Is anyone else developing a case of agoraphobia?

[Thtwudbeme]

Between the mass shootings and Covid...I am starting to worry about going out in public.

[XanaDUer2]

1. I think I'm starting to

We were supposed to go to the movies, and I had second thoughts

[BlueBloodedAmerican]

2. Yes. Don't want to travel or be in any crowd situation anymore.

[Elessar Zappa]

3. No.

I understand it but I’ll take my chances. These assholes aren’t going to imprison me at home.

[MissB]

4. Yeah

I go grocery shopping at 6 am. If I have yo go to Costco, I get there right when it opens. I chose an Amazon drop box place that is pretty out of the way.

Shopping is not recreational in any way for me. I have a list and I stick to it.

[Novara]

5. Yep.

I even do my weekly grocery shopping at the crack of ass - fewer people there at that time, maybe less likely to be a target with so few people.

I don't like crowds anyway but I have even more incentive to avoid them lately.

[GoCubsGo]

6. Nope.

I refuse to live my life in fear. Not going to give these assholes exactly what they want.

[bucolic_frolic]

7. Been a consideration for 2-1/2 years

[634-5789]

8. When I go out, it's a brief outing. You just may get killed!

[beaglelover]

9. Nope.

If you live in fear, you are not truly living.

[Bluethroughu]

10. Yes.

[milestogo]

11. Yes.

I really don't want to go to public events.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

12. No.

[KarenS]

13. starting to worry??

since covid we never started back up,,,,

March 2020 was our last meal out in a restaurant. skipped a wedding. attended two funerals. go out for meat & produce but have the other shopping done by someone else. we pay for Amazon prime and walmart plus.

so the mass shootings are just another 'excuse' these days,,,,

we self amuse here,,,, when our older doggie passed away we got a puppy (note: old ppl should not get puppies(too much bending over and pottie training is awful)) but we've laughed and had fun,,,, she's a pistol,,,, thinking about getting her a kitten,,,,

we are just acting differently than we used to.

[RKP5637]

14. It crosses my mind sometimes. Good neighborhood, bad neighborhood still the same risk.

Could hit anyplace, I suppose. But I'm not locking myself in. I just think about it sometimes.

[Chainfire]

15. I don't go out for non-essential items very often

and didn't before Covid or daily mass murder. I have a good wife, a good dog, and a house and barn full of toys to keep me occupied and out of trouble. Most of what I need, other than groceries, I can get from the same keyboard I am typing on now. It just doesn't take a lot more to make me happy.

I fear the Fascists in government more than the random shooter anyway. At least we try to catch and punish the random shooters.

[Ishoutandscream2]

16. Yes. Absolutely

Being almost 61 doesn't help, either. I simply can't relate to much anymore, and Covid and our sick obsession with guns doesn't help (plus, Trump being president for four years).

[SickOfTheOnePct]

17. No

I have a better chance of dying in a car crash on the way to store than I do of being the victim of a mass shooting once I'm there.

As for Covid, I'm vaxxed and boosted (one booster so far), so I've done all I can do on that front; not going to stop living and enjoying my life.

[former9thward]

18. No.

Neither one has ever stopped me from going anyplace.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

19. Same

The only things that kept me at home during Covid were 1) my office was closed, so we were on full telework 2) no restaurants were open, so it was cook at home or get carry out.

[ret5hd]

20. No...but DEFINITELY a case of misanthrope.

I can hardly tolerate interacting with people besides my spouse any more…I want to be in the forests, on a trail, etc. And if you happen to accompany me to those places, the less spoken the better.

[tanyev]

21. I'm an introvert, so even before Covid and daily mass shootings

it had to be something I really, really wanted to do to get me out there. Big concerts, parades and fireworks shows never fell into that category. We’re still not doing restaurants because of Covid and that is one thing I miss. There are a couple activities I have resumed that can be done masked, but I do like to know where all the exits are and always wear shoes that I could run in. If I had to.

[LuckyCharms]

22. Not a fear. But more of a lack of desire.

I go wherever I need or want to go, but I'm content to stay home.

A lot of this has to do with me not trusting myself 100% to keep my cool if someone were to fuck with me.

I love interacting with others. I love talking to people, but on the extremely rare occasion that someone fucks with me, I fuck back.

It's no secret that more people are getting strange out there, more people than usual. That doesn't prevent me from going out, but it does kind of make me more "indifferent" or less excited about going somewhere.

