‘Awesome parties’ and the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in the age of COVID-19: a complete lack of concern for people

I follow a couple of local social media sites in an area where conservatives reign and we liberals are the enemy. I not only follow them but post items to their discussion rooms. A recent post to one of them was by a woman who bragged about attending an “awesome party” this weekend. She also vowed to tell us “how it went.”

While I have stopped responding to many of the inane and insane posts on these sites, just to save my own sanity, I couldn’t let that one go.

Before I get into that, here’s another post I made prompted by the “awesome party girl.” I think it makes a good preface to my comments.

“Why don’t people realize that every ICU bed that a COVID-19 patient occupies is one less bed available for a heart attack or stroke patient?”

Surprisingly, I received many positive and supportive replies to that post, which made me feel pretty good. But no one answered the question directly.

Now to the “awesome party” post. Here was my response:

“– Isn’t it amazing how some people just love to flaunt their stupidity?

“– Isn’t it interesting how some people really hate their family and friends?

“– You know, when people give gifts to others, it’s usually something upbeat, not a deadly virus.

“– Please tell your family, if they survive your gift, to post your funeral arrangements.

“– Don’t bother telling us how it went. We’ll just watch the obits.

“– Where is this party? I’m sure the authorities would love to know for contact-tracing information and, hopefully, to punish the host.

“One more thing. I notice that she included “LOL” in her post. If this is a joke, it’s in very poor taste, and my comments stand for anyone else who plans to attend a party or other gathering during the pandemic.

“And, people, please don’t flood me with insulting replies telling me how snarky and nasty this is, unless of course you plan to do the same to the person who has such little regard for people that she’ll risk contracting COVID-19 and passing it on to friends, family and others. Or even joke about it.

“How many have to die before people start listening to the medical professionals and not attend “awesome parties?” ”

Again, to my surprise, the response was mainly positive, although there were some who accused me of ranting and raving and announced that they were leaving the site. Oh well.

This happened on the same weekend that tens of thousands of motorcycle riders roared into Sturgis, S.D. for the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. https://apnews.com/04faf678725b8b1560da6868f42abdca

Some medical professionals are calling this event, which the city refused to cancel, a “superspreader,” which means that who knows how many attendees will contract COVID-19.

And since these bikers come from all over the country, they will take the disease home with them and pass it around like a new father gives out cigars at the birth of his child.  (OK. That reference may be a bit dated and sexist, but you get the idea.)

I am running out of sympathy for those who contract the virus after attending “awesome parties” and these kinds of events against the advice of the CDC and almost every medical professional out there. If individuals want to take the chance of contracting the disease, that’s their business. But where’s the concern for others?

As a liberal compadre on one of those social media sites said, their cause of death should be listed as “suicide.” I agree.