Item
Anonymous Oral History, 2021/12/14
Media
Title (Dublin Core)
Anonymous Oral History, 2021/12/14
Description (Dublin Core)
Anonymous is a person who, in his senior year of university, was hit by covid. Anonymous goes into detail on what went wrong with the pandemic, how new sources are at the biggest fault, and how it affected his personal life when looking for a job, and interacting with family and friends who both do, and do not want to be vaccinated, and self-isolating with many precautions despite Wisconsin having very few mandates.
Recording Date (Dublin Core)
Creator (Dublin Core)
Contributor (Dublin Core)
Partner (Dublin Core)
Type (Dublin Core)
video
Controlled Vocabulary (Dublin Core)
English
Education--Universities
English
Social Distance
English
Technology
English
Online Learning
English
Recreation & Leisure
English
Health & Wellness
English
Government Local
Curator's Tags (Omeka Classic)
Collection (Dublin Core)
Curatorial Notes (Dublin Core)
Date Submitted (Dublin Core)
05/01/2023
Date Modified (Dublin Core)
05/23/2023
Date Created (Dublin Core)
12/14/2021
Interviewer (Bibliographic Ontology)
Trent Nelson
Interviewee (Bibliographic Ontology)
Anonymous
Location (Omeka Classic)
Benoit
Wisconsin
United States of America
Format (Dublin Core)
video
Language (Dublin Core)
English
Duration (Omeka Classic)
00:40:02
abstract (Bibliographic Ontology)
Anonymous is a person who, in his senior year of university, was hit by covid. Anonymous goes into detail on what went wrong with the pandemic, how new sources are at the biggest fault, and how it affected his personal life when looking for a job, and interacting with family and friends who both do, and do not want to be vaccinated, and self-isolating with many precautions despite Wisconsin having very few mandates.
Transcription (Omeka Classic)
TN 00:03
All right, my name is Trenton Nelson and I'm conducting an oral history interview as part of the effort to archive the COVID 19 pandemic on individuals and communities in the Midwest, mainly Midwest, Wisconsin. Today's date is December 14 2021. The current time is 7:36pm. And I'm here joined by an anonymous interviewer. With that being said, can I ask for your demographic information such as race, ethnicity, age and gender?
Anonymous 00:34
I am a 24 year old white male from Wisconsin.
TN 00:41
Okay, and,
Anonymous 00:42
yeah,
TN 00:43
yeah, that that goes into my next question, which was, Where do you live and give or take what's it like to live there?
Anonymous 00:49
Uh, I currently reside in Beloit, Wisconsin, which is like, southern state line. Uh, it's not that bad. I think that COVID's kind of been handled. It could have been handled better. I've been super careful. Just wearing a mask ever since it happened. I think. Yeah, it's, it's getting better. It's definitely gotten better. Like, I think, initially, it was the worst at the beginning of the pandemic, but I think it's gotten a lot better.
TN 01:28
So when you learned about COVID, like, at the beginning of the pandemic, what were your thoughts about it? And how have your thoughts changed since then?
Anonymous 01:36
It was a little scary. School kind of the, it was like a weird kind of just- just rumors and stuff going around, you know, all you know, this is kind of this disease going around that it's a virus. I didn't know too much about it yet. It was kind of scary. But it's like, you know, people are making memes and stuff on the internet. And some people aren't taking it too seriously. And then it just kind of hit like a truck. And then, yeah, it just kind of became more and more real as time went on. And when all these businesses are closing, and, you know, you know, everyday items start becoming a commodity, like, commodities became luxuries, and, you know, it just kind of got sour, real quick. But, uh, yeah, overall, it was pretty scary towards the beginning. But as people like, started to stabilize, and, you know, people start getting bearings, it got better.
TN 02:44
Yeah, so, what issues concerned you mainly at like the beginning, like, when you said that it was the scariest, and what issues concern you now now that we're a couple years in?
Anonymous 02:55
I think initially, the uncertainty of just how society was gonna stay stable through everything. You know, you're seeing people like, on social media kind of freaking out. That's all we really had, we couldn't really go outside, we just kind of had social media to, you know, get our information from. And nowadays, there's a lot of, you know, false information going around you. It's kind of hard to, you know, vet, every source and make sure you know, the information you're taking in is accurate. So, it was kind of the uncertainty on my nose, really scary. And also just like not knowing what was going on. Because there's like, you know, you hear one thing from an official like government site or something like that. And then next week, you hear something else, and then it was just, everything was flip flops. He didn't know what to believe. And it was kind of scary. But uh, yeah, that was probably the most scary thing to me. It was the uncertainty and like, just not knowing truly how dangerous COVID was. And it still is. But yeah, that was the big thing for me. It was just not knowing at all what was going on.
TN 04:12
Yeah. So you said you were in school when the pandemic first hit? Yes.
Anonymous 04:17
Yeah, it hit right my senior year.
TN 04:20
Okay, so how did that affect not only graduation, but that final year that you took of college?
Anonymous 04:24
Um, well, prior to that, I, we moved to online schooling, there was a couple of weeks where we just didn't have school. And that was it was kind of weird. Because I wasn't working at the time I was a full time student and to not have that and just have like, bare minimum correspondence with professors that ultimately didn't have too much of a like a digital background setup in their curriculum is kind of interesting seeing how, how they adapted to that. How, like, you know, some professors, like the younger professors they kind of adapted quickly. And they, they, you know, set up some setup like discord servers or you know, other things that were a little more like accessible. Some, some professors I had just straight up didn't have anything besides an email and just getting mass emails every day it was kind of, it wasn't the best. So when zoom kind of came around, like I remember when zoom first came out to that was, well not came out, but like when it became accessible to everyone. And it was kind of like it started becoming a household name. It was just kind of, I remember the controversy, like, like, is it really secure? Or is there like, this fear that people watching you, and now there's that and I was like, it's so weird, because it was a little bit of a slow, slow transition. But, uh, yeah, that was, that was an interesting aspect of it. But, but moving into like, some classes, though, I was a little I had taken online classes in the past. But a lot of professors that you know, taught traditionally, they hadn't done anything like that. So it was kind of different. Adjusting to that, for them. For them and the students. So,
TN 06:27
yeah. So after graduation, how was finding some form of employment in this new atmosphere, because a lot of people fresh out of college, you know, they had this final year it gets kind of wack. It's kind of weird. How did that affect? Especially since COVID is hitting hard? How did that affect finding a job?
Anonymous 06:47
Um, it's still affecting it. I, I'd say that finding a job has gotten a lot harder for what I do.
TN 07:00
Sorry to interrupt, can you tell us what you do?
