Yes, totally, "enabling" is a great way to think about it. But I think there are levels of crazy, and different institutions have discretion. So maybe it could turn out better in some places. Of course, the difference between "two masks indoors and out" and "one mask indoors" is degrees of phantasmagoria, as you say. But as a practical "survive the semester" matter, this does make a difference.
You're right, the real problem is how to recover reality. There is currently a vicious feedback loop in the colleges: admin believes their customers demand "safety", admin provides "safety," ubiquity and intensity of "safety" measures drives up customers fears that it is unsafe, customers demand more "safety". And I get the sense that this is what is happening in a lot of other places as well.
Yes, totally, "enabling" is a great way to think about it. But I think there are levels of crazy, and different institutions have discretion. So maybe it could turn out better in some places. Of course, the difference between "two masks indoors and out" and "one mask indoors" is degrees of phantasmagoria, as you say. But as a practical "survive the semester" matter, this does make a difference.
You're right, the real problem is how to recover reality. There is currently a vicious feedback loop in the colleges: admin believes their customers demand "safety", admin provides "safety," ubiquity and intensity of "safety" measures drives up customers fears that it is unsafe, customers demand more "safety". And I get the sense that this is what is happening in a lot of other places as well.
agreed. it seems like a feedback loop to limbic melt down and decent into permanent performative panic alleviation rituals.
it's like telling more ghost stories to calm the terrified cub scouts down.