Plagued

I am disturbed by the level of paranoia surrounding the H1N1 virus. Some of the suggestions for how to avoid getting this flu might in fact make one successful at not getting it, but at what cost? Take a look at this exhaustive list of suggestions for example: http://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-the-Flu-at-University

Of course washing our hands frequently and thoroughly, avoiding excessive amounts of alcohol, and getting enough rest, nutrition and exercise are important all the time, especially when the flu is going around, but there are also many suggestions in circulation that I believe to be problematic:

• Avoid getting too close to others (you never know who might make you sick!).
• Avoid using silverware in the cafeteria; use sealed, disposable plastic ware instead (you can't be sure those lazy folks behind the scenes cleaned it properly!).
• Avoid salad bars, bread baskets, or other communal food sources (basically, don't eat anything unless you have washed and prepared it safely yourself!).
• Order your meals "To Go" so that it is served on disposable and portable containers or bags and not reusable plates and trays (and additionally, you don't have to eat with all those sick people in the public space either!)
  
• Wash your clothes after they have been near other people.
  
• Change your clothes and shower after you go out and about.
• Avoid parties and social events (become a recluse until this thing blows over!)
• At all costs, avoid physical contact with any and everyone!

So, here's the problem. What kind of people would we be if we live like this, afraid of everyone and everything around us? What are we willing to sacrifice in order to stay "healthy?" Is this behavior actually "healthy behavior" anyway? If we all stay at a "safe" distance from each other, what is the point of staying healthy? I guess we can all stay home and watch TV shows in the clean comfort of our sterile living rooms. The actors can't make us sick through the air waves right. And let's stick to e-mail and phone calls to keep up with our friends and family too.

If you ask me, living like this sounds like a plague of another kind, and I do not plan on doing it. Maybe I'm living on the edge, but I would rather live fully in the present than hide in fear of the possible future. I will do so with freshly washed hands and a good night's rest, but I will not be hiding out at home with a can of Lysol in my hand for the rest of my life. I hope to see you out there!