Anonymous 07:03
Um, Media Studies. I that's what I studied in school. I do primarily digital art. But it- now that everyone kind of want to work. Wants to work from home, it's, it's a little difficult. It's got a little more competitive. Because people want to stay safe. That's understandable. But, uh, yeah, working from home is probably ideal. Because you don't have to go outside, you can make pretty good money working from home too, but you have to be qualified to do that. And yeah, it's, it's just made it a lot harder. Because that was ideally what ideal to do pre pandemic was work from home and [Unclear], but now that everyone's stuck at home, and has been stuck at home for the past, you know, couple years now, it's a, it- they, people have been desperate to find new ways and try new things. And some people will just, you know, they're they're naturally good at stuff and they'll pick it up and then they can do it professionally. Pretty quick. So it's kind of, the working from home aspects kind of been shot for now. So finding, finding stuff in persons a little hard to because there's always a new variant every every couple of months, it seems that.
TN 08:27
Yeah, the new variant recently came out so,
Anonymous 08:29
yeah, yeah, true. It's going to the gym to like recent like, I went to the gym today and it was kind of weird. It was like a weird thing in the air. It felt like, not physically like not anything palpable, but like just like a weird atmosphere like I'm gonna keep my mask on I'm gonna you know do the right things I'm gonna- because there was a period of time where there was about like a week where cuz I'm very like precautious and I always, always have a mask I've never forgotten the mask like every single time I leave the house I that's like phone, wallet, keys, mask. And yeah, just it's, it was really interesting because there was a week there where I didn't wear a mask because you know, I was after I got Vaccinated. I got my second booster shot. I mean, not booster shot my second vaccine shot and then yeah, it's like because in Wisconsin, you know, there's there's a good amount of people that don't wear their masks and you know that that's their choice but it I don't ultimately agree with that. I think if this thing still going on even like slightly I'm gonna keep on my mask just to keep myself and the people I love safe. So,
TN 09:47
yeah, yeah. So how has the outbreak affected your community? Such as you know, your schools, which we've already talked about, clubs that you can do outside, church or just job etc. General community?
Anonymous 10:03
Yeah, I'd say a lot of it hit small businesses really hard. I think a lot of businesses that I used to like back in my hometown kind of suffered some of them closed down. And I recently visited my, my college town, and two or three other, like restaurants and shops that me and my buddies used to go to just when we're on town, like, they're, they're just gone. They it was kind of hard coming to terms with that. But, uh, it's a sad reality of what happens. It kind of sucks. I can't imagine how, like, a lot of the younger generation is coping with this because they- I can't, you just can't imagine going to like high school or elementary school, just wearing a mask and not being able to, you know, play with friends and stuff, when on the playground, you're younger, and, you know, go to like prom, or go even like game, like, sporting events for your high school. Like, that's it's very, but it's gotten better. But like, there was a point in time where that just was not possible at all.
TN 11:17
Yeah, so how people been like, responding to the ability to not be able to go to these things in your community?
Anonymous 11:24
A lot of that's been met with a lot of ,I'm trying to think of the right word, protest, and not not so much protest, but just,
TN 11:38
[Unclear] perhaps,
Anonymous 11:41
they're just very vocal about what they what they believe they feel that they're being the rights are being suppressed, and that they should be able to, you know, continue with these things. And they feel that the people making these decisions, aren't making them for the right reasons and stuff like that, but I, I just think it's gotten a lot better, but it when it first started. Like, people didn't really argue with it. But now that it's kind of like, it's died down a little bit, it's gotten better. So people are a little more apprehensive of canceling full blown events and stuff that are going on now. But that's, that's a new problem we have. Is people just protesting because I- I don't know- it- There's no telling what could happen. But,
TN 12:41
yeah, so, has anyone you known, gone or done any of these protests? And has that Or would that change your relationships with them? Or maybe relationships with your friends, family and community?
Anonymous 12:56
I don't I'm not I don't think I know anyone that's gone to a protest. Or at least I've been told, but I think if someone I knew did go into these protests, I mean, that's their choice. I don't necessarily agree with that. But it is their choice. Ultimately, I probably like to have a dialogue with them, and understand why they want to protest something like that, or the reasons behind, like, engaging in protests that could possibly further endanger them or the ones they love. I don't know. It's, it's just a weird. I it's a case by case thing, because if you asked to, like, what would you do if you're, you know, your, your mom went out to one of these protests? I'd be like, okay, you know, I'd have a serious dialogue with them. But it was someone like, I- you know, a gym buddy or something like that. Like, I'd be like, two different, two different scenarios there. But I think ultimately, they I'd feel a little disappointed. But,
TN 14:02
yeah,
Anonymous 14:02
yeah.
TN 14:03
So how has your local government, what has your local government done to perhaps try to halt the spread or try to help with alleviation of the COVID pandemic?
Anonymous 14:16
Um, from what I remember, I remember there being some masks mandates, but those were lifted after some protest. Because people around here they don't, they don't typically wear their masks. Like as much as they should have, like, I've gone to Illinois, and I've seen that, you know, everyone there is wearing a mask for the most part. And then I don't know what if you go across the state line to go back to Wisconsin and is it's just half the people arn't wearing a mask it seems. I mean, it's, it's personal choice, I suppose. But because there's no longer any masks mandates, where I am. I still try to socially distance and, you know, wash my hands as much as I can because I don't I just feel gross whenever I go out now, so
TN 15:08
yeah, so how has socially distanced- socially distancing affected your relationship in your family or your household?
Anonymous 15:16
it's a little weird. My grandmother, she takes a very seriously because she's very old, she's, she's like, 90 something. And she always, like, whenever I go to visit her always mask and you know, six feet apart, it's kind of weird, because you don't get to, you know, embrace your loved ones as much. And it's, it's kind of hard because you don't know how much time you have left. It's, it's a weird, weird feeling not knowing that's, that's part of uncertainty, too, is that you can't see this thing you can't, like begin to understand what's going to become in the future because it could just ramp up could go down. So it's, it's a little difficult. Not having, you know, Thanksgiving or Christmas, for a month, it felt like, Oh, was it one year or two year? I think it was two Christmases we skipped? and, yeah, it's difficult. I think this Christmas coming up, it's gonna be like the first one. And, you know, a while, so it's, it's tough. But, you know,
TN 16:33
Yeah. So do you have any fears, perhaps that this trend or something like this may continue?
Anonymous 16:40
Um, like the trend of new variants coming out, like every couple months?
TN 16:46
continuing to isolate and continuing having to stay away?
Anonymous 16:49
Um, yeah, it's definitely a concern. I, I wouldn't say I have trouble, like, vetting information, or anything like that. But from what I can see like, this is- it's still very much a problem that we're facing. And it seems that every variant poses new problems that we just have to deal with. Like, there's no other way around it. We can't just ignore the problem. We have to face it head on and adapt to each new problem that's presented to us. But yeah, so I see it happening. I see it continuing to, to go. But I think over time, we will, we'll get better and better at figuring out what to do. When the time comes.
