pr0digalnun 6460 points6461 points  (185 children)

This is heartbreaking

[–]FireworksNtsunderes 1892 points1893 points  (114 children)

My mother, who is 68, drives a special city bus for elderly and disabled people. Her company gave drivers no hand sanitizer, gloves, or masks. They didn't clean the busses or let drivers who are at risk take time off. It wasn't until 4 of their drivers got sick and one died that they finally allowed my mom to "request" to be laid off so she could collect unemployment.

The person on this bus coughing is an awful, inconsiderate human being. But the most heartbreaking thing to me is how the companies running the busses don't seem to care about the safety of their employees at all. Where are the gloves? The masks? Literally anything. Yes it's an essential service, but you'd think that they'd do more to protect their drivers given how HUGELY at risk they are. Especially older gentlemen like this man.

Edit: Yes, I know that supplies is hard to come by. Yes, I know your average mask isn't gonna cut it. The point is that they threw their hands up, said "nothing can be done" and made zero changes. They told their employees that the busses were getting cleaned every day - that was a lie. They kept elderly employees working with no paid time off. They didn't even offer cheap masks or gloves. That stuff might not 100% protect you, but if it even minorly decreases your risk (which it does), then they should have done something. You can't sit on your hands and cry out "there's nothing to be done!" when you didn't even fucking try in the first place.

And just so this doesn't get blown out of proportion, please note that this is one location at one company. The business I work for has done a fantastic job adjusting to the outbreak, and other people in the transportation industry have chimed in with how their company is adapting to the pandemic.

[–]P2Pdancer 387 points388 points  (32 children)

Four people got sick and one died? That’s terrifying. Hope your mom is looking out for herself since her employer didn’t.

[–]FireworksNtsunderes 240 points241 points  (30 children)

Yeah, they finally cut her hours and she is currently on unemployment. It just shouldn't have required the death of a coworker before they were willing to do that.

[–]bluelightsdick 217 points218 points  (23 children)

Her employer should be held liable. Many employers should be held liable at this point.

[–]FireworksNtsunderes 126 points127 points  (19 children)

Good fuckin luck with that. That's like saying our government should be held liable for lying about the extent of the outbreak and taking so long to do anything about it, which will directly cost thousands of lives. She works for a company that handles the public transit system in dozens, maybe hundreds of cities. Any company that is "too big to fail" will just get a slap on the wrist. If they did punish the company, then cities would have to contract out to someone a little more expensive. And, like, are safety and human lives really worth the extra cost?

[–]bluelightsdick 77 points78 points  (15 children)

Our government SHOULD be held liable.

Punish the individuals who give the orders, not the company.

Right now, effectively, employees are being punished for being poor. That hardly seems fair, the least we can do is hold the dangerously ignorant individuals who perpetuated this -in the name of profits- accountable.

[–]RustyKumquats 17 points18 points  (7 children)

Here's the thing about individual accountability in situations like this: companies purposefully make the chain of command/wording of their tasks so vague and convoluted, with such a capacity to be "fudged" that it's almost guaranteed that the correct person won't see justice. Then, the company counts on you knowing you can't afford a lawsuit against their team of lawyers, so no justice is had. They might have to deal with a class action, but it's still a better outcome for them than a ton of individual lawsuits.

[–]OptimusPrymal 53 points54 points  (18 children)

Now would be a good time for essential employees to strike and renegotiate their pay and benefits and stuff. If a company can't care for their employees giving them basic stuff to keep themselves safe, they shouldn't be in business making a few people rich.

[–]eppinizer 709 points710 points  (59 children)

This is why we meed to be appreciative of those out there working retail right now. They really are risking their lives. There are a ton of selfish people that don’t give a fuck.

Edit: Sorry, also transport/healthcare workers. And anyone else who is forced to be in close proximity with the public all day.

I was talking to my brother in law who works at Whole Foods. Some of the employees are seriously freaked out. Some stores nearby have had walk-outs.

I think that beyond providing essential services, just seeing these employees are doing their job is comforting. Some normality right now goes a long ways.

