I will start this article reiterating what you already know. My experience is not necessarily the experience of others. In fact, one of the primary reasons I write is because I am fascinated how often my experience IS the experience of others—and quite a few others at that! But this time I have my doubts. My observations in this article are rather subtle, so I am not even sure if anyone is hit by this particular absurdity the way I have been. But I’ll give it a go.
I think I came on pretty strong with this article. And I have rewritten parts of it for clarity based on some of your wonderful and insightful comments.
I have thought a lot about this over the past few days and unfortunately I still do believe the intention of the agenda is to make all of us as cowardly as possible, and I think they are succeeding. If anyone is NOT succumbing to the agenda's course to cowardice, it would be my readers here on ShrewViews. We are braver, just by our nature, than the average bear.
I still stand by my observation that modern medicine is designed to make us cowards, and even that the whole work exodus is designed to beat us down into submission. Both of these things, but especially the "work at home" explosion, are presented as very appealing Trojan Horses...but ultimately they are designed to denigrate and tear at the fabric of humanity. Big words I know, and of course, I could be totally batshit crazy, and paranoid, and nothing I said may have any validity at all!!
And, this is important, I personally am TOTALLY guilty of slipping into cowardice. I am a BIG coward...and really didn't know it until now. I am watching the popular series "1883" and realize I do not have one speck the bravery those people that trekked along the Oregon Trail to their promise land in the 1800's did....not one speck. Those people were not cowards.
I fall into all the classes of "cowardice" that I describe in this article. I am terrified to avoid the doctor, believing that if I do, I will surely be ravaged by disease I have no control over, and drop dead as a result. The culture teaches us that when we reach a certain age we have to believe we are living on borrowed time and to maintain our health we much see the doctor frequently. I set myself up for this by not eating well and not exercising (another thing working at home will do to you).
I love the idea of working at home as well, and one day, when I move into a more "retirement paradigm" I will probably see all my clients on Zoom...which I absolutely abhor. I am a chicken, a coward...so I certainly am including myself in this description. I am working on becoming braver, and I think my putting my practice at risk working against the grain of the "state" with my writing, and working against the grain of my relationship (my wife is a sheep) is pretty brave...but it isn't enough...not nearly enough.
Since starting this substack I have seen real bravery in my readers. I have been astounded by how brave some of you have been through all of this. Living off the grid, making a fine life for yourselves without the dependency on technology and the "state"...being defiant and non compliant...amazing bravery. I can only wish I live up to that bravery one day.
So I am sorry if I ruffled any feathers with this article. Some of the comments really did make me rethink a lot of it, and in my angry exuberance I believe I got a few things wrong. So thank you for helping me see that.
Although I agree with most of what Mr Hayen says, I would offer a caution as well. It is a question of babies and bath water. To lump together a state of cowardice with being unfortunate enough to have an anaphylactic response to such things as bee stings, is to be profoundly insulting and guilty of precisely the same sweeping b******* claims as are the powers that be. We must be extremely careful, more careful, not to accuse individuals as if they are faceless units in an identity grouping. I just bought a wonderful t-shirt that says I identify as a conspiracy theorist, and my pronouns are told you so - yet I also can die within minutes from a bee or wasp sting, and therefore am forced to carry medication at all times. This has nothing to do with being a coward. Further, as much attention is being paid to long term effects of childhood vaccinations with respect to rampant development of chronic disease, serious allergies and premature death - "for real"! - critics of the mainstream narrative must not resort to the same sheep-level low blows of name calling, gross oversimplification and misuse of language.
I agree on the mask thing and the fear of living. I still get the eyes widening shocked expression when I dare to share an elevator with one of these snowflakes. "Oh no! Another stranger! I will try to hold my breath until I get to my floor." I really don't know what the point of living is if you are going to be in constant fear.
I differ on the work thing. Sometimes change is needed. I'm a tech guy so I can work anywhere I have a stable, secure internet connection. Just before the "pandemic", I was working at a company where I had to commute over 90 minutes each way in order to sit in a cubicle for the entire day with minimal contact with other people doing work I could have done anywhere else. The management at this place was from the Mad Men era, where if an idea were to pop into their little heads, they had to be able to walk to someone's desk to talk about it immediately. So I would spend weeks never talking to any of these people but if I was off site, it was a guarantee that they would come looking for me. So I think forcing people into little cubicles for a huge chunk of their lives and having them clog the roads and subways to get to and from their personal prisons is a very welcome change. Besides, now they can use software to tell them exactly how productive you are working remotely.