TN 17:36
Yeah. So speaking about figuring out what to do. There are very obviously a lot of health concerns, especially during the beginning of the pandemic, when no one knew what was happening. So have you or anyone you known gotten sick during the outbreak? And what was the response to them getting sick?
Anonymous 17:53
Um, yeah, quite a few people I know, have gone COVID. Their, for the most part, It's always, you know, a friend saying, oh, yeah, I had it. And then you ask him, it's like, what was it like? And then, because I haven't had I don't know what it's like. But, you know, you hear stories from friends and you see stuff on social media saying like, "Oh, you know, I lost my taste and my smell", you know, had a fever for about a week or something like that. And you have a they- some of them didn't even know they had it, but there like, "I think I had it", and then they get it checked out. And they're like, "Yeah, you had it", So yeah. Oh, okay. But, uh, yeah, it's so it's interesting. Um, there, there is one person that I, that I talked to recently, is actually an old co worker, they were saying that- they were talking to another coworker who was are actually technically our former boss. He was saying that, when he was talking to our former boss, like, she was saying, like, yeah, I I technically, I had COVID. I had COVID. Last week, and then he was like, late last weekend, like, and she was like, "Yeah, you know, I, I'm not vaccinated or anything like that probably won't get vaccinated". You know, I was like, you know, you know, maybe you should, yeah, you're getting COVID at this point. Maybe, maybe you should. It's so it's just, it's really weird. They still have that meant-, like the people that are very, like, anti Vax, not anti Vax, broadly, but just anti vaccine in regards to COVID. And it's just like, they're more willing to get COVID than get the vaccine. Like I can't understand that. Like, I just can't wrap my head around it. I don't know if it's to prove a point or what it, it doesn't make sense to me. Like why would you subject yourself to that.
TN 20:02
Yeah. So where do you think those possible concerns of these people come from?
Anonymous 20:10
Concerns regarding what like the like the,
TN 20:12
the vaccine
Anonymous 20:12
Oh, the vaccine? Probably just mistrust of the government. Um, most people that I know, that aren't vaccinated still, probably- the most of it just comes from mistrust of government, government, they just don't, they don't see it as, like a scheme. When it- I don't think it is at all. I think it's, you know, everyone should be vaccinated. It's one thing to make it into an issue where it's like, "oh, you're suppressing my right to not do it", it's like, yeah, but it's the right thing to do. Like I- it's objectively the right thing. Like I- it's very, it's a it's a weird, weird thing, where they make a sub issue into the main issue when the main issue is way more deadly and proven to be more way more deadly. I don't know. Anyone that's died of taking a COVIN- COVID vaccine, but I know people that have died from COVID. So I think that that's, that's where my arguments lies.
TN 21:17
Yeah,
Anonymous 21:17
the facts. So.
TN 21:19
Yeah, so you said that you've been vaccinated? Yes.
Anonymous 21:22
Yes.
TN 21:23
Did you have any side effects?
Anonymous 21:25
Only the first day I had a little soreness my arm but I've been vaccinated for several other things like tetanus, meningococcal, I've gotten all my vaccines when I had to go to college. So like, it's the same exact thing as everything else. You just have a sore arm. And I think- the I had a slight fever, I had a fever for like, 10 minutes, and then it broke. That was it. That was the only side effect I had.
TN 21:54
So what was your experience in getting access to the information or appointments or something like that for the vaccine?
Anonymous 22:03
Setting up an appointment was really easy, it's ,it's free. You don't -doesn't cost you anything that ,that's one thing that I've been asked a couple times is like c"how much would it cost?" it's free. I, what I did is I just went to Walgreens, I went to their website, their - They have, I believe they let you choose. I got the one I was gonna choose. Anyway, I got Moderna. But, yeah, I set up an appointment. Like, it didn't take any time at all. It took probably five minutes to go on their website be like, Oh, yep. Let's sign up for next Monday or this Monday, and then show up with the paperwork. And yeah, and,
TN 22:52
yeah,
Anonymous 22:53
a month later, you get your second one, you're done.
TN 22:55
Yeah. Have you ever used the simplicity of getting the vaccine as an argument against people who don't have it?
Anonymous 23:02
Um, I, it's kind of hard to argue with the people that refuse to get it. Well, I don't know. It's the people that refuse to get it or the people that just don't have it. Is that what you're asking?
TN 23:16
Both would probably be the best scenario to answer for.
23:19
Okay. I'll awnser them both. So if it's someone that's just asking, because they genuinely want to know, how easy it is and how quick it is, I would definitely use that as an argument. Just because there are some people are just lazy. And I, I definitely, I probably wasn't the first person to get vaccinated just because I'm kind of a procrastinator. I don't really. I don't, I wasn't on the first ship to the, to the, to the Walgreens to get vaccinated. Not out of like, apprehension, it was just, I was just, you know, I was still scared of going outside. And so yeah, definitely says, as an argument, was that how simple it is, like, you barely have to talk to anybody, like you don't it's, it's super simple. And, you know, there's plenty of services out there that explain it and people that you could talk to about just setting it up. Hell people will probably give you a ride for free. If you just, you know, talk to someone, ask. But yeah, if it's someone, that's- if I'm arguing with someone. That's a, you know, anti vaccine. Um, the simplicity argument probably used against me, because at that point, it devolves into a government mistrust. Like, "they want it to be easy for you because you're a sheep". I'm sorry, I'm using that voice but that's the that's- from my experience. That's the kind of person that's arguing with me.
TN 25:02
Could you elaborate on kind of person?
Anonymous 25:05
Typically, not very educated, not very, not very in with what's really going on in society, it's kind of person doesn't really seem to have a grasp on what's going on in the world, or, you know, the severity of this. They're more concerned with upholding their traditional values and a more conservative outlook on life in general. And the other than, you know, keeping their family safe and keeping thy neighbors safe. Yeah, it's kind of- it's a little frustrating when the person you're arguing with is- claims to be a, you know, the best that- they claim to have the best morals. And they're doing a very immoral thing by not protecting themselves and the people around them.
TN 26:11
Yeah, well, I want
Anonymous 26:12
Yeah.
TN 26:13
Yeah. So how much do you think information and news sources have to do with this distrust, or this attitude?
Anonymous 26:24
A lot. I think it has a lot to do with it. The main media outlets, they, it's, it's gone less from, you know, telling people what they need to hear about what's going on in the world to people, to these news outlets on people they want to hear. They want to be upset, they want to be outraged. You know, it's, it's, it's us versus them. It's, it's a two team game. That's what it is. And it's- it kind of sucks that this this thing that we really should be, you know, coming together and fixing as a whole is been turned into this piece of this game of tug of war, this piece of rope that we're tugging at I mean, like, oh, no, the, there's reasons for this. There's reasons for that. It's like, no, it's very frustrating, seeing misinformation spread, and kind of take hold of some people and it's just something some people, it's all they talk about now, it's just the, the, the pandemic, what we're gonna do, it's like it yeah, it's great that it's, you know, on your mind. It's like, when it's when it's used as a tool to divide people is by, its very, I'm trying to think of the right words here. And I'm saying a lot of "uh's" but, it's kind of disappointing, seeing, seeing how it's the money from, you know, you know, clicks and outrage and clickbait and all that. It kind of overrides a lot of people's and a lot of journalists senses of, you know, what's moral and what's right to do. Because if, you know, if you're gonna write something outrageous, you know, someone's gonna click on it just either like, wanting to hear that or wanting to like dispute that, that, that it's just, that's what it is. So it's kind of upsetting.
