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+title = "A Viral Year"
+date = 2021-01-17T13:41:21Z
++++
+
+The year 2020 has come and gone. I can't say that it was a really bad year for
+me in particular, but I am pretty sure that many, if not most people, are glad
+it is over. I have never really "reviewed" a year, but the things that happened
+during this year got me thinking about many things, and so I've decided to write
+some of my thoughts on what twenty-twenty has brought upon us.
+
+<!-- more -->
+
+Even though overall last year was pretty good for me in many regards, the things
+that happened, and most importantly, how most of the world reacted to the
+situation at hand did unsettle me a little.
+
+Everybody at this point knows the story. A mysterious virus that was discovered
+first in China back in October 2019 starts spreading itself at an incredible
+rate, and by March 2020 it's spread all around the world. And so, as it spread,
+the world started to lock down. I am completely convinced of the threat that
+this virus poses. I am, however, not convinced that the measures that were taken
+to "combat" this virus actually correlate to the real danger that it poses, nor
+am I convinced that the blatant denial of people rights and liberties is
+justified by it.
+
+I actually caught the virus back in November (thanks to my roommate), and I can
+tell you with complete confidence that if you are a healthy and young person,
+you don't have anything to worry about. Basically my symptoms were the
+following:
+
+1. Two days of 38C (about 100F(reedumbs units)) fever.
+2. About four days of slight body pain and fatigue.
+3. Slight decrease in taste/smell perception while the symptoms lasted.
+
+My treatment consisted of the following: plenty of rest. And that's it. Just 4
+days of discomfort and then I was back to normal.
+
+I wouldn't actually have known that it was the 'rona, had it not been that the
+circumstances I was in forced me to I take the test. And because of the fact
+that I took the test and I got a positive, and the regulations in place where I
+currently live, I couldn't leave my dormitory room de jure, until three weeks
+after my first symptoms when I took the second test that fortunately turned out
+negative.
+
+Everybody's body reacts differently to the virus. For example, I didn't lose my
+sense of smell/taste completely, but my roommate and another friend that got it
+did. For me the symptoms lasted about 4 days, for my friend they lasted a little
+over a week. However, the people that I know that had it bad, were people who
+either were 60+ years old, or that already had some medical conditions, or a
+combination of the two.
+
+This virus is in general deadlier than the common flu, and most importantly and
+what makes it more dangerous, is the fact that it spreads so fast. The problem
+is that the "cure" that we're being fed up, is worse than the illness.
+
+The government should give the people the tools to be prepared, and inform the
+people the best it can. The people, that is, individuals, should then make use
+of their freedom to make their own informed risk assessments, and take the
+necessary precautions that they see fit given their own individual situation.
+Instead of that, we have governments all around the world instituting draconian
+measures that erode the basic rights of individuals, for the supposed safety
+and security of the "community". In reality in turns out the majority of people,
+who aren't really greatly affected by this virus, are giving up their liberties,
+in order to "protect" the minority of people to whom this virus actually poses a
+danger.
+
+Do we ban "extreme sports" like snowboarding, because some people might, and do
+die while practicing it? Of course not. We inform people of the dangers and
+risks that it poses to them, and each person then decides if they risk their
+health and probably lives, based on several factors, such as physical condition,
+whether it is worth it risking their health for some fun, etc.
+
+All these measures that have been imposed on us — at least in the countries with
+the most draconian measures, i.e. most of the world — have been at the very
+least dubious in their effectiveness, and I think the best example we have for
+how dubious they are has been Sweden. 
+
+Sweden has taken a very lax and liberal approach to combat this epidemic, opting
+to impose light-handed measures including restricting mass gatherings, but it
+never implemented any real "lock-downs" on the level we have seen most
+countries. And for this, they have unleashed upon themselves the wrath of the
+"wokes" all around the world, with predictions that the lack of tougher measures
+will mean a catastrophe for Sweden in the near to mid future. Not surprisingly,
+the heaviest criticism has come from non other than one of the least free
+countries of the world — China[^1].
+
+I, however, fail to see how this lenient approach on relying on the good
+judgment of the citizens has been worse than that of countries with strict
+lock-downs in place. The situation in Sweden does not look grimmer than in
+countries with some of the toughest lock-down and restricting policies in place,
+e.g. The UK, Spain, France, etc. The cases per million are pretty similar, and
+the number of dead relative to the number of cases is basically the same as any
+other developed country (around 2%)[^2].
+
+It's not surprise that the most oppressive measures have been put in place in
+big cities. After all, as has been for many years since the appearance of the
+first polises, living in a city has meant trading in some liberties and
+independence, in exchange for living in an orderly society, and of course, to
+gain access to increased wealth, security and opportunities. It's just a matter
+of balance, and how much this possible "increase in wealth" is worth to you.
+However, the recent events, have made me consider that lately the balance of the
+liberties you are giving up has been increasing, outweighing the purposed
+benefits of living in the city. This global crisis has just bluntly demonstrated
+it by accelerating what was already happening in most parts of the world, and
+providing us with a stark contrast. Especially considering that this crisis has
+just accelerated the "virtualization" of a lot of our society. If you are forced
+to make use of the benefits of the city by going online, and you can make use of
+them wherever you have an internet connection, then what's the benefit of living
+in the city anymore?
+
+That's not to say that I am moving ASAP, or moving into a cabin in the woods.
+There are still some things left for me in the city, and some wealth I can
+extract from it to secure myself with the means for a better future. I just
+don't see a very bright future for myself in the city, at least not one aligned
+with my ideals.
+
+Finally, of course, I don't think most people will leave the "comforts" and
+"security" of the cities in exchange for more freedom. Most people in the cities
+are so domesticated, that they not only seem unmoved by the trampling of their
+liberties, they actually welcome such tyrannical measures.
+
+<br>
+
+_“La salvación social se aproxima cuando cada cual confiesa que sólo puede
+salvarse a sí mismo. La sociedad se salva cuando sus presuntos salvadores
+desesperan.”_ 
+
+_“Reformar la sociedad por medio de leyes es el sueño del ciudadano incauto y el
+preámbulo discreto de toda tiranía. La ley es forma jurídica de toda costumbre o
+atropello a la libertad.”_
+
+Nicolás Gómez Dávila.
+
+<br>
+
+[^1]: "China criticizes Sweden's corona handling". (in Swedish) —
+  [https://www.expressen.se/nyheter/donald-trump-utlyser-nodlage-i-usa/](https://www.expressen.se/nyheter/donald-trump-utlyser-nodlage-i-usa/)
+
+[^2]: [https://worldcoronastatistics.com/](https://worldcoronastatistics.com/)