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guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 05:38 PM Mar 2020

Virus mutes happy hours in senior haven, but golf goes on

From the article:

Up until a few days ago, residents of The Villages retirement community went about their busy lives filled with spirited happy hours and incessant socializing at what some dub “Disney World for adults."

There were the hundreds of clubs to attend — French lessons, Carolina shag dancing, light-saber fencing — pickleball tournaments to play and Pilates classes to take at this Republican stronghold built on former cow pastures in central Florida.

Even as many Americans isolated themselves against the coronavirus threat, residents of one of the largest concentrations of seniors in the U.S. at first blew off concerns, despite data showing the elderly are particularly susceptible to serious symptoms from COVID-19. But their attitude shifted this week as President Donald Trump, who earlier had downplayed the coronavirus threat, gave warnings to avoid crowds of more than 10 people, some residents of The Villages say.

“This place is Republicanville and too many people believe what the president is saying, and they were out in the streets and out in the squares," said Alan Stone, as he sat in one of The Villages' ever-present golf carts outside a supermarket, waiting for his wife. “They don't realize that they're playing with death."


Read more here: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/article241408976.html#storylink=cpy

So even in the parallel universe that is Trumplandia, reality is invading?
21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Virus mutes happy hours in senior haven, but golf goes on (Original Post) guillaumeb Mar 2020 OP
In a blue state where my cousin lives he said the golf course is open and Eliot Rosewater Mar 2020 #1
Some courses are open in Illinois as well. guillaumeb Mar 2020 #2
All social places including golf courses should be closed...it is like people STILL dont understand Eliot Rosewater Mar 2020 #7
Many will not understand that it happened after it has happened. guillaumeb Mar 2020 #8
And 3 months after that , it is going to happen AGAIN Eliot Rosewater Mar 2020 #9
That is the nature of a recurring virus. guillaumeb Mar 2020 #10
These are the new rules in my senior development marybourg Mar 2020 #3
From the excerpt: guillaumeb Mar 2020 #6
So, your objection is to marybourg Mar 2020 #13
My objection is to their blindness making them guillaumeb Mar 2020 #15
Same rules for my husband's coarse. He feels safer there than walking down our street. SunSeeker Mar 2020 #20
I don't think it's a bad idea as long as no one touches the same things. nolabear Mar 2020 #4
It might, but the article talks about these villages as being Trump central, guillaumeb Mar 2020 #5
The residents didn't give up their group activities voluntarily. Mariana Mar 2020 #11
Well said. guillaumeb Mar 2020 #12
My parents live there, Gil. Mariana Mar 2020 #14
I am sorry to hear that, M. guillaumeb Mar 2020 #16
I have tried to speak with them. My sister has tried. Mariana Mar 2020 #17
And that is a large part of the problem. guillaumeb Mar 2020 #18
Golf is actually a good activity for social distancing, so long as certain precautions are taken. SunSeeker Mar 2020 #19
Thank you for the excellent commentary on the workers who make this guillaumeb Mar 2020 #21

Eliot Rosewater

(31,113 posts)
1. In a blue state where my cousin lives he said the golf course is open and
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 05:41 PM
Mar 2020

the rules are:

one person to a cart

social distancing required

do NOT pull the pin ever , so that way you are not touching something someone else touched

NO raking the sand traps

do NOT hole out if you are within 2 feet, limiting touching the hole itself...

All good ideas, but what I said was

WHAT IN THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING OR ARE THEY DOING , THIS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)
2. Some courses are open in Illinois as well.
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 05:45 PM
Mar 2020

No carts, no touching the flag, etc. The illusion of safety, and normalcy. And encouraged by the lunatic in the White House.

Eliot Rosewater

(31,113 posts)
7. All social places including golf courses should be closed...it is like people STILL dont understand
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 06:31 PM
Mar 2020

what is about to happen to us.

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)
8. Many will not understand that it happened after it has happened.
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 06:32 PM
Mar 2020

Perhaps 37% will never understand, or cannot ever understand.

And these same 37% vote.