TN 28:46
Yeah, so this idea of the media perpetuating stuff. Do you think that they should be talking about more stuff? Or do you think there's stuff that is important that they aren't covering enough?
Anonymous 28:57
Um, I kind of I try to stay clear of most like main moody media outlets, I like to cross examine a lot of sources before I, you know, come out and talk about something. So even when I'm saying something I don't state as a matter of fact, I always, you know, say like, Oh, I heard from this that, you know,
TN 29:20
yeah,
Anonymous 29:20
this does that. And it's never definitive. I don't like talking in absolutes. But I think Sorry, I forgot. What was the question again?
TN 29:38
It was about how the important issues that the media should or is not covering enough of.
Anonymous 29:45
Yeah. I think a lot of it is kind of corrupted by the us versus them. The little almost bipartisan information war that's going on. Because, you know, you'll- whatever is said or claimed by one side is always disputed by the other. And it's like they kind of like it. They work together in a way, it's kind of annoying to see. Because this is the, the misinformation kind of destroys what people, like, It destroys the truth because people want to know the truth. That's all they want to know, like, a lot of people like myself, that's all I want to know. It's like, what's going on? I want to know the facts. That's all I care about. I don't care about someone's opinion on it, or anything like that. I just want to know, how it's gonna affect me how it's gonna affect my loved ones. And that's it.
TN 30:47
Yeah. Do you think, the municipal leaders or government officials in your communities are responsible for this spread of misinformation? Or not fully truthful information, rather?
Anonymous 30:59
On a local scale? I don't think so. As much, maybe the bigger it gets to the federal level, I think that's more so where like, the the problem lies, because that's where the real change is being made. Like there's, there's, believe me, there's changes being made, like at the local level, municipal level, but like, when, when it gets to the federal level, and there's like that mass of like, large sweeping changes that are being made, people are going to disagree with that. There's just like, no matter what side it is, there's always gonna be someone on the other side disagreeing with it. So I think that when it comes to misinformation, when you get it, like, when you- it's the worst, when you hear it from like, a top government official, and then a week later, something else like contradicts that. it's, it's kind of hard to, you know, trust anyone at that point. And it's, it's, it's frustrating to say the least, because there are changes that are being made that affect everyone's lives. And on several different levels from small to big. But yeah, it definitely plays a part in it.
TN 32:20
Could you possibly give me an example of what you were referring to were a top, a government official says something and then perhaps is contradicted? In about I don't know, you'd say about a week or so.
Anonymous 32:33
Oh, that was more so just.
TN 32:35
Yeah,
Anonymous 32:36
that was more so just exaggeration, but I'd say more so what I meant by that was just, if I want to get specific, I'd probably refer to towards the beginning of the pandemic, when when Trump was just kind of noodling [Using your head to think]. And he suggested injecting bleach to, like, I believe it was like the, the head medical adviser at the time, like why, why shouldn't, "Shouldn't they just possibly inject bleach and kill the virus like", dude that'd kill them. Like he has, He doesn't know that would kill them? And we had the president united states saying this like, like, I mean, that's not something that had to be disputed, like a week later, that was like, instantaneous. Those, you know, don't do that. Please don't do that. But you have the president of the United States saying something like that. And people, you know, you know, people are gonna believe it, because people voted this man into office, like, you know, these people are scattered throughout the entire nation. It's, it's interesting to see that,
TN 33:43
yeah,
Anonymous 33:43
happen in real time. But yeah, that's more so what I was talking about.
TN 33:48
Okay, so do you think that type of trend can affect how the United States handles a situation like this in the future?
Anonymous 33:56
Um, possibly, I think it did set a- it might have set a precedent for, for how we're expected to handle things. We handled it very poorly, in my opinion. I think if this were to happen again, it will probably also be handled poorly. Unless we enact some changes, and we we learn from what's happened. I think that's the most important thing that can happen is that we learn from how poorly we handle this compared to other countries and other nations that some of them have virtually eradicated. Any concern of COVID entering and the only concern they have is people with COVID coming from other countries, and visiting them that's the only concern they really have. And, I mean, granted, they are smaller countries like New Zealand and stuff like that, but they- a lot of them have- they're not too worried about it. And that's because they handled everything correctly. They they took it seriously. They took it. They gave it its due, like, not respect, but they they treated it like when it was a deadly pandemic. Not, not like I should go, you know, go on my world tour right at this pandemic site like that. That's ridiculous. So that's what some people did. And I mean, you can't, can't say anything, but it's, it's kind of, it's frustrating.
TN 35:31
Yeah. So knowing what you know, now, what advice would you have? Or what would you what do you think that individuals, communities or governments need to keep in mind for these future events?
Anonymous 35:48
I think that, overall, this probably strengthened some communities as contradictory as that sounds to everything I just said, it probably strengthened communities. Because a lot, they lost a lot, especially on like, a small scale, a lot of like, small towns, they lost some bits of their soul. Things that were holding them together. You know, but ultimately, that, that kind of strengthens them, it makes them closer. So I think if this were to happen, again, if we prepare for it, I mean, there's, I don't think there's much preparing for it. But I think we'll take it a lot more seriously. on a federal level, try to emulate what some countries that handle it spectacularly like I believe, I think it was Vietnam had a very good response to the pandemic, I think they, they did a good job from what I saw of the- check up on that, because it's still ongoing, but from what I understand, I think, Vietnam and a number of other countries handled it very well. And they, they didn't have to deal too much with with what we went through, with, you know, shortages in malls and you know. You know, common amenities you could find anywhere, should have been able to find anywhere like toilet paper, and, you know, bread and stuff. Canned foods, you know, they freak out there wasn't a huge freakout, they handle it as a team as like a unit as a nation. I think if we weren't so divided from, you know, this media information war, I think we can handle it a little better. But,
TN 37:46
yeah,
Anonymous 37:46
I believe it or reiterate to your, your question. I do think it can be held up handled better. Next time, this happens.
TN 38:00
Yep. And would you have any advice for a possible individual that may watch this in the future?
