Viral Spreaders ҉ To Hell With Other People?
“L’enfer, c’est les autres.” – Jean-Paul Sartre
I have pointed to accelerators in the transmission of viruses. In my July 2019 paper, “U.S. Dangerous Troika? – Physician, Pharma, and Hospital,” I question the training and/or experience of staff.
→Health Sector Bad Practices
Countless reports and statistics have backed up claims of hospitals, physicians and nurses’ bad practices including inadequate hand washing leading to the spread of infections for decades.
→Sharing + Service Economy
In my April 2020 paper, “Halt, Pedestrian: Lockdown & Containment,” I noted ways of controlling the spread pointing out accelerators: sharing and service sectors.
Culture of sharing fused with the service economy has provided ideal spaces for connecting communities as well as virulence. Propensity of adult contagion can be explained by noting how adults interact in the physical world: ride sharing, hotel sharing, product sharing, etc.
How spread? First, consider reported adult to child ratios of susceptibility and infection. Majority of those diagnosed with COVID-19 are adults. In public spaces, consumers’ POS transactions require Adult-Adult close interactions (typically between 1 to 3 feet).
Two possibilities: Adults contracting contagious diseases have tended to be in close proximity whether in group settings or in sexual activity. Multiple reports argue that COVID-19 began and spread primarily through adult trafficked areas: travel, commercial sectors, public spaces, etc.
Second, the popularity of the “sharing economy” promoted the bad practices of holding and sharing each other’s smart technology (phones, pads, and laptops). Or, leasing wardrobe, accessories, and rental properties around the world.
In a perfect world where everyone cleaned and sanitized their devices, practiced good hygiene, and took appropriate precautions, the chances of contracting a virus would be virtually nonexistent. But few humans live in a vacuum.
→ Smartphone
Let’s be smart about using the “smartphone.” Handheld items or devices can easily and literally be a launch pad and prime mover of bacteria and viruses. Before this wonderful gadget came along, after making a call one walked away from a phone not taking it with them round the clock.
App after app required one hold the gadget almost endlessly while touching other surfaces. From bed to bath, brushing ones teeth to the breakfast table or on the go fast-food, your phone came into contact with everything and everyone. It seems the two vectors used to link users were viruses and media social platforms.
Funny thing is how search engines and advertising companies who reportedly “track” users, their actions, and monetize data have been unable to apply their services to effectively trace humans contracting contagions.
Yes, it’s a shame users trust was lost amidst revelations of privacy and security issues. It makes you wonder what some physicians, search engines and media social sites executives see as good when they profess, “First, do no harm,” “Don’t be evil,” and “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?”
It is said that “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Sartre understood Hell. His philosophical writings “scream” painfully of existentialism.
Julien Josset, founder of The-Philosophy.com, offers an “explanation of what Sartre really meant by “Hell is other people.” The quote comes at the close of the play No Exit (Huis Clos, in French) which Sartre wrote in 1943.”
“All those eyes intent on me. Devouring me. What? Only two of you? I thought there were more; many more. So this is hell. I’d never have believed it. You remember all we were told about the torture-chambers, the fire and brimstone, the “burning marl.” Old wives’ tales! There’s no need for red-hot pokers. HELL IS OTHER PEOPLE!”
In these times, I would extend Sartre’s quote:
Hell is other people, the lazy and careless public as well as the greedy and criminal wenches and bastards who call themselves company executives and leaders.
To Hell with you people!