I think people will adapt over time (if we have the time and freedom to do so). Those who crave human interaction will find outlets. Those who are fine by themselves will have more opportunities to do so. Vive la difference!
"A natural intervention comes naturally with no fear driving it"
A lot of good thoughts in the article, but this is not one of them, IMO. Fear most definitely has a major role in staying healthy through natural approaches. I've been self-employed for 40 years, and therefore we provided our own, quite marginal health insurance. And we had no income safety net. My wife and I are health and fitness nuts anyway, but a huge motivation to stay healthy has always been that it would be terrible financially to lose our health. So yes, fear of financial catastrophe, as well as fear of losing the ability to do all the things we love to do, have been major driving factors in eating right and exercising. Fear of the medical system and iatrogenic damage or death is also a huge reason we and many others stay healthy naturally.
Good points but the telecommuting thing is not bad at all.
Have you ever worked at a big office? Human relations in an office is hell these days with the litigous nature of people. My girlfriend does not miss her office and thankfully her company is not pushing people to go back to the office.
Commuting is also bullshit, waste of time and stress. Perhaps in smaller towns it's fun and nice, but not in or around cities. That stress is artificially created by urban sprawl and crazy real estate prices!
If the job can be done without physically being in an office where you ironically sit at a computer, why not?
Dr Hayen, I am not a doctor but will put on a hat and pretend to be one:
my prescription today is a digital diet.
It is good in small portions but a poison when over-consumed.
In May I spent a week on a literal island surrounded by beautiful skies, ocean and lush plant life. I had never experienced that. Only good food, drinks and physical books. Such happiness, contentment, peace.
I aim to take my own advice and be outside as much as possible in these warm months.
Todd, I don't quite see it the same way that you do. I personally only know one person who lives in fear of Covid, but she has anxiety problems anyway. Everyone else around my very small world has returned to normal - my adult children go to work at a high school, a Habitat for Humanity construction site to supervise 20 different people every day, go to music concerts on weekends, participate in nation wide trade shows that draw from all over the US. My grandson works in a resort with 700 on site employees serving hundreds of people. I would just suspect that employees that avoid constantly frustrating commutes to works with high gas prices to a job that does not allow them to meet with others in a creative discussion doesn't seem to be an issue of fear so much as sick and tired of meaningless work. As a generally frail old lady I absolutely did not enjoy standing in long lines at the airport and then since I have 4 metal joints, have to be taken aside by an agent and patted down in front of everyone to check for weapons! Todd, I think the entire modern culture is entirely screwed up by consumerism and the mind-set of more, bigger, better, faster, stronger. People assume this is the correct way to live and people who question things don't seem to have any power to change it. Oh, there is just too much to say about all of this. I think people feel helpless.
What a wonderful and reflective piece ! I will likely never understand why so many people are stuck in fear and denial. At times I have wondered to myself as to whether this represents mass people pleasing on a global scale …..the need to be approved by the heard ( I know there is much more to the concept of people pleasing).
Many mask wearers I know or encounter seem very smug like they alone are saving the world . Although the issues around the last 3 years continue to be very problematic I have learned and grown a lot especially with the digging I have done . Actually not too much digging was required as most issues were very blatant and obvious if you had even one eye open .
The mere fact that you can recognize it places you leaps and bounds above most people. The realm we exist in is a realm of cowards. It starts in public school. All mental deficiencies start there. The people have been indoctrinated into fear of everything. Bugs, animals, viruses, other races, the devil, poverty, crime, love, justice, all and sundry, are part and parcel with the fear matrix. This is how the people of the land are controlled. Until, and if, people comprehend this there will be no change. It is easier to cower alone than to interact with others. The public at large compensates for their fear by first, "talkin' tough," acting macho, driving giant vehicles, being arrogant and pretending to be hard core, meanwhile one slap in the mouth will generate a barrage of 911 calls for help. It is laughable. Not being afraid is for the humble, the meek, the compassionate, the forgiving, and as we have been informed, "we shall inherit the earth." The All Mighty hates cowards. Those who abuse the weak. When one walks the path ordained, fear and cowardice vanishes.
Yesterday I met one of the 50+ local Gas field workers out of the 120+ that worked for the company that walked away from a jab and a job. Some 30+ like him just said "NO I QUIT!" and 20+ were fired for saying NO.
They were replaced with cowards that thought they needed that job so bad they would kiss backsides to keep it.
Personally I don't travel because I have a huge distaste for it any more. At 76, I prefer to stay home. I don't mind going to restaurants or hanging out with friends as long as I can sleep in my own bed at night.