I'd rather live the rest of my life with no hassles or confrontations.

[blm]

23. Keeping it brief.

Done with long excursions. Just don’t WANT to, anymore.

[JI7]

24. No, But never was into large crowds/gatherings for other reasons

[KentuckyWoman]

25. I have had enough

I was cooped up with caretaking my husband for years. He died right before covid hit.

I am masking up and going out. I have had enough in.

[multigraincracker]

26. I'm getting out more and happy to see

fewer red hats and TFG yard signs.

I hear there will be free spayed and neuter clinics on Nov. 8 for re-publicans and I will be there.

[brewens]

27. I just talked about that with a woman that is my closest personal friend. She lives in

Seattle. I said we should at least be looking for escape routes if we go in any event. Only take seats near exits, avoid ever getting in a huge throng of people, that kind of thing. Being stampeded can be as dangerous as the shooting, especially for a small lady lake her.

[harumph]

28. I live in Texas - so, I've got a 'touch' of that.

[marmar]

29. No. You've got to live your life.

[Tree Lady]

30. I still go out in public with a mask in stores

We eat out outside mostly. In the beginning I was afraid to go anywhere but I have been double boosted.

But my life has changed in this way, I haven't flown since 2019, my daughter in Texas wants me to visit and knowing how mask use is there and flying no way.

I have only gone to movies twice in last 2 1/2 years, both times worried after.

I don't go to anything with a crowd. Our 4th parade was back today but we stayed home.

I do go out to meet my discussion group, 5 people but we sit at large table and I refused to hug friend yesterday because we are leaving on car trip Sunday.

My vacations are airbnb where I stay somewhere 2-3 weeks last 3 summers. This summer going to a cabin in a island in Canada, driving my Prius which gets 55-60 mpg.

[Runningdawg]

31. Minimal

I go out just as often but I no longer go to indoor spaces so large you can't see the back wall from the front door. I shop in several small stores rather than a supermarket and avoid shopping areas with large parking lots. I changed libraries from one that shared a parking lot with a Target to one in a residential neighborhood. I changed Drs from a big corporate office in the city and drive to a small town where there is one Dr with four chairs in his waiting room and paper files. I changed Drs 2 years ago, that's looking like a REALLY good move now!

[sarisataka]

32. No

I am able to separate the amount of publicity an event gets from the likelihood of such an event happening

[SWBTATTReg]

33. I don't let the thugs win, but I also avoid crowds, events, and generally just be as safe as I can

be. It seems that these thugs choose targets of opportunity, that is, where people gather, etc. I guess that they are wanting the most targets available for the least amount of work. Disgusting.

[Raine]

34. Yes sort of

I got so used to being home locked up for two years that's it hard to get out of the habit. I guess when it comes down to it I prefer being home. I have a difficult time going out to do things that really have to be done. I have to really force myself to do errands etc.

[Kaleva]

36. Is your fear based on facts or on what stories dominate the media?

[Thtwudbeme]

39. Both. We had an active shooter at the school near mine

One kid was killed. So....yeah the shootings are hitting close to home. I am a sitting duck in the library.

[2naSalit]

37. Been there for years.

[IngridsLittleAngel]

38. I've been agoraphobic for many years

The shootings, the UltraMAGAs and the LGBTQ hatred are only making it worse.

It has not been a comforting year, that's for sure.

[llmart]

40. I don't have agoraphobia.

I'm a borderline introvert so that helps. The only groups I ever belonged to were my local Audubon chapter, a land conservancy office in a small town, things like that - mostly environmental groups with like minded people. I volunteer at a local library but we're usually only with one or two other people in a large room. I like solitary walks in the park, listening to music, am a minimalist so I rarely do any shopping except for essentials.

I do like going to concerts or plays, but I've done so much of that in the past that I'm kind of over it. I think Covid and lockdowns sort of got me out of the habit. There are still a lot of things that haven't come back from that.

I haven't flown since before Covid and now I don't want to fly because of the problems with the airlines and staff shortages. I have to wonder if some of the pilots are even qualified any more. I've been thinking about a vacation this summer but it will have to be somewhere within driving distance.

[moondust]

41. Somewhat.

For quite a while now. It's not just an epidemic of shootings, anti-maskers, and anti-vaxxers. It's also an epidemic of distracted drivers, distracted shoppers, and distracted pedestrians. It's also an epidemic of brainwashed, dangerous, "alternate reality" MAGAts on the loose.

I'm fortunate to be retired.