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)
10. That is the nature of a recurring virus.
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 06:35 PM
Mar 2020

But the anti-science crowd seems to be unaware of much that we take as common knowledge.

marybourg

(12,633 posts)
3. These are the new rules in my senior development
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 05:49 PM
Mar 2020

in AZ and my sibling's in FL, although all other recreation amenities are closed. Sounds alright to me. What in particular are you objecting to, besides the fact tha golf is a game which lends itself to socal distancing. I'm not a golfer.

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)
6. From the excerpt:
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 06:05 PM
Mar 2020
Even as many Americans isolated themselves against the coronavirus threat, residents of one of the largest concentrations of seniors in the U.S. at first blew off concerns, despite data showing the elderly are particularly susceptible to serious symptoms from COVID-19. But their attitude shifted this week as President Donald Trump, who earlier had downplayed the coronavirus threat, gave warnings to avoid crowds of more than 10 people, some residents of The Villages say.

“This place is Republicanville and too many people believe what the president is saying,
and they were out in the streets and out in the squares," said Alan Stone, as he sat in one of The Villages' ever-present golf carts outside a supermarket, waiting for his wife. “They don't realize that they're playing with death."

SunSeeker

(51,646 posts)
20. Same rules for my husband's coarse. He feels safer there than walking down our street.
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 08:07 PM
Mar 2020

Walking down our street people get way too close walking down the sidewalk, they definitely don't maintain the 6 -foot separation rule.

Golf is one of the few sports allowing social distancing, so long as precautions are taken. And it gets the seniors outside walking and getting much needed Vitamin D from the sun, which is important to protect against respiratory infections. 



nolabear

(41,990 posts)
4. I don't think it's a bad idea as long as no one touches the same things.
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 05:58 PM
Mar 2020

Nobody touches the flag, no shared clubs or bags, don’t know how you’d get the ball out of the hole but I do t golf.

The exercise and distant socializing might just be good for them.

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)
5. It might, but the article talks about these villages as being Trump central,
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 06:04 PM
Mar 2020

where voters still believe, and believe in, Trump. And it is this ignorance in the face of reality, and this refusal of these these Trump to admit that Trump is a national disaster, and an incompetent liar, that poses a continuing danger to this country.

Mariana

(14,860 posts)
11. The residents didn't give up their group activities voluntarily.
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 06:42 PM
Mar 2020

Reality is being forced upon them. The Villages management shut all those group activities down, closed the pools and the indoor recreation facilities, and cancelled the concerts and such.

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)
12. Well said.
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 06:53 PM
Mar 2020

"Reality is being forced upon them".

But the crucial question is, will they even acknowledge that this is reality?

Mariana

(14,860 posts)
14. My parents live there, Gil.
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 07:14 PM
Mar 2020

They are not taking it seriously. My father likes to go out and do things, he's always been like that. He comes up with some errand to run or something he has to buy, as an excuse just to get out of the house and go somewhere, every day. He's still doing that now.

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)
16. I am sorry to hear that, M.
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 07:37 PM
Mar 2020

My guess is that if you were to speak with them it would be frustrating, at best.

Mariana

(14,860 posts)
17. I have tried to speak with them. My sister has tried.
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 07:44 PM
Mar 2020

My stepdaughter, with whom my parents have a very close relationship, and who is an RN working with Covid-19 patients, has tried. No luck.

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)
18. And that is a large part of the problem.
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 07:47 PM
Mar 2020

Many cannot adjust their political positions to accommodate provable fact.

SunSeeker

(51,646 posts)
19. Golf is actually a good activity for social distancing, so long as certain precautions are taken.
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 08:02 PM
Mar 2020

And it gets the seniors outside walking and getting much needed Vitamin D from the sun, which is important to protect against respiratory infections.

The huge danger for the Villages is all the housekeepers and home health aides they rely on. This low paid work worce gets no sick leave so they are forced to come to work sick. The convalescent homes that suffered horrific clusters of Covid-19 deaths were infected by the same health aides who worked at multiple facilities.

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