I have a Surgical assistant Nurse learning my craft trade because she was fired from the hospital for saying no. She now travels part time to other locations at her job and earns over twice what she would if she had got jabbed.
The medical establishment stabbed their own selves with that needle. Now they are drastically short of help.
Most of my friends that took the REAL jab and are still alive today look much older than they are.
I believe that when the rebellion finally starts because the dictators have the bodyguards, the cowards that follow their orders will be the new recipients of justice.
Very sentimental piece. When I think about my first job and all it entailed, the only real memories that stand out are the friendly "good mornings," the standing around the coffee machine asking "What did you do last night?" and the many social events such as Christmas parties.
I could say much more, but I'm off to work (amongst real people). Thanks.
Cowards, you say? That's what the rulers want- crowds of cowards.
The masked people don’t bother me, personally. I look at them like one looks at the people who talk to themselves at bus stops waiting for a bus that never arrives.
The reality we were born into is disappearing. Boomers and the following generations who are in their late forties and fifties/sixties looking at the new reality with fear and confusion. We were too comfortable with the status quo we thought we had.
All-inclusive holidays, cheap flights to Spain or Portugal and so on. Convenience took away our critical thinking. It is forgotten art now.
I used to wonder why prisoners in the nazi concentration camps didn’t rebel against the guards. And then I came to a realisation—FEAR. That’s what kept them from dying like heroes.
Lately, I catch myself thinking that I can’t be bothered anymore. No one will start to sabotage the new normal as it is too convenient to lose. Like a tiger pacing up and down in the cage of London Zoo, most of us pace up and down within the future 15-minute city walls of the convenient life of the new Normal.
To change something we need a revolution but revolutions don’t bring solutions they only bring misery and new naked emperors. And no soul wants that.
And those who are not cowards will be silenced like they tried to silence the Thai/ German doctor Mr Bhakdi and CJ Hopkins.
You sure nailed it. I struggle with now knowing who in my office, family and associates bought into the fear and still are. Its almost like I view them as a different species and I hate that. Trust others? Not any more.
Round and round and round it goes in my mind - why am I surrounded by craven idiots? It feels like there should be an answer, but a concise understanding of the situation never arrives. Just an endless loop of puzzled annoyance with no exit strategy. It's a very Kafkaesque world. I get concerned that I might end up being patient zero of a new malady - driven insane from being too sane.
Cowardly New World
I think I came on pretty strong with this article. And I have rewritten parts of it for clarity based on some of your wonderful and insightful comments.
I have thought a lot about this over the past few days and unfortunately I still do believe the intention of the agenda is to make all of us as cowardly as possible, and I think they are succeeding. If anyone is NOT succumbing to the agenda's course to cowardice, it would be my readers here on ShrewViews. We are braver, just by our nature, than the average bear.
I still stand by my observation that modern medicine is designed to make us cowards, and even that the whole work exodus is designed to beat us down into submission. Both of these things, but especially the "work at home" explosion, are presented as very appealing Trojan Horses...but ultimately they are designed to denigrate and tear at the fabric of humanity. Big words I know, and of course, I could be totally batshit crazy, and paranoid, and nothing I said may have any validity at all!!
And, this is important, I personally am TOTALLY guilty of slipping into cowardice. I am a BIG coward...and really didn't know it until now. I am watching the popular series "1883" and realize I do not have one speck the bravery those people that trekked along the Oregon Trail to their promise land in the 1800's did....not one speck. Those people were not cowards.
I fall into all the classes of "cowardice" that I describe in this article. I am terrified to avoid the doctor, believing that if I do, I will surely be ravaged by disease I have no control over, and drop dead as a result. The culture teaches us that when we reach a certain age we have to believe we are living on borrowed time and to maintain our health we much see the doctor frequently. I set myself up for this by not eating well and not exercising (another thing working at home will do to you).
I love the idea of working at home as well, and one day, when I move into a more "retirement paradigm" I will probably see all my clients on Zoom...which I absolutely abhor. I am a chicken, a coward...so I certainly am including myself in this description. I am working on becoming braver, and I think my putting my practice at risk working against the grain of the "state" with my writing, and working against the grain of my relationship (my wife is a sheep) is pretty brave...but it isn't enough...not nearly enough.
Since starting this substack I have seen real bravery in my readers. I have been astounded by how brave some of you have been through all of this. Living off the grid, making a fine life for yourselves without the dependency on technology and the "state"...being defiant and non compliant...amazing bravery. I can only wish I live up to that bravery one day.
So I am sorry if I ruffled any feathers with this article. Some of the comments really did make me rethink a lot of it, and in my angry exuberance I believe I got a few things wrong. So thank you for helping me see that.
