First off, I hope you all have a thoughtful Memorial day. The day when we salute and honor those who gave up their chance to live a full life to insure the freedoms of the vulnerable. Such a huge price they paid.
We also give extra thought of those dear to us who are no longer here. The ones who make us smile to remember them yet also to feel the aloneness without them. Yes, wishing you a thought filled day. And if you can throw in a little family fun, all the better.
Now to giving us the needle.
I think I understand what the Networks are trying to do. But, mercy, they have resorted to overkill. Anyone else notice that for the past several weeks, maybe even months, that in every news cast whenever the word vaccine was mentioned, we were shown a needle penetrating arm, after arm, after arm. It is at least 5 arms per mention and about 5 mentions per news cast. Just for the fun of it, during one ABC newscast I counted 23 arms being stuck. Pretty sure I might have missed one or two.
I know we are trying to reach the goal of at least 70% vaccinated. The overexposure to the needles piercing flesh was supposed to get the fearful or hesitant to bear their arms. Everyone taking the needle calmly was meant to desensitise us but did it do the opposite?
I have no fear of needles and have had my 2 shots. But some people really have a terrifying fear of needles, kind of like my fear of heights. Showing me videos of dizzying heights would not cure my phobia. Not sure seeing a couple hundred arm sticks will help those with a fear of shots either.
Have all the arm sticks turned you off? I'm curious, do you know of anyone with a fear of needles who is now suddenly willing to roll up their sleeve?
I never thought about that viewpoint. I'm not afraid of needles, so I just don't think about the fact that some people terrified by them.
ReplyDeleteDonna,
DeleteI guess there are some who really don't like needles. I've never had one hurt me so I have no problems.
For some, winning a million dollars in the vaccine lotteries that are popping up all over, would take a needle, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteI was tired of covid coverage from the beginning. The #s of cases each hour's coverage nixed my interest long ago. Needles never bothered me...but, the coverage...oh my goodness.
Anni,
DeleteI know, now that I am all ready shot they are giving away all the good stuff--money, food, baseball tickets. Guess I should have waited:)
I had the same thought ha ha.
DeletePatti, I hope you have a nice Memorial Day, I liked what you said about the day. As for all the needlin', I did just notice this the other night while watching the local news... it made me think of my (former) boss. He was your average guy, coached girl's softball and a huge Steelers fan; but he couldn't handle needles. Twice a year my office would head downstairs to give blood, he'd see the needle going in his arm or the blood coming out, he passed out. It always happened and he always warned them in advance. I didn't see him any less for it, I just always found it a curious thing.
ReplyDeleteDoug,
DeleteThink I worked for the same guy:) I use to give blood with my boss and he would pass out in the chair. Like you said, you would never have guessed it to look at him. I was always proud of him to still give blood knowing how it would affect him.
I too have little fear of needles, but the overkill on the news is probably doing just the opposite: driving hesitant people away. I agree it's not helping.
ReplyDeleteDjan,
DeleteI'm with you. Especially since they seem to use the longest needles for the newscast.
I like your "Having a thoughtful Memorial Day." Yesterday my niece and I were having a conversation about how many people say Have a Happy Memorial Day" and whether or not that was appropriate. I've never liked saying that or hearing it.
ReplyDeleteSeeing people get vaccinated doesn't bother me and it it helps us get to herd immunity faster to over saturate the airways, I all for it.
Jean,
DeleteI always thought "happy" was a bit counterintutive.
Me too on if it works. Just thought they overdid the sticks a bit.
I never look at a needle going into my own arm but it doesn't particularly bother me to see it going into an arm on TV. Lack of empathy on my part? NY state has an ad where a woman in shouting into a loudspeaker about how to beat COVID and then everyone in the neighborhood shouts out some facts about the vaccine. I find it annoying beyond belief and can't see the rationale behind it. Maybe NYers like being shouted at before making a decision?
ReplyDeleteOlga,
DeleteOoh, I haven't seen that. Can see where it might be a bit above board and noisy. Whatever works I guess.