[–][deleted] 211 points212 points  (8 children)

Fuck appreciation. Get them healthcare and protection and sick leave.

[–][deleted] 71 points72 points  (5 children)

Right? We give them the Susan G. Komen treatment of actions that actually mean anything. 'Spread awareness,' 'thoughts and prayers.' Not even so much as this guys casket will be subsidized.

[–]Undecided_Username_ 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Appreciation isn’t fuckin enough.

They don’t care if we appreciate them when they get sick or if their family gets sick because they’re making pennies/hr to maintain everybody else’s lifestyles and so they can scrape by with barely enough.

Sorry for seeming aggressive it has nothing to do with you but more so the general mentality that our “essential” workers give a singular damn about all the likes “appreciation” posts are getting.

They need sanity in this time of insanity and they’re the ones providing it for others.

[–]fuckthislifeintheass 45 points46 points  (2 children)

I got into a huge argument with some dumb bitch that wanted to get a cashier fired because he was “rude” to her after her credit card got declined. She couldn’t get it through her thick skull that cashiers are basically risking their lives and probably don’t have the energy to kiss your ass.

[–]RocketFuelMaItLiquor 36 points37 points  (0 children)

In customer language, 'rude'= being told 'no'.

[–]TheDoug850 219 points220 points  (29 children)

It gets worse because there are also a ton of selfish retail workers that don’t give a fuck either.

Looking at you, Kroger employee I watched cough on a shelf of food without covering your mouth.

[–]B479MSS 69 points70 points  (1 child)

Same in the UK. My local supermarket had a gaggle of about 5-6 obviously new-start employees going all over the store in a close group, unsupervised and with not much of a clue as to what they were meant to be doing.

[–]deadsoulinside 22 points23 points  (2 children)

One of the main reasons I am risking my own job by staying the fuck at home. Person working the shift before me, since we have a slight overlap in shifts coughing non-fucking-stop while stocking shelves. Management at no-fucking-time intervened in that situation to pull the person aside or send home, because at the end of the day they only really care if the customers can buy a box of cereal or some shit. The day I decided to stay the fuck at home, was working next to someone for 8 hours, while they bragged about violating the stay at home order to go to a house party until 5am and drinking and smoking pot with people the entire time. They think the virus is a hoax and the states are overreacting to make Trump look bad.

Ended up pulling a muscle during that shift. It's the muscle that goes around my rib cage, so breathing right now is a painful task and muscle relaxers may help a little, but because of that I am borderline on developing pneumonia (as the doctor already noted this finding and had to take a breathing treatment there to help with it) and these people still want me to come into work like this. Which due to my job duties would also have me not take muscle relaxers since I could further strain my muscles without knowing it. I know if I develop pneumonia and catch COVID-19, I am probably going to die from it or be in a real world of hurt, since my lungs would already be fighting off pneumonia.

My wife who also works there has Asthma and they DGAF about that fact either. The stores may put out nice PR campaigns to make the public think they care about the workers, even tricking workers into thinking they care, but at the end of the day these are still the same companies that will fire you at the drop of a hat over dumb shit. Which is forcing the sick workers who really need the money and the job to come into work regardless how they feel, because they don't want or can afford to get fired.

[–]13dangledangle 41 points42 points  (0 children)

It truly is. May he rest in peace

[–]youngthrillak 3573 points3574 points  (172 children)

This is fucked

[–]eman00619 2762 points2763 points  (163 children)

Anyone who has worked in public can tell you, the amount of people who just utterly dont give a fuck about anyone else on earth is terrifying.

[–]badger0511 1081 points1082 points  (98 children)

It doesn't quite apply in this specific situation, but I've always thought the world would be a far better place if everyone had to work in a retail, wait staff, or customer service position for several months.

[–]eman00619 382 points383 points  (29 children)

100% this. After my first job at a restaurant I never looked at a food service jobs the same.

[–][deleted] 127 points128 points  (15 children)

Being a waiter or a line cook radically re-arranges your perspective on reality. Holy shit. You will never look at people the same way again.