Anonymous 38:06
Um, if it's the future and you go through another pandemic, like the one we're kind of, hopefully on the tail end of, man just get vaccinated, do your research get here they're like, this is- if it's gonna go on for as long as this one went on for you're gonna want to find a couple of hobbies that you can do at home. That, that's, that's not so much advice. That's just stuff to keep you sane. But hearing this in the future, I can only imagine that you know, if something like this did happen, it was handled better and treated with the, the right caution than it should have been treated with in the first time around. But yeah, yeah, that's all I got.
TN 39:06
Alright. So as a final note, your participation in this project is voluntary. And through your participation, you- do you agree to give the Special Collections and Archives McIntyre library UW Claire, as a donation as the recorded interview collected in association with this project? And with this gift, you would agree to transfer to the recipient all legal titles and all literary property rights to the interview, including copyright? This interview may be it may- this interview may be made available for your research- for research, usage and public programming determined by the recipient. This may include the use of interview materials and all forms of for profit and not for profit.
Anonymous 39:54
Yes.
TN 39:56
All right. I think that'll wrap that up. Thank you for joining me.
Anonymous 40:00
Thank you
All right, my name is Trenton Nelson and I'm conducting an oral history interview as part of the effort to archive the COVID 19 pandemic on individuals and communities in the Midwest, mainly Midwest, Wisconsin. Today's date is December 14 2021. The current time is 7:36pm. And I'm here joined by an anonymous interviewer. With that being said, can I ask for your demographic information such as race, ethnicity, age and gender?
Anonymous 00:34
I am a 24 year old white male from Wisconsin.
TN 00:41
Okay, and,
Anonymous 00:42
yeah,
TN 00:43
yeah, that that goes into my next question, which was, Where do you live and give or take what's it like to live there?
Anonymous 00:49
Uh, I currently reside in Beloit, Wisconsin, which is like, southern state line. Uh, it's not that bad. I think that COVID's kind of been handled. It could have been handled better. I've been super careful. Just wearing a mask ever since it happened. I think. Yeah, it's, it's getting better. It's definitely gotten better. Like, I think, initially, it was the worst at the beginning of the pandemic, but I think it's gotten a lot better.
TN 01:28
So when you learned about COVID, like, at the beginning of the pandemic, what were your thoughts about it? And how have your thoughts changed since then?
Anonymous 01:36
It was a little scary. School kind of the, it was like a weird kind of just- just rumors and stuff going around, you know, all you know, this is kind of this disease going around that it's a virus. I didn't know too much about it yet. It was kind of scary. But it's like, you know, people are making memes and stuff on the internet. And some people aren't taking it too seriously. And then it just kind of hit like a truck. And then, yeah, it just kind of became more and more real as time went on. And when all these businesses are closing, and, you know, you know, everyday items start becoming a commodity, like, commodities became luxuries, and, you know, it just kind of got sour, real quick. But, uh, yeah, overall, it was pretty scary towards the beginning. But as people like, started to stabilize, and, you know, people start getting bearings, it got better.
TN 02:44
Yeah, so, what issues concerned you mainly at like the beginning, like, when you said that it was the scariest, and what issues concern you now now that we're a couple years in?
Anonymous 02:55
I think initially, the uncertainty of just how society was gonna stay stable through everything. You know, you're seeing people like, on social media kind of freaking out. That's all we really had, we couldn't really go outside, we just kind of had social media to, you know, get our information from. And nowadays, there's a lot of, you know, false information going around you. It's kind of hard to, you know, vet, every source and make sure you know, the information you're taking in is accurate. So, it was kind of the uncertainty on my nose, really scary. And also just like not knowing what was going on. Because there's like, you know, you hear one thing from an official like government site or something like that. And then next week, you hear something else, and then it was just, everything was flip flops. He didn't know what to believe. And it was kind of scary. But uh, yeah, that was probably the most scary thing to me. It was the uncertainty and like, just not knowing truly how dangerous COVID was. And it still is. But yeah, that was the big thing for me. It was just not knowing at all what was going on.
TN 04:12
Yeah. So you said you were in school when the pandemic first hit? Yes.
Anonymous 04:17
Yeah, it hit right my senior year.
TN 04:20
Okay, so how did that affect not only graduation, but that final year that you took of college?
Anonymous 04:24
Um, well, prior to that, I, we moved to online schooling, there was a couple of weeks where we just didn't have school. And that was it was kind of weird. Because I wasn't working at the time I was a full time student and to not have that and just have like, bare minimum correspondence with professors that ultimately didn't have too much of a like a digital background setup in their curriculum is kind of interesting seeing how, how they adapted to that. How, like, you know, some professors, like the younger professors they kind of adapted quickly. And they, they, you know, set up some setup like discord servers or you know, other things that were a little more like accessible. Some, some professors I had just straight up didn't have anything besides an email and just getting mass emails every day it was kind of, it wasn't the best. So when zoom kind of came around, like I remember when zoom first came out to that was, well not came out, but like when it became accessible to everyone. And it was kind of like it started becoming a household name. It was just kind of, I remember the controversy, like, like, is it really secure? Or is there like, this fear that people watching you, and now there's that and I was like, it's so weird, because it was a little bit of a slow, slow transition. But, uh, yeah, that was, that was an interesting aspect of it. But, but moving into like, some classes, though, I was a little I had taken online classes in the past. But a lot of professors that you know, taught traditionally, they hadn't done anything like that. So it was kind of different. Adjusting to that, for them. For them and the students. So,
TN 06:27
yeah. So after graduation, how was finding some form of employment in this new atmosphere, because a lot of people fresh out of college, you know, they had this final year it gets kind of wack. It's kind of weird. How did that affect? Especially since COVID is hitting hard? How did that affect finding a job?
Anonymous 06:47
Um, it's still affecting it. I, I'd say that finding a job has gotten a lot harder for what I do.
TN 07:00
Sorry to interrupt, can you tell us what you do?
Anonymous 07:03
Um, Media Studies. I that's what I studied in school. I do primarily digital art. But it- now that everyone kind of want to work. Wants to work from home, it's, it's a little difficult. It's got a little more competitive. Because people want to stay safe. That's understandable. But, uh, yeah, working from home is probably ideal. Because you don't have to go outside, you can make pretty good money working from home too, but you have to be qualified to do that. And yeah, it's, it's just made it a lot harder. Because that was ideally what ideal to do pre pandemic was work from home and [Unclear], but now that everyone's stuck at home, and has been stuck at home for the past, you know, couple years now, it's a, it- they, people have been desperate to find new ways and try new things. And some people will just, you know, they're they're naturally good at stuff and they'll pick it up and then they can do it professionally. Pretty quick. So it's kind of, the working from home aspects kind of been shot for now. So finding, finding stuff in persons a little hard to because there's always a new variant every every couple of months, it seems that.