You remind me that Roger used to have a significant fear of needles. He would sometimes even pass out. Then when he was diagnosed with cancer in 2010, he learned how to put up with needles. He worked his way through his fear and managed it. He was fine getting his two covid vaccines. I can't look when I'm being stuck, but I have never really minded it. I don't think showing people being jabbed is a good way to break the phobia.
ReplyDeleterobin,
DeleteGlad roger is over his fear but so sorry the method that was used to get him there. Think you have to go through it like he did, not just witness it.
It annoys me too - I don't understand the need to see someone get the shot. Talk to them afterward and get their impression should be sufficient.
ReplyDeleteEileen,
DeleteI like your method of talking afterwards over the visual effect. Probably would have taken too much time.
I agree, Patti! Way too many close ups of needles going into arms! I'm one of those folks with a needle phobia and always avert my eyes and cringe. (Or switch channels.) Doesn't stop me from getting the necessary vaccines though.
ReplyDeleteFlorence,
DeleteI was wondering how it was affecting those with the fear. I thought your aversion was probably the rule. Glad it didn't stop you.
Great point about the needles. I already find that I'm having a thoughtful day. I will spend it alone here as I do most days, but not completely alone, how could I be with Samson and Faith. Have a beautiful Memorial Day.
ReplyDeleteInger,
DeleteI'm sure Errol is in your thoughts today and so glad you have Samson and Faith to help you through it. Callie and Minnie are my stalwarts.
I so agree with you. Ew. All of those needles! I can't bear to watch TV anymore.
ReplyDeletegigi,
DeleteI know, why so many? Sure takes the fun out of the news.
I share your fear of heights, but don't fear needles, so haven't paid attention.
ReplyDeleteTom,
DeleteOh yeah, heights. Eww.
Unless you watched closely you wouldn't have noticed that it was all different arms.
I really like your "thoughtful Memorial Day" comments. The "Have a Happy..." one rubs the wrong way. Not sure I understand the compulsion to make a BBQ out of everything.
ReplyDeleteCelia,
DeleteI have always thought of it more as a somber, reflective day rather than a "happy" one.
I think a lot of us take any holiday from work as an excuse for BBQ and family gatherings.
I agree with Celia in that it seems strange to say, "Happy" Memorial Day...
ReplyDeleteBut as for the needles, although I'm not afraid of them, I do look away or close my eyes when it's myself or someone else getting stuck. And I never thought much about 'why' they were showing it so much on TV. Maybe watching so many people accepting the shot without batting an eye reinforces the ease of it all?
Rian,
DeleteI know, somehow "Happy" seems inappropriate considering the purpose of the day.
I am sure they were trying to get us to think that the shots were painless and not scary.
Totally agree! I can't watch needles/shots--me or anyone else--makes my stomach do flip flops. I just tyr away whenever I have to get a shot or IV or blood drawn--but the coverage--if I was just a little more scared of needles than I am...could have keep me from going. The jabbing, deep needles--awk! Why do they show it over and over and over. Makes me feel sick and I have to turn it off. But I got mine...even though they did make me very sick, for real--LOL!
ReplyDeleteRita,
DeleteYou are right, all those people being punctured would have made me scared if I had never had a shot before.
So sorry your shot made you sick but glad you are protected now. Some say the sicker you got the better the protection. Don't know about that.
This has been mentioned before, somewhere, and I think you have a point. I am not afraid of needles but I don't watch when I am getting stuck either. On TV those needles look really long.
ReplyDeleteLinda,
DeleteWeren't those monster needles on TV? The one I had was a fourth the size of the ones on TV for which I am grateful.
I know someone who is terrified of needles but she lives in a small town in the mid north which is fairly well isolated and they've never had even a whiff of Covid up there, so she's been lucky.
ReplyDeleteI have my first shot booked for June 9th, finally after trying to get an appointment for weeks and finding I wasn't in the right age group.
We see people getting jabbed on TV, but it's usually just the one person in a news segment, the ads have mostly stopped now.
River,
DeleteAustralia has done better than most with Covid. Guess they don't feel like they have to browbeat you into getting shots.