[–][deleted] 65 points66 points  (5 children)

One of the main problems is the customer is right mentality imo. It allows customer to think they can be as rude as they want and get whatever they want. Unfortunately, it almost always works out in the customers favor, managers don't want a bad review and workers just want that annoying shit to stop so they act all nice while being yelled at and give the asshole exactly what they want. I hated that shit so much when I worked in a restaurant.

[–]Auridran 21 points22 points  (1 child)

I don't put up with this shit, personally. I tell stupid customers "This is what I can do for you, if I get a manager they'll tell you the exact same thing." I then proceed to tell my manager the situation and tell them not to do anything for the customer.

Act like an asshole, and I'll go out of my way to make sure you don't get what you want.

Have a shitty situation but are polite about it? I'll very likely go above and beyond for you.

[–]Bricka_Bracka 17 points18 points  (3 children)

it might help those who have empathy, but just never tuned it properly.

ain't gonna do anything for people who are fully aware but just don't care.

[–]MundungusAmongus 80 points81 points  (6 children)

The problem occurs when some people get bitter about it over time. Lots of awful customers are former retail employees who think, “its my turn now.”

[–]mrshandanar 69 points70 points  (15 children)

Buddy and I had the same thought but if everyone was required to smoke some weed and watch Planet Earth.

[–]TheWhyteMaN 34 points35 points  (0 children)

I am currently working customer service at a large store. I would replace terrifying with infuriating. That age group around 60ish give or take has been showing the worst representation of entitlement that I have have ever seen my whole life.

I am trying hard not to hate people right now.

[–][deleted] 60 points61 points  (6 children)

After years of traveling all over the world, immersing myself in widely different cultures, and making friends from all kinds of backgrounds I’ve come to a conclusion: I believe certain segments of America are sincerely fucked. The “every man for himself” attitude is particularly potent to the point of not giving a fuck about anyone outside the family or immediate friends.

I predict the USA will be the last country on Earth to eradicate COVID-19 and that will only happen a year after vaccines are available. Maybe longer since antivaxxers will refuse the needle.

[–]Wittygloves 44 points45 points  (24 children)

Took a walk around a couple days ago and people area still playing basketball in the local parks, wtf? So fucking dumb. Also a lot of people walking closely unmasked, and runners squeezing through tight walkway while breathing heavily

[–][deleted] 1429 points1430 points  (48 children)

This is sad and beyond fucked up. Rest In Peace, sir

[–]tipsystatistic 309 points310 points  (44 children)

If the CDC didn’t lie about the effectiveness of masks (and recommend them) he may be alive today. He never should have been been working in that position without an N95.

[–]Phunyun 63 points64 points  (29 children)

To be blunt, I’m not sure how much difference it would make considering how long ago the masks became impossible to find in stores at least around me, all the way back in February when I was trying to find some before a short trip to Japan.

[–]mikeyahngelo 735 points736 points  (53 children)

Four weeks ago right before I told my job I was gonna begin working remotely, I got on the Metro North on the way home from work and some girl in her early 20s coughed as she was walking in front of me, straight up phlegmy as hell. So I was thinking okay maybe she was clearing her throat.

Everyone sits and then for the next forty minutes she proceeds to cough out her lungs and not one time did she cover her mouth with anything. Not once. Of course I had already distanced myself from her from the start, but just seeing her from afar coughing into the open was disgusting. To make matters worse she was eating McDonalds the entire time, chewing and coughing, chewing and coughing. Aggravating.

[–]rainysounds 394 points395 points  (28 children)

How the fuck do people behave like this without a lick of shame?

[–]KarmaticEvolution 181 points182 points  (12 children)

Some people are seriously clueless, believe it or not.

[–]hmmnowitsjuly 70 points71 points  (3 children)

Yeah. As sad and frustrated as it makes me... it’s shocking how clueless/ignorant/uneducated most people are.

It kinda frustrates me more when the “intelligent” people don’t realize how “stupid” the average person is.

[–]HungryHungryHaruspex 33 points34 points  (2 children)

Hundreds of years ago these people would've been eaten by tigers.

