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   Jay Baker (mediaactivist@todon.eu)'s status on Sunday, 09-Jun-2024 02:35:46 JST Jay Baker

   I noted another common perception at the Breathe Easy launch on Thursday evening (mentioned in previous posts): that anarchists in the States mask up - and require masking at events - way more than those here in the UK. There are lots of ideas thrown around about why that might be (one I enjoy sharing is the lack of revolutionary history in the UK, where we still have a monarchy, with essentially three houses - two of those unelected and the third first-past-the-post). But I just caught another poster for an anarchist bookfair in the States right here on Mastodon, with "wear a mask" on it, in contrast to the example I wrote about last week...

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     Jay Baker (mediaactivist@todon.eu)'s status on Sunday, 09-Jun-2024 02:49:57 JST Jay Baker

     in reply to

     The Manchester & Salford Anarchist Bookfair capitulated further each year. There are some good folks involved with it, so it's really saddening to witness this in contrast to what many anarchist bookfairs in the States frequently do, to this day. (I understand that Sheffield Radical Bookfair also went into their most recent event with Covid-safe intentions but quickly compromised.) More about this surrendering to right-wing narratives from "anarchists" here: https://www.mediaactivist.com/recovering-from-shock/

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     Jay Baker (mediaactivist@todon.eu)'s status on Sunday, 09-Jun-2024 04:13:58 JST Jay Baker

     in reply to

     • BenderIsGreat34

     @andymoose That's really interesting. That "outside" perspective kind of validates my suspicions I live with here on "Plague Island."

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     BenderIsGreat34 (andymoose@mastodon.social)'s status on Sunday, 09-Jun-2024 04:13:59 JST BenderIsGreat34

     in reply to

     @MediaActivist my unscientific findings are that people in the UK have bought into the “it’s just a cold” fallacy more so than other countries - I work with people in the UK (I’m in Canada) and not a single one of them ever so much as thinks about COVID. They just don’t care - getting sick constantly is now normal and expected and even a source of amusement for them.

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     Jay Baker (mediaactivist@todon.eu)'s status on Sunday, 09-Jun-2024 04:24:41 JST Jay Baker

     in reply to

     • BenderIsGreat34

     @andymoose Yeah, I know one colleague who had Covid so refused to go into work "to avoid killing someone's grandma." I'm frequently astonished by the characterisations of "vulnerable" and "invulnerable" people, especially here in the UK where there's talk about the "virtue signalling" of masking, when I find it more like performative virtue-signalling to behave in a way that literally spreads Covid but then suddenly act like shits are given after testing positive. Incredible.

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     BenderIsGreat34 (andymoose@mastodon.social)'s status on Sunday, 09-Jun-2024 04:24:42 JST BenderIsGreat34

     in reply to

     @MediaActivist it’s not much better here but if someone is symptomatic they will (usually) make some attempt at not infecting their office colleagues by not going in to the office. Maybe it’s 15% more taboo to NOT make others sick here. Maybe. Again, all very unscientific.

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     BenderIsGreat34 (andymoose@mastodon.social)'s status on Sunday, 09-Jun-2024 04:26:02 JST BenderIsGreat34

     in reply to

     @MediaActivist my experience whenever I’ve interacted with my UK colleagues remotely is that the call will sometimes start off with someone saying they are sick and that it’s was so-and-so that brought it into the office and then they all lol about it. No concern about it being yet another cumulative COVID infection, no one thinks to themselves “shit that’s me now in a high risk group of having a higher chance of dying of a heart attack or developing diabetes or cancer”.

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     Jay Baker (mediaactivist@todon.eu)'s status on Sunday, 09-Jun-2024 04:26:02 JST Jay Baker

     in reply to

     • BenderIsGreat34

     @andymoose Oh yeah...THIS! Very much this!

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     Jay Baker (mediaactivist@todon.eu)'s status on Thursday, 27-Jun-2024 22:25:08 JST Jay Baker

     in reply to

     Some anarchists haven't dared to touch this post (they've literally told me) in case it upsets other anarchists who have organised the bookfairs. Uh, what? I thought anarchists helped to hold one another accountable? Not pointing fingers, just saying we can do better. smh

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     Jay Baker (mediaactivist@todon.eu)'s status on Thursday, 27-Jun-2024 22:48:52 JST Jay Baker

     in reply to

     • Merlin Gillard 🚋🍉😷
     • Association ARRA

     @merling @arra That's a really good point, actually. I wish I had examined that in the article! But you're right, far too much clout-chasing desire to be "seen" by some leftists, who are in fact playing right into the hands of the far right. Thanks for making me aware of ARRA, wow they seem amazing!

