Chats with colleagues over the last few weeks commonly have the following content:
- During this teleworking bonanza, the days seem to be indistinguishable (more people are unsure what day it is).
- There is a sense of narrowing; unscheduled social contacts are rare; the physical spaces we occupy are limited.
- There is no separation between work and non-work (some are deliberately attacking this by wearing different clothes during the work time, or exiting the house, walking around the block, as a forced transition before work and after work).
- Zoom is fatiguing, even though we’re sitting all day long (it is fun to see colleagues, but it’s harder to read body language; it’s easier for shy people to get lost; it’s harder to have a fair allocation of speaker time).
- And, finally, and maybe more importantly, relative to so many other people, these are very trivial complaints not deserving of much attention; we have it easy.
There are some other adjustments to this new social distancing world that seem more benign, even interesting in a social psychological way. It seems like we appreciate each other a bit more than before the pandemic. For example, on walks around the neighborhood, there seems to be a greater tendency for people to greet one another (of course, while physically distancing themselves). “Hello!”, “Hang in there,” “Stay safe” sometimes accompany the greeting. (There does seem to be evidence that masks are decreasing this tendency, maybe because of their muffling of sound.)
At the same time, there is an interesting etiquette transformation on these walks that may be going on. As people walk down the sidewalks, what does it mean when they cross the street or walk into the street, when approaching an oncoming walker? In pre-COVID-19 days, such behavior might have been interpreted as a manifestation of fear or mistrust of the oncoming walker. Now, it seems that some are an act of deference to the oncoming walker. “I’m moving away so that you can continue on your course without my forcing you to move 6 feet away from me.”
Indeed, there is a need for careful attention to see whether the oncoming person is moving before you are moving. Some who move quickly to a new location on the sidewalk but away from you seem to be saying, “I’m willing to walk by you on the sidewalk but let’s try to maximize the distance between us.” Of course, this is complicated when the oncoming is a couple out for a walk. Then, it seems that they tend to maintain control of the sidewalk by the shear numerical superiority. Single walkers are moving to the street in higher relative numbers, it seems.
Some, of course, avoid the issue by fully walking in the street, a move that is often quite feasible given the rarity of auto traffic on some streets. (I’ve found it strangely liberating to walk down the middle of a neighborhood street.)
Another interesting (at least to me) tendency seems to be a growing attention to local space. Part of this stems perhaps from the interest about the course of the infection in one’s own locality. Another part comes from the necessary focus on local government restrictions on movement within the cities. There are data on this phenomenon. A recent article noted that viewership of local television news programs has increased over the weeks of “stay at home,” “social distancing,” etc.
So, our narrowing of attention to the local might have a silver lining. We’re caring about those in proximity to us. It would be wonderful if a communitarian culture grew out of this moment.
How happy we are. We left these days behind. I hope there will be no pandemic like this again.
The unprecedented time of social distancing came as a great wave sweeping off almost everyone’s feet of the ground. But today, here we are, and I hope that the world gets better someday.
Thank you for this wonderful piece.
Your comments about the change in the ‘new pavement culture’ refer to the place I am experiencing in the Georgetown neighborhood where I live. I am curious to see if there are differences compared to DC, the Northeast, other parts of the country, and other countries.
With respect to time we have to change, as change is necessary, but I don’t believe that in last 2 to 3 months everything will change, but it is going and going, lets see what is hidden in the core of the future.
Since communication is very important in our lives, finding alternatives to achieve this becomes very necessary when there are factors limiting it.
Honestly, it is surprising to see how the most popular cities with both human and auto traffic became a ghost city.
It’s been weeks we’re in because it’s important to adapt measures to save life while the government and heath workers figure out a way to handle this dangerous pandemic. As we’re begining to learn a new life “staying at home” it’s been weeks already and it seems some people are getting used to it despite wanting to return back to our normal lives, it shows we can still live without overcrowding the street.
This could be a sign that people can increase their online activities and minimize the physical activities going in the society.
I understand that in your findings, some of course, avoid the issue of fully walking in the street, this can be due to the effect of increasing death toll rate caused by COVID-19.
However, my worries are; how long due we stay at home for everything to return to normal and just hope the virus has not come to stay and be managed as some other type of viruses with increased death toll rate in the past.
Thank you once again for your tips on a shrinking world of social distancing.
I have been impressed and proud of my DMV fellow citizens, whenever I’ve ventured out to the supermarket. While there is an overall subdued air about folks, there is also a feeling of gentleness, patience and respect for each other which was not the case prior to the pandemic. I have observed no attempts to hoard grocery items or overload shopping carts — there is almost a self-conscious effort to avoid being “that person” (who does hoard). I hope that Covid-19 has transformed our urban culture for the better, by softening our edges and making us more thoughtful and considerate human beings.
I enjoy reading your blogs. This one is particularly entertaining. Spoken as a true observer of social behavior! Nice to see that survey scientists have jumped in to measure public perceptions and behaviors. So many topics for additional study, from the disease itself, to the statistical modeling,to the effects on human interaction. A study on toilet paper hoarding?!-yikes.
Your observations about the change in ‘sidewalk culture’ are spot on with what I’ve been experiencing in the Georgetown neighborhood where I live. I’m curious to see if there are differences in other parts of DC, the northeast, the country and comparisons to other countries.
During this unprecedented time, we’re all are trying to learn a new lifestyle, while trying to work from home and also handle increased personal responsibilities.
Honestly, it is not easy and so many things are affected because nothing prepared us for such a time in life, the death toll caused by COVID-19 is creating a lot of panics and many complained dreaming about coronavirus.
Everyone is scared of losing their loved ones and visiting people that matters a lot to us is now a thing we have to first take caution for but I believe in your opinion that it will be nice if a communication culture grew out of this moment for it will help calm the situation of things and lead to a more suitable approach regarding the world of social distancing.
I was really surprised at the end of my first 70 minute Zoom class session at how exhausted I was. This has only slightly diminished in the ensuing weeks. I must be feeling a kind of anxiety and tension which I had never felt in the traditional classroom setting where the physical presence of students always has given me more pep and excitement as I enter the room. Here it’s almost the reverse.
My hope is for a Country/World more United and humble. Where we feel other people pains and suffering.