TN 08:27
Yeah, the new variant recently came out so,
Anonymous 08:29
yeah, yeah, true. It's going to the gym to like recent like, I went to the gym today and it was kind of weird. It was like a weird thing in the air. It felt like, not physically like not anything palpable, but like just like a weird atmosphere like I'm gonna keep my mask on I'm gonna you know do the right things I'm gonna- because there was a period of time where there was about like a week where cuz I'm very like precautious and I always, always have a mask I've never forgotten the mask like every single time I leave the house I that's like phone, wallet, keys, mask. And yeah, just it's, it was really interesting because there was a week there where I didn't wear a mask because you know, I was after I got Vaccinated. I got my second booster shot. I mean, not booster shot my second vaccine shot and then yeah, it's like because in Wisconsin, you know, there's there's a good amount of people that don't wear their masks and you know that that's their choice but it I don't ultimately agree with that. I think if this thing still going on even like slightly I'm gonna keep on my mask just to keep myself and the people I love safe. So,
TN 09:47
yeah, yeah. So how has the outbreak affected your community? Such as you know, your schools, which we've already talked about, clubs that you can do outside, church or just job etc. General community?
Anonymous 10:03
Yeah, I'd say a lot of it hit small businesses really hard. I think a lot of businesses that I used to like back in my hometown kind of suffered some of them closed down. And I recently visited my, my college town, and two or three other, like restaurants and shops that me and my buddies used to go to just when we're on town, like, they're, they're just gone. They it was kind of hard coming to terms with that. But, uh, it's a sad reality of what happens. It kind of sucks. I can't imagine how, like, a lot of the younger generation is coping with this because they- I can't, you just can't imagine going to like high school or elementary school, just wearing a mask and not being able to, you know, play with friends and stuff, when on the playground, you're younger, and, you know, go to like prom, or go even like game, like, sporting events for your high school. Like, that's it's very, but it's gotten better. But like, there was a point in time where that just was not possible at all.
TN 11:17
Yeah, so how people been like, responding to the ability to not be able to go to these things in your community?
Anonymous 11:24
A lot of that's been met with a lot of ,I'm trying to think of the right word, protest, and not not so much protest, but just,
TN 11:38
[Unclear] perhaps,
Anonymous 11:41
they're just very vocal about what they what they believe they feel that they're being the rights are being suppressed, and that they should be able to, you know, continue with these things. And they feel that the people making these decisions, aren't making them for the right reasons and stuff like that, but I, I just think it's gotten a lot better, but it when it first started. Like, people didn't really argue with it. But now that it's kind of like, it's died down a little bit, it's gotten better. So people are a little more apprehensive of canceling full blown events and stuff that are going on now. But that's, that's a new problem we have. Is people just protesting because I- I don't know- it- There's no telling what could happen. But,
TN 12:41
yeah, so, has anyone you known, gone or done any of these protests? And has that Or would that change your relationships with them? Or maybe relationships with your friends, family and community?
Anonymous 12:56
I don't I'm not I don't think I know anyone that's gone to a protest. Or at least I've been told, but I think if someone I knew did go into these protests, I mean, that's their choice. I don't necessarily agree with that. But it is their choice. Ultimately, I probably like to have a dialogue with them, and understand why they want to protest something like that, or the reasons behind, like, engaging in protests that could possibly further endanger them or the ones they love. I don't know. It's, it's just a weird. I it's a case by case thing, because if you asked to, like, what would you do if you're, you know, your, your mom went out to one of these protests? I'd be like, okay, you know, I'd have a serious dialogue with them. But it was someone like, I- you know, a gym buddy or something like that. Like, I'd be like, two different, two different scenarios there. But I think ultimately, they I'd feel a little disappointed. But,
TN 14:02
yeah,
Anonymous 14:02
yeah.
TN 14:03
So how has your local government, what has your local government done to perhaps try to halt the spread or try to help with alleviation of the COVID pandemic?
Anonymous 14:16
Um, from what I remember, I remember there being some masks mandates, but those were lifted after some protest. Because people around here they don't, they don't typically wear their masks. Like as much as they should have, like, I've gone to Illinois, and I've seen that, you know, everyone there is wearing a mask for the most part. And then I don't know what if you go across the state line to go back to Wisconsin and is it's just half the people arn't wearing a mask it seems. I mean, it's, it's personal choice, I suppose. But because there's no longer any masks mandates, where I am. I still try to socially distance and, you know, wash my hands as much as I can because I don't I just feel gross whenever I go out now, so
TN 15:08
yeah, so how has socially distanced- socially distancing affected your relationship in your family or your household?
Anonymous 15:16
it's a little weird. My grandmother, she takes a very seriously because she's very old, she's, she's like, 90 something. And she always, like, whenever I go to visit her always mask and you know, six feet apart, it's kind of weird, because you don't get to, you know, embrace your loved ones as much. And it's, it's kind of hard because you don't know how much time you have left. It's, it's a weird, weird feeling not knowing that's, that's part of uncertainty, too, is that you can't see this thing you can't, like begin to understand what's going to become in the future because it could just ramp up could go down. So it's, it's a little difficult. Not having, you know, Thanksgiving or Christmas, for a month, it felt like, Oh, was it one year or two year? I think it was two Christmases we skipped? and, yeah, it's difficult. I think this Christmas coming up, it's gonna be like the first one. And, you know, a while, so it's, it's tough. But, you know,
TN 16:33
Yeah. So do you have any fears, perhaps that this trend or something like this may continue?
Anonymous 16:40
Um, like the trend of new variants coming out, like every couple months?
TN 16:46
continuing to isolate and continuing having to stay away?
Anonymous 16:49
Um, yeah, it's definitely a concern. I, I wouldn't say I have trouble, like, vetting information, or anything like that. But from what I can see like, this is- it's still very much a problem that we're facing. And it seems that every variant poses new problems that we just have to deal with. Like, there's no other way around it. We can't just ignore the problem. We have to face it head on and adapt to each new problem that's presented to us. But yeah, so I see it happening. I see it continuing to, to go. But I think over time, we will, we'll get better and better at figuring out what to do. When the time comes.
TN 17:36
Yeah. So speaking about figuring out what to do. There are very obviously a lot of health concerns, especially during the beginning of the pandemic, when no one knew what was happening. So have you or anyone you known gotten sick during the outbreak? And what was the response to them getting sick?