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     Merlin Gillard 🚋🍉😷 (merling@sciences.social)'s status on Thursday, 27-Jun-2024 22:48:53 JST Merlin Gillard 🚋🍉😷

     in reply to

     • Association ARRA

     @MediaActivist It's the same on the Eur. continent (despite the work of @arra in France)... There may be an argument that us European leftists had more trust in their governments' management of the pandemic given how they targeted it during the first two years, while there was more defiance in the US against Trump's management of the pandemic?
     And that these trust and defiance have persisted since then?

     And anyway, ableism is widespread on the left :(

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     Jay Baker (mediaactivist@todon.eu)'s status on Thursday, 27-Jun-2024 23:30:24 JST Jay Baker

     in reply to

     • Luigi Muffingione
     • mooncake
     • Sheffield Mask Bloc

     @riotmuffin @mooncake No, but it's funny you should ask! It has been quite well received (there was great praise from Violet Blue who included it in the Pandemic Roundup) and we at @sheffieldmaskbloc have discussed it becoming a zine maybe with Violet Blue's quote on the cover and distributing it as a free PDF and hard copy for cost of shipping, with optional "pay as you feel" to raise funds for the mask bloc itself. But few of us are particularly adept at creating zines. So maybe this appeals? I've always loved the stuff you do!

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     Luigi Muffingione (riotmuffin@ni.hil.ist)'s status on Thursday, 27-Jun-2024 23:30:26 JST Luigi Muffingione

     in reply to

     • mooncake

     @MediaActivist has this piece been made into zine form? if not i'd like to - @mooncake you were looking for something like this i think, have you read it?

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     Jay Baker (mediaactivist@todon.eu)'s status on Thursday, 27-Jun-2024 23:51:09 JST Jay Baker

     in reply to

     • Luigi Muffingione
     • Sheffield Mask Bloc

     @riotmuffin @sheffieldmaskbloc Oh wow! Feel free, no rush at all, we were planning to try tackle it over this summer so that's fine by us haha. Really appreciate it! This is the quote that could be used to help generate interest and raise funds if needed: https://mastodon.social/@violetblue/112551593966665055

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     Luigi Muffingione (riotmuffin@ni.hil.ist)'s status on Thursday, 27-Jun-2024 23:51:11 JST Luigi Muffingione

     in reply to

     • Sheffield Mask Bloc

     @MediaActivist i wouldn't be able to get around to it for at least a couple days, but i'll try to do so this coming weekend (unless something unexpected comes up). feel free to poke me about it after then! :anarchoheart2:

     @sheffieldmaskbloc

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     Jay Baker (mediaactivist@todon.eu)'s status on Thursday, 11-Jul-2024 17:23:48 JST Jay Baker

     in reply to

     "Like last year, masking at the bookfair is mandatory. Upon entry, we will have free N95 masks, COVID tests, and hand sanitizer, with air purifiers and fans running throughout the venue." Yet another anarchist bookfair in the States doing the good stuff. Why are UK "anarchists" still fucking refusing to do the same? Why?! https://itsgoingdown.org/announcing-the-second-annual-sacramento-anarchist-bookfair/ #MaskUp #WearAMask #CovidIsAirborne #CovidIsNotOver #Covid19 #anarchism

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     Jay Baker (mediaactivist@todon.eu)'s status on Friday, 02-Aug-2024 23:08:06 JST Jay Baker

     in reply to

     • Luigi Muffingione
     • Sheffield Mask Bloc

     @riotmuffin @sheffieldmaskbloc Sorry, I totally forgot to follow up! I checked with Violet Blue and got conformation that the snippet of that quote could be used on the cover! https://mastodon.social/@violetblue/112710409355340613

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     Jay Baker (mediaactivist@todon.eu)'s status on Saturday, 03-Aug-2024 02:45:14 JST Jay Baker

     in reply to

     • Luigi Muffingione
     • Sheffield Mask Bloc

     @riotmuffin @sheffieldmaskbloc Haha never any pressure whatsoever - I appreciate you even offering, and just myself realised I hadn't followed-up as you invited me to! I hope things are going okay!

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     Luigi Muffingione (riotmuffin@ni.hil.ist)'s status on Saturday, 03-Aug-2024 02:45:15 JST Luigi Muffingione

     in reply to

     • Sheffield Mask Bloc

     @MediaActivist @sheffieldmaskbloc super, and thanks for the poke, i been thinking about getting to this and wishing i had more energy to do so earlier.... lmao at myself thinking i'd be able to back in june :D