Live long and prosper....much love...Dr. Shrew
Although I agree with most of what Mr Hayen says, I would offer a caution as well. It is a question of babies and bath water. To lump together a state of cowardice with being unfortunate enough to have an anaphylactic response to such things as bee stings, is to be profoundly insulting and guilty of precisely the same sweeping b******* claims as are the powers that be. We must be extremely careful, more careful, not to accuse individuals as if they are faceless units in an identity grouping. I just bought a wonderful t-shirt that says I identify as a conspiracy theorist, and my pronouns are told you so - yet I also can die within minutes from a bee or wasp sting, and therefore am forced to carry medication at all times. This has nothing to do with being a coward. Further, as much attention is being paid to long term effects of childhood vaccinations with respect to rampant development of chronic disease, serious allergies and premature death - "for real"! - critics of the mainstream narrative must not resort to the same sheep-level low blows of name calling, gross oversimplification and misuse of language.
I agree on the mask thing and the fear of living. I still get the eyes widening shocked expression when I dare to share an elevator with one of these snowflakes. "Oh no! Another stranger! I will try to hold my breath until I get to my floor." I really don't know what the point of living is if you are going to be in constant fear.
I differ on the work thing. Sometimes change is needed. I'm a tech guy so I can work anywhere I have a stable, secure internet connection. Just before the "pandemic", I was working at a company where I had to commute over 90 minutes each way in order to sit in a cubicle for the entire day with minimal contact with other people doing work I could have done anywhere else. The management at this place was from the Mad Men era, where if an idea were to pop into their little heads, they had to be able to walk to someone's desk to talk about it immediately. So I would spend weeks never talking to any of these people but if I was off site, it was a guarantee that they would come looking for me. So I think forcing people into little cubicles for a huge chunk of their lives and having them clog the roads and subways to get to and from their personal prisons is a very welcome change. Besides, now they can use software to tell them exactly how productive you are working remotely.
I think people will adapt over time (if we have the time and freedom to do so). Those who crave human interaction will find outlets. Those who are fine by themselves will have more opportunities to do so. Vive la difference!
"A natural intervention comes naturally with no fear driving it"
A lot of good thoughts in the article, but this is not one of them, IMO. Fear most definitely has a major role in staying healthy through natural approaches. I've been self-employed for 40 years, and therefore we provided our own, quite marginal health insurance. And we had no income safety net. My wife and I are health and fitness nuts anyway, but a huge motivation to stay healthy has always been that it would be terrible financially to lose our health. So yes, fear of financial catastrophe, as well as fear of losing the ability to do all the things we love to do, have been major driving factors in eating right and exercising. Fear of the medical system and iatrogenic damage or death is also a huge reason we and many others stay healthy naturally.
Good points but the telecommuting thing is not bad at all.
Have you ever worked at a big office? Human relations in an office is hell these days with the litigous nature of people. My girlfriend does not miss her office and thankfully her company is not pushing people to go back to the office.
Commuting is also bullshit, waste of time and stress. Perhaps in smaller towns it's fun and nice, but not in or around cities. That stress is artificially created by urban sprawl and crazy real estate prices!
If the job can be done without physically being in an office where you ironically sit at a computer, why not?
Dr Hayen, I am not a doctor but will put on a hat and pretend to be one:
my prescription today is a digital diet.
It is good in small portions but a poison when over-consumed.
In May I spent a week on a literal island surrounded by beautiful skies, ocean and lush plant life. I had never experienced that. Only good food, drinks and physical books. Such happiness, contentment, peace.
I aim to take my own advice and be outside as much as possible in these warm months.
Cheers
Todd, I don't quite see it the same way that you do. I personally only know one person who lives in fear of Covid, but she has anxiety problems anyway. Everyone else around my very small world has returned to normal - my adult children go to work at a high school, a Habitat for Humanity construction site to supervise 20 different people every day, go to music concerts on weekends, participate in nation wide trade shows that draw from all over the US. My grandson works in a resort with 700 on site employees serving hundreds of people. I would just suspect that employees that avoid constantly frustrating commutes to works with high gas prices to a job that does not allow them to meet with others in a creative discussion doesn't seem to be an issue of fear so much as sick and tired of meaningless work. As a generally frail old lady I absolutely did not enjoy standing in long lines at the airport and then since I have 4 metal joints, have to be taken aside by an agent and patted down in front of everyone to check for weapons! Todd, I think the entire modern culture is entirely screwed up by consumerism and the mind-set of more, bigger, better, faster, stronger. People assume this is the correct way to live and people who question things don't seem to have any power to change it. Oh, there is just too much to say about all of this. I think people feel helpless.