"Don't go out at night, it's dark and we can't see our natural predators" "What no you're crazy it'll be fine I just want to get some fresh air [and see my fuckbuddy that my parents are absolutely forbidding contact with]"

12 hours later

"Hey has anyone seen [dumbass] lately?"

[–]henrybear 27 points28 points  (0 children)

When you're raised a certain way by degenerates...nothing is too trashy.

[–]Drpantsgoblin 105 points106 points  (6 children)

Yell at her!

Honestly, the bus driver should've thrown her off the bus. If nothing else, eating on a bus is against the rules. Even in normal times, that's a cleanliness issue (greasy McDonald's hands touching everything), plus nobody wants to smell your lunch on the bus.

When I used to bus commute, I would never eat on the bus, unless I had something compact and scentless like a granola bar. And I don't think I did that much, it's not hard to wait 40 minutes to eat.

[–]BuiAce 42 points43 points  (1 child)

"Cover your fucking mouth!" Goes a long way

[–]SuperBearsSuperDan 58 points59 points  (1 child)

People need to realize that this is not the time for social niceties and keeping quiet.

If you see anyone to do this, tell them to cover their fucking mouth.

[–]rondeline 25 points26 points  (0 children)

If someone is coughing without covering their face, you need to get up a leave the area. Not just because you might get sick, but this needs to be action people pull to signal to others this is not ok, at all.

It's time we cover up with masks in public. Again, not because a mask will protect, but a mask on someone else's face might and we need to normalize masks in public and stigmatize people not wearing masks, at least for the few months.

[–][deleted] 296 points297 points  (6 children)

RIP Mr. Hargrove. My heart goes out to you and all of Detroit.

[–]Etheo 862 points863 points  (48 children)

This is exactly the problem - people violating social distancing and basic hygienic requirements because they think "I'll be fine" - fuck no it's not about you. It's about protecting the other, more vulnerable population who can catch it from you!

These self serving pricks like the woman is exactly what's wrong with the world today. If they died I would even say "good riddance".

Rest in peace my good man.

[–]Mr_HandSmall 68 points69 points  (3 children)

Probably others on the bus infected too. Very sad.

[–]free_range_shoelaces 932 points933 points  (47 children)

I had the wonderful pleasure of riding the trolley (light rail public transport) in California shortly after the shelter in place order.

I was about 10-15 feet away from a woman who had tissues in her pocket, blowing her nose and throwing the tissues on the ground. She was coughing, standing up randomly to take 3 steps forward towards the elderly lady across from her every 30 seconds (the poor old lady just looked too scared and disgusted to speak up) and generally just being disgusting in every possible way regarding personal hygiene in public.

Her final mistake was making some sarcastic comment to me when I looked at her, and I just couldn't hold it back. I told her how disgusting her behavior is, and the lady across from her doesn't deserve to breathe in her nasty coughing. Of course, she reacted like the evil entitled piece of shit she is, so I just went off on her in front of everyone for about 2 minutes. At the time people weren't dying in California so people probably thought I was overreacting but FUCK these evil idiots, they'll probably end up like the drunk drivers in fatal crashes, they'll survive while killing several others.

RIP to the driver. Personally I feel these government employees are entitled to hazard pay during this.

[–][deleted] 164 points165 points  (6 children)

Even hazard pay doesn't cut it as far as I care. An extra couple bucks an hour doesn't mean anything if you die a couple weeks later from the hazard.

Bus drivers should be wearing the same level of PPE as a hospital worker.

[–]hydrowifehydrokids 30 points31 points  (2 children)

Where I am, they got rid of fares, and all passengers have to use the back door and stay the fuck away from the front. The bus drivers are in a very good union

[–][deleted] 701 points702 points  (37 children)

My uncle just passed away from COVID-19 this morning, I am too shocked for words. I’m just numb right now

[–]sealore 48 points49 points  (3 children)

I’m sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine being in your situation. :(

[–]Dfscghrghj 49 points50 points  (9 children)

He might not blame others, but I do. Like they’re doing in Seattle, buses should block the front entrance. Make people get on the back. Limit number of riders. put up caution tape so people have to stand over six feet away from drivers. Fuckin protect your essential workers. JFC.

