Pretzel Logic
Background: I have a tourist business and rental properties in the North Carolina Smokies. It has been a strange year for business, but I’ve been here a long time and I know how to survive business down turns. I’ve put extreme safety measures in place for my workers and my customers to lessen their exposure to the virus. Everything has been examined. I didn’t open our small store this year---no big profit margin in ice cream or paper plates!
We were closed for 2 months during the shut down, but things are booming in the Smokies now and people are acting like it’s not even a thing. Do I have a preponderance of right wing nut customers? I guess so—I’ve never talked politics or religion at work. But masks bring out the comments and then you know what they believe.
Anyway, I thought I’d tell you some of the things I’ve heard over the last couple of weeks from my customers—and my replies (thanks to my DU friends’ ideas and posts for my replies):
“I think our government is lying to us…” Me: Yeah—they lied about the Viet Nam War and weapons of mass destruction—goes to figure they would lie to keep us home and to make us wear masks.
“I just can’t wear a mask very long—it’s hot and I can’t breathe.” Me: Maybe a ventilator won’t be so hard!
“The tests are making the numbers go up. When you’re going in for surgery they make you take a test 3 times before surgery—so that’s 3 tests.” Me: So that’s 3 tests where you test negative for the virus? “Well yeah, but…..”
“It’s a hoax. The hospitals get paid more money for corona virus patients.” Me: Yes, the Cares Act authorized a 20% increase for Medicare & Medicaid patients for corona virus care. So you think all the hospitals are committing Medicare fraud to get a 20% boost in payment?
“I don’t know anyone who has it.” Me: Aren’t you lucky! Fingers crossed! (the sarcasm goes right over their heads)
“Kids need to go back to school. Besides they don’t get it as bad.” Me: I worry about the teachers and janitors and bus drivers. But, since schools are so good at containing head lice and bed bugs—I’m sure they’ll handle the corona virus just fine!
“I guess it just depends on where you get your information.” Me: Yeah, I don’t get any news from Facebook!
= new reply since forum marked as read
I've used variations on those myself. Especially the "news from facebook" one. It usually shuts them totally up or they look sheepish and say "I get news other places too" which tells me and anyone near that they indeed DO get their "news" from facebook.
Well done btw. 
is enough for me to want give my right arm and first born to trade places with you. I LOVE it there - and most all of North Carolina.
Beyond that, fantastic post.
Maybe, just maybe a little tiny light went off in a few tiny brains. Doubtful, but hope springs eternal.
