I’ve been scolded:

1. “Smoking takes years off your life!” Random old man when I was a teenager
2. “Stop looking at your phone, bitch!” Cyclist
3. “Cd you step back to 6ft please?”
Supermarket worker

1. Whatever
2. Had a point; “bitch”
was harsh
3. Legitimate

To be told to leash your dog when it’s the posted rule is legitimate. It’s uncomfortable to feel scolded, but the response is “Sorry. I’m just having trouble managing my dog.” When the supermarket person told me to step back I said, “Sorry — I’m just getting used to this.”

By contrast, I’m against ordinary citizens, not enforcers like supermarket workers, scolding people for not social distancing or wearing masks. Seems like how people used to yell at smokers.

It’s going to be a long, hot summer of disease and street wars if we throw into the tinderbox more radioactive efforts to police one another on what are mostly cultural—not regulatory like leashing—matters. If someone’s not wearing a mask in Walmart, report them; don’t scold.

I’m worried there will be more casualties in the mask wars. Hold our corrupt leaders’ feet to the fire, but please give a wide berth to your fellows in public space this summer. It’s a powderkeg out there.

I just want to add that direct scolding on cultural matters—telling someone how to manage kids, not to litter/jaywalk, to turn down music, to move along, to smile—is subject to abuse. At the very least don’t undertake it lightly.

Something to try if you truly feel endangered by someone: Identify with her or his plight; assume good faith.

“These masks are so hard to get used to, but they’re being super strict abt them.”

“It’s such a drag to wait but it says only 5 people can be in here at once.”

in response to a question about #2: I was walking on the sidewalk, but about to step into the bike lane to cut a corner to the crosswalk. NOT DRIVING.