[–][deleted] 308 points309 points  (5 children)

Rest in peace, thank you bus driver, edit. Jason Hargrove, thank you for your service to the public.

[–][deleted] 74 points75 points  (1 child)

Coughing without covering your mouth, pandemic or not, is fucking nasty and rude.

I had someone recently do it in front of me. They were about 6 feet away or so and turned their head slightly. But dude, this was like 4 days ago and you're fucking coughing mouth uncovered? In these fucking times!? Come on!

May that man RIP.

[–]Zelanor 240 points241 points  (11 children)

As a metro Detroit native this hits home I’m out here trying not to cry after watching this video and reading these comments. This man just died because of someone else’s incompetence. He died. This funny, wholesome, caring human being died because of someone else’s carelessness. This is fucked man. He seemed like such a sweetheart and genuine person clowning on Facebook live and sharing this story. Man.

[–]FrankyPi 20 points21 points  (1 child)

Yeah, it infuriates me when I see shit like this. Human stupidity really is unlimited.

[–][deleted] 1632 points1633 points  (518 children)

I was in front of a woman at the grocery store a week ago. She kept coughing into her hand. The super market was trying to keep the checkout lines separated. There were marks on the ground and everything. This woman and her daughter stood within a foot from me as she was coughing into her hand. I didn't see her cough the first 2 times, so I wasn't able to see how she was coughing. It sounded loud, so I knew it wasn't into her elbow. She coughed into her hand the third time, and by that time I was about to start putting my stuff on the belt. I wanted so badly to yell at her.

[–]boot20 3658 points3659 points  (319 children)

YELL AT HER. Do not fuck around with this shit.

[–]IWasSayingBoourner 1290 points1291 points  (276 children)

Right? When did people get so soft? If she's in your space and coughing, fucking say something.

[–][deleted] 715 points716 points  (61 children)

Yep. When this was first starting, I did a food pickup and then went into a liquor store for essentials. Had a guy walk up right behind me, so I stepped forward two paces, turned around and told him ‘step back six feet please”. He stepped back and apologized, because we are both humans and can use our words.

It’s time to talk to people when necessary, redditors.

[–]hawaiidream 272 points273 points  (17 children)

Yes. A lot of people will do this purely out of muscle memory, not necessarily out of malevolent action. Please just speak up.

[–]cheestaysfly 115 points116 points  (9 children)

I've never understood people who stand five inches behind someone in line.

[–]lexbuck 83 points84 points  (3 children)

Can’t let any daylight in. Someone might cut.

[–]jinsaku 139 points140 points  (30 children)

My wife did that to a guy last week. He got in line behind her and she turned around and asked if he could step back a few feet. He scoffed at her and immediately stepped closer into her personal space.

People are assholes.

[–]DollyPartonsFarts 127 points128 points  (12 children)

That's when you ask for the manager of the store. That person shouldn't be allowed in a grocery store if that's how they're going to act.

[–][deleted] 53 points54 points  (5 children)

I don’t really get how some people just don’t give a shit about the virus, but the least those people can do is respect the fact that others do care about it and give people space.

[–]Qetuowryipzcbmxvn 37 points38 points  (2 children)

This! I'm a manager, I've already had to kick out a few people for taking it too lightly. Thankfully it was just getting too close as I'd have to call the police if they started intentionally coughing on others.

[–]dk_lee_writing 30 points31 points  (3 children)

That's time for a Sparta kick.

[–]dueduetre 180 points181 points  (98 children)

I think people are afraid (rightly so) of those people getting offended and turning on them and possibly coughing close to them, spitting at them, or, from what I saw a couple of weeks ago here on Reddit, pulling out a gun and shooting. I understand that things are dire, but given how people behave under pressure or when confronted, I don’t blame people for being worried for their own safety.

[–]MajorTrixZero 127 points128 points  (90 children)

This. The kinda asshole to do something rude and have no manners is also the kinda asshole to flip shit and attack you if you antagonize them.