I don't have a fear of needles, but I must say that if I did, I think all of these images of people receiving their vaccinations would actually make me really nervous. I have now seen so many variations on news reports on vaccinations being given, I can see how people would be afraid. Some are a nice normal speed of injection, some of recipient's of the vaccination are getting the injections in what looks like to me too close to the shoulder joint, other vaccinators look like they are jamming that needle into elephant hide, some are so rough and fast and hard I can't imagine how badly that would hurt. This type of campaign means well, but in my opinion it could be having the opposite effect of encouragement for vaccinations.
ReplyDeletesusie,
DeleteI know what you mean. If I hadn't already gotten my shots the images they show over and over would turn me off. Very long needles and they tend to bury them to the hilt.
I wrote a comment yesterday and then it flashed and poof it was gone. I was so frustrated I gave up. It did this twice. Perhaps my vaccination has given me the inability to type a thought and it just vanishes into the internet. Or I'm an idiot. :-) I am not fearful of needles but I can't look if that makes sense. I never thought about those who have a fear and then they show the biggest damn type needles ever going into someones arm. Now I feel badly for them.
ReplyDeleteMargaret,
DeleteI had that happen to me on another blog. Think blogger was working on its programing for I notice today, the reading list looks very different.
I know what you mean about the size of those needles. My horse would have objected.
I have a former brother-in-law who has a tremendous fear of shots and faints if he sees one of these horrible commercials. A friend wrote a letter to the Editor in our local paper pointing out how the long needles going into bare arms is scaring the poop out of everyone. (She didn't say poop.)
ReplyDeleteAnnie,
DeleteI hope they listened to your friend. I have noticed today that the number of jabs has really slacked off. News this morning, I only saw 2 instead of 23. Whose idea that was in the first place needs a change of job.
Not watching arm sticks in person, and we cut out cable TV a few months after we moved into the downsized house we had built! But just the thought go watching them on TV. . . Yuck!!!
ReplyDeleteLC,
DeleteYou haven't missed a thing and in fact can consider yourselves lucky. It was yucky.
My own (unpopular)opinion is that Memorial Day should have stayed the traditional May 30th. We keep Veterans Day November 11th after all. The meaning behind three day weekends often gets lost.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind shots or even getting my blood taken, but don't try to prick my finger without tying me down. LOL
Margaret,
DeleteYes we do have two days. One for those who served separate from those who died. Probably could have made it one day.
Know what you mean by the finger pricks. I now have to get one every two weeks and I have gotten use to them or the device is better. Not quite so bad now as it use to be.
You've read my mind. I actually screamed at the TV yesterday and said "ENOUGH ALREADY !"
ReplyDeleteGinnie,
DeleteMaybe we have gotten through to them a little. Just noticed the same number of sticks but at least it wasn't so graphic and the needles look a bit smaller.
Yes, they seem endless. I ignore them.
ReplyDeleteMage,
DeleteThat is the best policy but since I have made it an issue with myself, I still keep seeing them. Sigh.
It's become almost propaganda to me where they seem to be forcing the vaccination on us. I don't like to see people getting shots, but have no problem getting one, but this one, not so much. Felt like it was too rushed and too promoted, but if it makes people feel better to get it, I say go for it.
ReplyDeleteSnickelfritz,
DeleteI am all for the vaccinations, just wish they weren't so graphic and frequent. I just wish the unvaccinated would wear masks for the sake of others and so we would know to steer clear of them.
YES! YES! YES! What is it with those needle videos??? Aggravates me no end. Sometimes I actually count how many times they show that needle on the news actually piercing an arm. Arrrghhh!
ReplyDeleteKay,
DeleteGlad there is another counter. I thought we were getting a break with Memorial day news but I saw last night, they are back jabbing. Sigh.
People seem Fearful enough without intensifying any Phobias they may have about getting a shot. I doubt any amount of good information is going to change the minds of those who refuse to be vaxxed though. They're just gonna roll the dice and hopefully there won't be too many of them so that the rest of us remain at risk forever as this mutates when it has handy Hosts who didn't take precautions available to ensure this doesn't happen. I just think a mere shot versus a horrible painful Death would be a no-brainer?
ReplyDeleteBohemian,
DeleteYou would really think it would be a no-brainer but some people just don't see past themselves. Maybe the free stuff will get them moving but I have my doubts even that will get the hard core to bare arms.