Anonymous 17:53
Um, yeah, quite a few people I know, have gone COVID. Their, for the most part, It's always, you know, a friend saying, oh, yeah, I had it. And then you ask him, it's like, what was it like? And then, because I haven't had I don't know what it's like. But, you know, you hear stories from friends and you see stuff on social media saying like, "Oh, you know, I lost my taste and my smell", you know, had a fever for about a week or something like that. And you have a they- some of them didn't even know they had it, but there like, "I think I had it", and then they get it checked out. And they're like, "Yeah, you had it", So yeah. Oh, okay. But, uh, yeah, it's so it's interesting. Um, there, there is one person that I, that I talked to recently, is actually an old co worker, they were saying that- they were talking to another coworker who was are actually technically our former boss. He was saying that, when he was talking to our former boss, like, she was saying, like, yeah, I I technically, I had COVID. I had COVID. Last week, and then he was like, late last weekend, like, and she was like, "Yeah, you know, I, I'm not vaccinated or anything like that probably won't get vaccinated". You know, I was like, you know, you know, maybe you should, yeah, you're getting COVID at this point. Maybe, maybe you should. It's so it's just, it's really weird. They still have that meant-, like the people that are very, like, anti Vax, not anti Vax, broadly, but just anti vaccine in regards to COVID. And it's just like, they're more willing to get COVID than get the vaccine. Like I can't understand that. Like, I just can't wrap my head around it. I don't know if it's to prove a point or what it, it doesn't make sense to me. Like why would you subject yourself to that.
TN 20:02
Yeah. So where do you think those possible concerns of these people come from?
Anonymous 20:10
Concerns regarding what like the like the,
TN 20:12
the vaccine
Anonymous 20:12
Oh, the vaccine? Probably just mistrust of the government. Um, most people that I know, that aren't vaccinated still, probably- the most of it just comes from mistrust of government, government, they just don't, they don't see it as, like a scheme. When it- I don't think it is at all. I think it's, you know, everyone should be vaccinated. It's one thing to make it into an issue where it's like, "oh, you're suppressing my right to not do it", it's like, yeah, but it's the right thing to do. Like I- it's objectively the right thing. Like I- it's very, it's a it's a weird, weird thing, where they make a sub issue into the main issue when the main issue is way more deadly and proven to be more way more deadly. I don't know. Anyone that's died of taking a COVIN- COVID vaccine, but I know people that have died from COVID. So I think that that's, that's where my arguments lies.
TN 21:17
Yeah,
Anonymous 21:17
the facts. So.
TN 21:19
Yeah, so you said that you've been vaccinated? Yes.
Anonymous 21:22
Yes.
TN 21:23
Did you have any side effects?
Anonymous 21:25
Only the first day I had a little soreness my arm but I've been vaccinated for several other things like tetanus, meningococcal, I've gotten all my vaccines when I had to go to college. So like, it's the same exact thing as everything else. You just have a sore arm. And I think- the I had a slight fever, I had a fever for like, 10 minutes, and then it broke. That was it. That was the only side effect I had.
TN 21:54
So what was your experience in getting access to the information or appointments or something like that for the vaccine?
Anonymous 22:03
Setting up an appointment was really easy, it's ,it's free. You don't -doesn't cost you anything that ,that's one thing that I've been asked a couple times is like c"how much would it cost?" it's free. I, what I did is I just went to Walgreens, I went to their website, their - They have, I believe they let you choose. I got the one I was gonna choose. Anyway, I got Moderna. But, yeah, I set up an appointment. Like, it didn't take any time at all. It took probably five minutes to go on their website be like, Oh, yep. Let's sign up for next Monday or this Monday, and then show up with the paperwork. And yeah, and,
TN 22:52
yeah,
Anonymous 22:53
a month later, you get your second one, you're done.
TN 22:55
Yeah. Have you ever used the simplicity of getting the vaccine as an argument against people who don't have it?
Anonymous 23:02
Um, I, it's kind of hard to argue with the people that refuse to get it. Well, I don't know. It's the people that refuse to get it or the people that just don't have it. Is that what you're asking?
TN 23:16
Both would probably be the best scenario to answer for.
23:19
Okay. I'll awnser them both. So if it's someone that's just asking, because they genuinely want to know, how easy it is and how quick it is, I would definitely use that as an argument. Just because there are some people are just lazy. And I, I definitely, I probably wasn't the first person to get vaccinated just because I'm kind of a procrastinator. I don't really. I don't, I wasn't on the first ship to the, to the, to the Walgreens to get vaccinated. Not out of like, apprehension, it was just, I was just, you know, I was still scared of going outside. And so yeah, definitely says, as an argument, was that how simple it is, like, you barely have to talk to anybody, like you don't it's, it's super simple. And, you know, there's plenty of services out there that explain it and people that you could talk to about just setting it up. Hell people will probably give you a ride for free. If you just, you know, talk to someone, ask. But yeah, if it's someone, that's- if I'm arguing with someone. That's a, you know, anti vaccine. Um, the simplicity argument probably used against me, because at that point, it devolves into a government mistrust. Like, "they want it to be easy for you because you're a sheep". I'm sorry, I'm using that voice but that's the that's- from my experience. That's the kind of person that's arguing with me.
TN 25:02
Could you elaborate on kind of person?
Anonymous 25:05
Typically, not very educated, not very, not very in with what's really going on in society, it's kind of person doesn't really seem to have a grasp on what's going on in the world, or, you know, the severity of this. They're more concerned with upholding their traditional values and a more conservative outlook on life in general. And the other than, you know, keeping their family safe and keeping thy neighbors safe. Yeah, it's kind of- it's a little frustrating when the person you're arguing with is- claims to be a, you know, the best that- they claim to have the best morals. And they're doing a very immoral thing by not protecting themselves and the people around them.
TN 26:11
Yeah, well, I want
Anonymous 26:12
Yeah.
TN 26:13
Yeah. So how much do you think information and news sources have to do with this distrust, or this attitude?
Anonymous 26:24
A lot. I think it has a lot to do with it. The main media outlets, they, it's, it's gone less from, you know, telling people what they need to hear about what's going on in the world to people, to these news outlets on people they want to hear. They want to be upset, they want to be outraged. You know, it's, it's, it's us versus them. It's, it's a two team game. That's what it is. And it's- it kind of sucks that this this thing that we really should be, you know, coming together and fixing as a whole is been turned into this piece of this game of tug of war, this piece of rope that we're tugging at I mean, like, oh, no, the, there's reasons for this. There's reasons for that. It's like, no, it's very frustrating, seeing misinformation spread, and kind of take hold of some people and it's just something some people, it's all they talk about now, it's just the, the, the pandemic, what we're gonna do, it's like it yeah, it's great that it's, you know, on your mind. It's like, when it's when it's used as a tool to divide people is by, its very, I'm trying to think of the right words here. And I'm saying a lot of "uh's" but, it's kind of disappointing, seeing, seeing how it's the money from, you know, you know, clicks and outrage and clickbait and all that. It kind of overrides a lot of people's and a lot of journalists senses of, you know, what's moral and what's right to do. Because if, you know, if you're gonna write something outrageous, you know, someone's gonna click on it just either like, wanting to hear that or wanting to like dispute that, that, that it's just, that's what it is. So it's kind of upsetting.
TN 28:46
Yeah, so this idea of the media perpetuating stuff. Do you think that they should be talking about more stuff? Or do you think there's stuff that is important that they aren't covering enough?