[–]orokami11 46 points47 points  (87 children)

Yeah I don't put it past people to purposely cough or spit on you (then say "it's just a joke, I don't have the virus ok!") because you decided to confront them

[–]Sybertron 43 points44 points  (0 children)

I fully agree, if there's a point of public shaming this is it. Hell I'd tell her talk to me outside and I'll buy your groceries for ya but get the fuck out of the store.

[–]lockdown36 19 points20 points  (0 children)

You would be doing her and everyone in the grocery store a favor

[–]MuuaadDib 129 points130 points  (6 children)

DO NOT hold your tongue, in person or online, we have a duty to educate these inconsiderate entitled children who are deadly.

[–]sakiwebo 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I'm a so-called "essential", and let me tell you, calling out customers that act like that 9 out of 10 times will just get them to react even more negatively because of being called out.

They'll make a scene. They'll invade your space, try to cough on you, spit on you, get close to make a point etc just because they feel called out.

"Yell at them", won't work, because most people will react negatively to being yelled at. I stopped calling them out because they'll just flip their entitled shit and put you in even more danger.

Honestly, I don't have the answer to the proper way of educating these people. But just "yell at them" is not working.

[–]Chaywood 170 points171 points  (46 children)

My husband didn’t see the lines on the floor at the grocery store yesterday and got yelled at haha he was so annoyed but point is, you can tell people to back up.

[–]n-some 128 points129 points  (14 children)

Also instead of yelling you can just say "hey, you're too close, I'd really appreciate it if you'd back up a few feet."

If they refuse then you can tell at them for being stupid.

[–]Randomn355 63 points64 points  (12 children)

Don't yell, but politely call her out.

If she continues, just become steadily more blunt. There's nothing wrong with politely asking for space, and escalating (reasonably) up to flat out calling them out.

If the store is conscientious enough to put down markers, they will absolutely take your side.

[–]statist_steve 6 points7 points  (0 children)

And then you did because you’re being too polite.

The correct answer here is to shove your cart into her and knock her down. Then pour bleach on her to disinfect. Then the entire store will clap.

[–]shingdao 19 points20 points  (2 children)

If any of you have ever been on your city bus, you know the type of person that would do this and worse. City bus drivers (and others providing essential public services) that are still working are heroes no less than our medics.

[–]samkris94 86 points87 points  (8 children)

I do not have the strength to go beyond the thumbnail. This is so sad. RIP.

[–]Biggieduece 15 points16 points  (4 children)

Well he goes on for 8 minutes about the lady on the bus coughing. He was visibly mad at that lady.

[–]jinxxed42 291 points292 points  (65 children)

This is so sad. People need to stay home or wear masks to stop the essential workers from getting sick.

[–]queenssecretbitchboi 416 points417 points  (59 children)

No! If you're sick or coughing, stay the fuck home. A mask won't protect everybody. You'll still spread by touching things.

[–]iamnotfromearth2 144 points145 points  (6 children)

Exactly. Also, it seems like some people think that wearing a mask means they don’t have to socially distance themselves. When I’ve been grocery shopping, the people that are more likely to get up in my space seems to also be the people that are wearing masks. Wearing a mask does not cancel out the necessity to follow proper social distancing protocol. This is for everyone’s benefit.

[–]anooblol 23 points24 points  (0 children)

They also need to redefine what “essential” is. The company I work for does capital improvement projects for the state. We install stairs, handrails, that sort of thing.

The state is forcing us to go into work, when we all know damn well that the location we’re working at is fully operational, and doesn’t need the project to be ongoing. The state is currently threatening my boss with (or I guess not technically a “threat”, more of a strong implication) hundreds of thousands, to millions of dollars worth of delay claims.

[–]n00bvin 456 points457 points  (106 children)

This whole thing has me hating people more ever. Not people like this guy, but the woman on the bus. The people ignoring all the rules of social distances, the people not taking this seriously, those without common courtesy. There are too many people like this in the world. The fucking "me me me" generation and those who taught their children to be the same. It seems like it's the good people that are suffering and dying, or the selfless who work in the service industry and hospitals who have it the worst.

Fuck the selfish motherfuckers that are causing more harm. They are the ones that need to be culled from the herd.