What a wonderful and reflective piece ! I will likely never understand why so many people are stuck in fear and denial. At times I have wondered to myself as to whether this represents mass people pleasing on a global scale …..the need to be approved by the heard ( I know there is much more to the concept of people pleasing).
Many mask wearers I know or encounter seem very smug like they alone are saving the world . Although the issues around the last 3 years continue to be very problematic I have learned and grown a lot especially with the digging I have done . Actually not too much digging was required as most issues were very blatant and obvious if you had even one eye open .
The mere fact that you can recognize it places you leaps and bounds above most people. The realm we exist in is a realm of cowards. It starts in public school. All mental deficiencies start there. The people have been indoctrinated into fear of everything. Bugs, animals, viruses, other races, the devil, poverty, crime, love, justice, all and sundry, are part and parcel with the fear matrix. This is how the people of the land are controlled. Until, and if, people comprehend this there will be no change. It is easier to cower alone than to interact with others. The public at large compensates for their fear by first, "talkin' tough," acting macho, driving giant vehicles, being arrogant and pretending to be hard core, meanwhile one slap in the mouth will generate a barrage of 911 calls for help. It is laughable. Not being afraid is for the humble, the meek, the compassionate, the forgiving, and as we have been informed, "we shall inherit the earth." The All Mighty hates cowards. Those who abuse the weak. When one walks the path ordained, fear and cowardice vanishes.
Yesterday I met one of the 50+ local Gas field workers out of the 120+ that worked for the company that walked away from a jab and a job. Some 30+ like him just said "NO I QUIT!" and 20+ were fired for saying NO.
They were replaced with cowards that thought they needed that job so bad they would kiss backsides to keep it.
Personally I don't travel because I have a huge distaste for it any more. At 76, I prefer to stay home. I don't mind going to restaurants or hanging out with friends as long as I can sleep in my own bed at night.
I have a Surgical assistant Nurse learning my craft trade because she was fired from the hospital for saying no. She now travels part time to other locations at her job and earns over twice what she would if she had got jabbed.
The medical establishment stabbed their own selves with that needle. Now they are drastically short of help.
Most of my friends that took the REAL jab and are still alive today look much older than they are.
I believe that when the rebellion finally starts because the dictators have the bodyguards, the cowards that follow their orders will be the new recipients of justice.
I’ve started telling people, “I’m not afraid of catching anything from you. I no longer believe in germs”
They’re not sure whether to be glad I’m not afraid, or to be afraid of ME because I’ve lost my mind
Very sentimental piece. When I think about my first job and all it entailed, the only real memories that stand out are the friendly "good mornings," the standing around the coffee machine asking "What did you do last night?" and the many social events such as Christmas parties.
I could say much more, but I'm off to work (amongst real people). Thanks.
Cowards, you say? That's what the rulers want- crowds of cowards.
The masked people don’t bother me, personally. I look at them like one looks at the people who talk to themselves at bus stops waiting for a bus that never arrives.
The reality we were born into is disappearing. Boomers and the following generations who are in their late forties and fifties/sixties looking at the new reality with fear and confusion. We were too comfortable with the status quo we thought we had.
All-inclusive holidays, cheap flights to Spain or Portugal and so on. Convenience took away our critical thinking. It is forgotten art now.
I used to wonder why prisoners in the nazi concentration camps didn’t rebel against the guards. And then I came to a realisation—FEAR. That’s what kept them from dying like heroes.
Lately, I catch myself thinking that I can’t be bothered anymore. No one will start to sabotage the new normal as it is too convenient to lose. Like a tiger pacing up and down in the cage of London Zoo, most of us pace up and down within the future 15-minute city walls of the convenient life of the new Normal.
To change something we need a revolution but revolutions don’t bring solutions they only bring misery and new naked emperors. And no soul wants that.
And those who are not cowards will be silenced like they tried to silence the Thai/ German doctor Mr Bhakdi and CJ Hopkins.
So yeah, we are cowards.
You sure nailed it. I struggle with now knowing who in my office, family and associates bought into the fear and still are. Its almost like I view them as a different species and I hate that. Trust others? Not any more.
Round and round and round it goes in my mind - why am I surrounded by craven idiots? It feels like there should be an answer, but a concise understanding of the situation never arrives. Just an endless loop of puzzled annoyance with no exit strategy. It's a very Kafkaesque world. I get concerned that I might end up being patient zero of a new malady - driven insane from being too sane.