Anonymous 28:57
Um, I kind of I try to stay clear of most like main moody media outlets, I like to cross examine a lot of sources before I, you know, come out and talk about something. So even when I'm saying something I don't state as a matter of fact, I always, you know, say like, Oh, I heard from this that, you know,
TN 29:20
yeah,
Anonymous 29:20
this does that. And it's never definitive. I don't like talking in absolutes. But I think Sorry, I forgot. What was the question again?
TN 29:38
It was about how the important issues that the media should or is not covering enough of.
Anonymous 29:45
Yeah. I think a lot of it is kind of corrupted by the us versus them. The little almost bipartisan information war that's going on. Because, you know, you'll- whatever is said or claimed by one side is always disputed by the other. And it's like they kind of like it. They work together in a way, it's kind of annoying to see. Because this is the, the misinformation kind of destroys what people, like, It destroys the truth because people want to know the truth. That's all they want to know, like, a lot of people like myself, that's all I want to know. It's like, what's going on? I want to know the facts. That's all I care about. I don't care about someone's opinion on it, or anything like that. I just want to know, how it's gonna affect me how it's gonna affect my loved ones. And that's it.
TN 30:47
Yeah. Do you think, the municipal leaders or government officials in your communities are responsible for this spread of misinformation? Or not fully truthful information, rather?
Anonymous 30:59
On a local scale? I don't think so. As much, maybe the bigger it gets to the federal level, I think that's more so where like, the the problem lies, because that's where the real change is being made. Like there's, there's, believe me, there's changes being made, like at the local level, municipal level, but like, when, when it gets to the federal level, and there's like that mass of like, large sweeping changes that are being made, people are going to disagree with that. There's just like, no matter what side it is, there's always gonna be someone on the other side disagreeing with it. So I think that when it comes to misinformation, when you get it, like, when you- it's the worst, when you hear it from like, a top government official, and then a week later, something else like contradicts that. it's, it's kind of hard to, you know, trust anyone at that point. And it's, it's, it's frustrating to say the least, because there are changes that are being made that affect everyone's lives. And on several different levels from small to big. But yeah, it definitely plays a part in it.
TN 32:20
Could you possibly give me an example of what you were referring to were a top, a government official says something and then perhaps is contradicted? In about I don't know, you'd say about a week or so.
Anonymous 32:33
Oh, that was more so just.
TN 32:35
Yeah,
Anonymous 32:36
that was more so just exaggeration, but I'd say more so what I meant by that was just, if I want to get specific, I'd probably refer to towards the beginning of the pandemic, when when Trump was just kind of noodling [Using your head to think]. And he suggested injecting bleach to, like, I believe it was like the, the head medical adviser at the time, like why, why shouldn't, "Shouldn't they just possibly inject bleach and kill the virus like", dude that'd kill them. Like he has, He doesn't know that would kill them? And we had the president united states saying this like, like, I mean, that's not something that had to be disputed, like a week later, that was like, instantaneous. Those, you know, don't do that. Please don't do that. But you have the president of the United States saying something like that. And people, you know, you know, people are gonna believe it, because people voted this man into office, like, you know, these people are scattered throughout the entire nation. It's, it's interesting to see that,
TN 33:43
yeah,
Anonymous 33:43
happen in real time. But yeah, that's more so what I was talking about.
TN 33:48
Okay, so do you think that type of trend can affect how the United States handles a situation like this in the future?
Anonymous 33:56
Um, possibly, I think it did set a- it might have set a precedent for, for how we're expected to handle things. We handled it very poorly, in my opinion. I think if this were to happen again, it will probably also be handled poorly. Unless we enact some changes, and we we learn from what's happened. I think that's the most important thing that can happen is that we learn from how poorly we handle this compared to other countries and other nations that some of them have virtually eradicated. Any concern of COVID entering and the only concern they have is people with COVID coming from other countries, and visiting them that's the only concern they really have. And, I mean, granted, they are smaller countries like New Zealand and stuff like that, but they- a lot of them have- they're not too worried about it. And that's because they handled everything correctly. They they took it seriously. They took it. They gave it its due, like, not respect, but they they treated it like when it was a deadly pandemic. Not, not like I should go, you know, go on my world tour right at this pandemic site like that. That's ridiculous. So that's what some people did. And I mean, you can't, can't say anything, but it's, it's kind of, it's frustrating.
TN 35:31
Yeah. So knowing what you know, now, what advice would you have? Or what would you what do you think that individuals, communities or governments need to keep in mind for these future events?
Anonymous 35:48
I think that, overall, this probably strengthened some communities as contradictory as that sounds to everything I just said, it probably strengthened communities. Because a lot, they lost a lot, especially on like, a small scale, a lot of like, small towns, they lost some bits of their soul. Things that were holding them together. You know, but ultimately, that, that kind of strengthens them, it makes them closer. So I think if this were to happen, again, if we prepare for it, I mean, there's, I don't think there's much preparing for it. But I think we'll take it a lot more seriously. on a federal level, try to emulate what some countries that handle it spectacularly like I believe, I think it was Vietnam had a very good response to the pandemic, I think they, they did a good job from what I saw of the- check up on that, because it's still ongoing, but from what I understand, I think, Vietnam and a number of other countries handled it very well. And they, they didn't have to deal too much with with what we went through, with, you know, shortages in malls and you know. You know, common amenities you could find anywhere, should have been able to find anywhere like toilet paper, and, you know, bread and stuff. Canned foods, you know, they freak out there wasn't a huge freakout, they handle it as a team as like a unit as a nation. I think if we weren't so divided from, you know, this media information war, I think we can handle it a little better. But,
TN 37:46
yeah,
Anonymous 37:46
I believe it or reiterate to your, your question. I do think it can be held up handled better. Next time, this happens.
TN 38:00
Yep. And would you have any advice for a possible individual that may watch this in the future?
Anonymous 38:06
Um, if it's the future and you go through another pandemic, like the one we're kind of, hopefully on the tail end of, man just get vaccinated, do your research get here they're like, this is- if it's gonna go on for as long as this one went on for you're gonna want to find a couple of hobbies that you can do at home. That, that's, that's not so much advice. That's just stuff to keep you sane. But hearing this in the future, I can only imagine that you know, if something like this did happen, it was handled better and treated with the, the right caution than it should have been treated with in the first time around. But yeah, yeah, that's all I got.
TN 39:06
Alright. So as a final note, your participation in this project is voluntary. And through your participation, you- do you agree to give the Special Collections and Archives McIntyre library UW Claire, as a donation as the recorded interview collected in association with this project? And with this gift, you would agree to transfer to the recipient all legal titles and all literary property rights to the interview, including copyright? This interview may be it may- this interview may be made available for your research- for research, usage and public programming determined by the recipient. This may include the use of interview materials and all forms of for profit and not for profit.
Anonymous 39:54
Yes.
TN 39:56
All right. I think that'll wrap that up. Thank you for joining me.
Anonymous 40:00
Thank you