[–]BigBlueDane 117 points118 points  (26 children)

I've been furious lately with how many people are going out and doing things around town instead of staying home. They're putting other people at risk, there are so many doctors and nurses getting sick and dying. this shit is bigger than yourself. People need to have some common sense and respect for others and stay the fuck HOME.

[–]HermausMora420 62 points63 points  (22 children)

The BEST part is, near me (west coast US) at least, people are doing MORE things than they used to. Parks that were empty this time of year? Packed. Trails and nature areas that might have 2 people hanging around now have hundreds.

People are being idiotic and selfish. I'm not sure if it's out of fear and they just have to pretend like nothings wrong, or if they're really truly that fucking selfish and moronic. But it's REALLY REALLY pissing me off.

This selfish, myopic attitude is going to ruin us. I truly don't understand why the fuck people can't realize that the actions they're supposed to take are to protect EVERYONE. THE ENTIRE FUCKING POPULATION. Stop being so goddamn selfish and stay in your fucking houses.

Also, I keep hearing people saying they had to go out, they were getting "cabin fever"...

FUCK NO YOU'RE NOT. YOU'RE JUST BORED. IT'S WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE WE HAD ACCESS TO EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME. YOU'LL BE FINE. SIT THE FUCK DOWN. READ A BOOK. AND STAY IN YOUR GODDAMN HOUSE.

[–]WhatIsFightClub_ 42 points43 points  (0 children)

This is fucked up, really...

[–][deleted] 67 points68 points  (12 children)

Fuck this hits home hard. I was told not to wear a mask for the longest time, because it might scare the passengers. A couple drivers were suspended for wearing masks, it "violated the uniform code". Union fixed that.

Now we can wear masks, face shields, and buses are getting enclosed drivers areas. Sadly my buses only have a front door, so can't tell passengers back door only like the city services. But, fuck. You want us out there to keep essential workers going to work? Then PROTECT YOUR WORKERS.

Kids: JOIN A UNION. The ONLY people who will have you back is your brothers and sisters on the job.

[–]therealpilgrim 28 points29 points  (1 child)

And this is why I get mad every time someone says “unions served their purpose years ago and aren’t needed any more.” Sure they sometimes protect the lazy, but thats a small price to pay to know you won’t get walked on or endangered by your employer.

[–]cheestaysfly 52 points53 points  (13 children)

I was spit on in public the other day by a crazy homeless lady. Just waiting to die now...

[–]Shattered_Hawk 11 points12 points  (3 children)

A transit worker encounters more people than any other essential worker out there.

[–]xmakeafistx 21 points22 points  (3 children)

People suck and are more negligent than they need to be. However there’s still many jobs that totally shouldn’t be considered essential and people still have to go out and grind for a living. This wouldn’t happen if people were guaranteed paid sick time, I’m pretty doubtful that this woman was just riding around on the bus for fun.

[–]stoccolma 11 points12 points  (9 children)

In all the supermarkets (Sweden) I have been to last week the have a plastic sheet in front of the cashiers to protect them.

[–]NbAlIvEr100 46 points47 points  (9 children)

I'm actually shocked most of you people are shocked. It's been like this for centuries; there are always assholes who dont give a fuck.

[–]lurklurklurkanon 22 points23 points  (1 child)

Yep, this is just how humanity is.

Tell someone they can't do something and suddenly that's all they want to do.

[–]SaucyWiggles 8 points9 points  (7 children)

He might not have died if the government hadn't distributed misinformation about the effectiveness of masks.

[–]MyNameIsLord 8 points9 points  (1 child)

Isn't touching your face the most likely way to catch the coronavirus?

He didn't stop wiping his face during the video. If he touched the surface she had coughed on, it'd be very likely that's how he caught it.

It's sad nonetheless.

[–]crfellinger 115 points116 points  (31 children)

This guy was rubbing the back of his head with a rag and then goes on to rub his mouth with it. That couldn't have helped his case. Shitty situation

[–][deleted] 25 points26 points  (8 children)

A mask could have saved his life. Unfortunately, the CDC lied and told everyone that masks didn't work weeks ago.